Your Toilet is Not a Trash Can

Think Before You Flush

The water you flush and the water that goes down your drains travels through miles of wastewater pipes to reach Miami-Dade County treatment plants. The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) has 6,452 miles of sewer collection pipes throughout the County. There are three wastewater treatment plants in the County that treat approximately 300 million gallons of wastewater per day.

Our sewers are designed to dispose of toilet paper and human waste only.

The pump station in Sunny Isles Beach is among the top offenders of clogs due to wipes, grease and other unflushable items being introduced into the wastewater system. WASD staff is removing approximately 500 pounds of these items from just this one pump station every single day. During peak hours, these clogs must be removed every two to three hours before they cause damage to the pump station that could impact its operation at best and cause an overflow at worst. As a result, WASD is staffing this pump station 24 hours a day until the new pumps are installed later this month.

Our City, like many other highly desirable communities, must change some simple habits. With these small changes, we can focus less on what happens when we flush a toilet and more on enjoying our beautiful and clean City.

No Wipes in the Pipes

A toilet is not a trash can. Even if a product wrapper says the item is “flushable,” throw it in the garbage. The only thing that should be flushed down the toilet besides human waste is toilet paper.

Items Not to Flush

  • Grease / Oils
  • Wet Wipes
  • Sanitary Items
  • Paper Towels
  • Rags
  • Cotton Swabs
  • Diapers
  • Dental Floss
  • Medicines / Vitamins
  • Bandage
  • Cigarettes / Cigar Tips
  • Needles
  • Anything that is not Toilet Paper or Human Waste

Can the Grease

Recent studies have shown that most of the grease that is causing damage to the wastewater system comes from single-family, apartment and condo residents. Be sure to get rid of fats, oils and grease the right way.

After you are done cooking, pour the grease into a metal can and let it cool. Then, toss the can into a garbage bin. Don’t pour it down the sink or flush it down the toilet.

Items Not to Pour Down the Sink

  • Coffee Grounds
  • Eggshells
  • Butter / Margarine
  • Grease / Oils
  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Flour
  • Fruit / Vegetable Skins
  • Fruit Pits
  • Medications
  • Orange and Lemon Rinds
  • Produce Stickers
  • Cleaning Solutions
  • Paint