Preventing Sewage Pollution: Strategies For A Cleaner Environment

Sewage pollution is a serious issue that can have a detrimental impact on public health, local economies, and coastal ecosystems. Sewage can contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can make people sick. It can also introduce excess nutrients into waterways, fuelling harmful algal blooms. Fortunately, there are actions we can take to prevent sewage pollution and protect our communities. This includes conserving water, properly disposing of grease and oils, and maintaining private laterals to prevent spills. Implementing green stormwater infrastructure can also help to reduce sewage pollution. By taking these steps, we can better care for our wastewater systems and protect our environment.

Don't pour grease, oils, or chemicals down the drain

Sewage pollution can be prevented by not pouring grease, oils, or chemicals down the drain. Grease and oils can build up and cause blockages, leading to sewage backing up into streets, yards and homes. Instead, collect cooking grease and oils in a container, let them cool, and throw them in the trash.

Cleaning agents and other chemicals can interfere with wastewater treatment processes, clog pipes, and pollute the environment, including drinking water. Try using more natural cleaning products and dispose of all chemicals and hazardous materials according to local regulations.

Sewage can contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can make people sick. It can also pollute waterways with excess nutrients that fuel harmful algal blooms, endangering public health, threatening local economies, and damaging coastal ecosystems.

To prevent sewage spills, property owners must maintain their private laterals from the connection at their property to the public sewer. This includes areas under the sidewalk and street. Only flush toilet paper down the toilet and scrape food scraps into a designated food waste/organics receptacle before rinsing dishes and utensils in the sink.

Conserving water inside the home can also help prevent sewage pollution. Many sewage failures occur when too much water enters a septic tank, sewer, or cesspool, causing it to overflow and introduce harmful substances into groundwater and surface waters.

Only flush toilet paper down the toilet

Sewage pollution can be prevented by only flushing toilet paper down the toilet. This is because sewage can contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can make people sick with gastro-intestinal symptoms, rashes, skin and eye infections, and flu-like symptoms. Sewage discharges also pollute waterways with excess nutrients that fuel harmful algal blooms, which endanger public health, threaten local economies, and wreak havoc on coastal ecosystems.

To prevent sewage pollution, it is important to properly dispose of cleaning agents, chemicals, and hazardous materials. These substances should not be poured down the drain as they can interfere with wastewater treatment processes, clog pipes, and pollute the environment, including our drinking water. Instead, opt for more natural cleaning products and dispose of chemicals according to local regulations.

Similarly, cooking grease or oils should not be poured down the drain. Fat and grease can build up and cause blockages, leading to sewage backing up into streets, yards, and homes. Instead, collect cooking grease in a container, let it cool, and throw it in the trash.

Property owners are responsible for maintaining their private laterals, including areas under the sidewalk and street, to prevent sewage spills. Sewage spills can cause pollutants to enter the storm drain system and go untreated into waterways, damaging water quality and marine life. By only flushing toilet paper, scraping food scraps into a designated food waste receptacle, and properly disposing of grease, individuals can help prevent sewage pollution and protect the environment.

Conserve water

Conserving water is an important way to prevent sewage pollution. Many sewage failures occur because too much water is flowing into the wastewater system. When too much water enters a septic tank, sewer, or cesspool, its capacity can be exceeded and it can overflow. This introduces harmful bacteria, viruses, and excess nitrogen into groundwater and surface waters.

To conserve water, you can make small changes in your daily routine. For example, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your face. Only run the washing machine or dishwasher when they are full. Fix any leaking taps or pipes, as even a small drip can waste a lot of water over time. You can also install water-saving devices such as low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets. These use less water per flush, which can make a big difference over time.

Another way to conserve water is to reduce your water usage outdoors. Water your lawn and plants early in the morning or in the evening to reduce evaporation. Use a watering can instead of a hose, and direct the water towards the roots of the plants rather than spraying it into the air. Consider planting native and drought-tolerant plants that require less water. You can also install a rainwater harvesting system to collect rainwater from your roof and use it to water your garden or wash your car.

In addition to these individual actions, you can also advocate for water conservation in your community. Support local initiatives to improve water infrastructure and promote water-saving practices. Educate your friends and neighbours about the importance of water conservation and encourage them to make small changes too. Together, we can make a big difference in preventing sewage pollution and protecting our water resources.

By conserving water, we can reduce the strain on our wastewater systems and help prevent sewage pollution. This not only protects our environment and marine life but also ensures safe and clean water for everyone.

Install an Ocean Friendly Garden

Sewage pollution can be prevented by installing an Ocean Friendly Garden. This is a garden that helps to conserve water and prevent sewage from reaching the beach. Here are some ways to install an Ocean Friendly Garden:

• Use natural cleaning products: Avoid pouring cleaning agents, chemicals, and other hazardous materials down the drain. These can interfere with wastewater treatment processes and clog pipes, leading to sewage backups. Opt for natural cleaning products and dispose of chemicals properly according to local regulations.
• Properly dispose of cooking grease and oils: Collect cooking grease and oils in a container and let them cool before throwing them in the trash. Pouring grease down the drain can cause blockages, leading to sewage overflow.
• Maintain private laterals: Property owners should regularly maintain their private laterals to prevent sewage spills. This includes areas under the sidewalk and street that connect to the public sewer.
• Conserve water: Reduce water usage inside your home to prevent overwhelming the wastewater system. Too much water can exceed the capacity of septic tanks, sewers, or cesspools, leading to overflow and the release of harmful bacteria and viruses into the environment.
• Practice responsible flushing: Only flush toilet paper down the toilet. Dispose of food scraps and other organic waste in designated receptacles before rinsing dishes and utensils in the sink.

Maintain private laterals

It is important that property owners maintain their private laterals from the connection at their property to the public sewer. This can include areas under the sidewalk and street. By maintaining private laterals, property owners can prevent sewage spills, which can cause pollutants to enter the storm drain system and go untreated into waterways, damaging water quality and marine life.

Sewage spills can introduce harmful bacteria, viruses, and excess nitrogen into groundwater and surface waters. They can also cause sewage to back up into streets, yards, and homes. To prevent sewage spills, only flush toilet paper down the toilet. Food scraps should be scraped into a designated food waste/organics receptacle before rinsing dishes and utensils in the sink. After cooking, let grease cool, then pour or scrape it into a metal can. When the can is full, dispose of the grease properly.

It is also important to conserve water inside the home. Many sewage failures occur because too much water is flowing into the wastewater system. When too much water enters a septic tank, sewer, or cesspool, its capacity can be exceeded, causing an overflow.

In addition, cleaning agents, products, and other chemicals should not be poured down the drain. These can interfere with wastewater treatment processes, clog pipes, and pollute the environment, including drinking water. Try using more natural cleaning products instead and dispose of all chemicals and hazardous materials according to local regulations.

Frequently asked questions