Epcor is marking World Toilet Day with a crucial message for Edmonton residents: what you flush matters. The utility company is urging citizens to be more mindful of household items discarded in toilets to prevent costly damage to homes and the city's sewer system.
The Cost of Flushing the Wrong Things
New data from Epcor reveals a persistent problem. In 2024 alone, crews responded to 159 calls for sewer backups in homes and businesses across Edmonton. A startling 70 per cent of these backups were directly linked to people flushing items that should never go down the drain.
This issue continues despite routine inspections and high-pressure cleaning of city sewer pipes designed to remove blockages like fat, oil, grease, and other non-flushable materials.
What Not to Flush
According to Epcor, the only things that should ever be flushed are bodily waste and toilet paper. The drains in Edmonton frequently clog due to a common list of culprits:
- Wipes, including those misleadingly labeled as "flushable"
- Tissues and paper towels
- Feminine hygiene products
- Cotton swabs and dental floss
- Hair
Abhishek Bhargava, EPCOR’s senior manager of system operations, emphasized the importance of public cooperation. "Flushing responsibly helps prevent costly home plumbing repairs and protects the infrastructure we all depend on," he stated in a news release.
A critical point from Epcor is that so-called "flushable" wipes do not break down in the sewage system like toilet paper. Instead, these items combine with fats and grease, accumulating until they completely block pipes and cause backups.
The Global Significance of World Toilet Day
While the topic can invite humour, World Toilet Day is an official United Nations observance day with a serious mission: to acknowledge that every person has a right to safe and well-managed sanitation.
The global need is immense. A joint study by the World Health Organization and UNICEF found that over three billion people still lack safely managed sanitation services. This includes nearly two billion people with only basic services, 560 million with limited services, 555 million with unimproved services, and a heartbreaking 354 million people who must practice open defecation.
Bhargava connected the local effort to the global cause, noting that "working together to protect our homes and pipes on World Toilet Day highlights the importance of safe sanitation and encourages global efforts to ensure everyone has access to toilets through strong systems and sustained investment."
The simple act of tossing non-flushable items in the garbage instead of the toilet makes a significant difference. "By tossing non-flushable items in the garbage instead of down the toilet, Edmontonians help keep our city’s sewer system running smoothly and avoid the damage a backup can cause in your home," Bhargava added.
For more information on what can be safely flushed and the proper disposal of common household items, residents are encouraged to visit the Epcor website.
