Disposal of Household Liquid Waste

What You Should Know About Maintaining Your Sewers

The Environmental Services and Operations Departments have responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep of the City's sewage system: 1,544 km of sanitary and storm sewers, 2 sewage treatment plants and numerous pumping stations located throughout the City of Windsor.

Sewer back-ups are key problems that damage infrastructure and can affect public health.

Back-ups of sewage can occur when the sewer lines are clogged with a build up of fats, oil and greases (FOG). In order to work effectively, sewage systems need to be in proper working order from the drain to the City's treatment plants. Normal sanitary waste can be handled without difficulty. However, FOG waste builds up on sewer walls causing blockages in the sewer system. For this reason, FOG should not be disposed of down the drain.

The City of Windsor needs everybody to do their part to maintain the sewer system so that repairs will not be disruptive to residents or businesses.

Sewers

Sanitary sewers are connected to your kitchen/bathroom sinks, dishwasher, floor drains and toilets. These sewers carry waste and wastewater to the treatment plant before going into a river or stream.

Storm sewers are usually located in the curb area of the street, in the parking lot area or in the alley. These sewers carry untreated rainwater directly to the river. It is important not to pour anything down the storm sewer.

Fats, Oils & Grease

Oils, greases and fats can not only cause problems for your home's plumbing, but also for the City's sewer collection system.

Blockages in the sewer system due to grease threaten damage to homes, create health hazards and degrade our environment.

Where do fats, oil and grease come from?

  • Meat Fats
  • Butter/Margarine
  • Lard
  • Shortening
  • Cooking Oil
  • Baking Goods

Household Chemicals, waste motor oil, solvents and gasoline

These items must be properly disposed of when disposal is required. Chemicals and solvents/gasoline can result in explosive or toxic situations, which could cause damage to residential plumbing and sewer collection systems. Disposing of solvents/gasoline onto property can result in seepage into residential sump pits/weeping tiles creating a potentially explosive environment within the home.

Never endanger your family members or neighbours by pouring flammable liquids down a drain, sewer or onto property.

Visit the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority Household Chemical Waste Depot at 3540 North Service Rd. East (EC Row and Central Ave) for proper disposal.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Scrape all food scraps and grease solids into the garbage, not down the sink, drain or toilet
  • Never pour solvents/gasoline down the drains, sewers or onto the ground outside
  • Clean up grease spills using an absorbent material (e.g. cat litter, paper towels) and place it in the dry trash bin
  • Train your family members in good environmental practices
  • Use the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority Household Chemical Waste Depot to get rid of paints, waste solvents, oils and old gasoline

For more information:

For general information, please contact 311. For detailed inquiries, contact:

Pollution Control
Lou Romano Water Reclamation Plant
4155 Ojibway Parkway
Windsor, Ontario
Canada
N9C 4A5
Phone: (519) 253-7217