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1. Can I put trash down the toilet?

NO. It's a Toilet - Not a Trash can.

People sometimes view the toilet as an auxiliary wastebasket - an easy place to dump all kinds of things and make them disappear with a single "flush". Unfortunately, many items that end up in the toilet - even products labeled "flush-able" or "bio-degradable" - can cause significant clogging problems not only in your home's wastewater plumbing, but also for the sewer system and the Saukville WasteWater Treatment Facility (WWTF) processes.

There are only 2 things that can be safely flushed down the toilet - human waste and toilet paper. Any other item has the potential to clog the system, regardless of how easily it appears to flush. Common items often flushed that should not be flushed include:
- Cat Litter
- Clothing or rags
- Cotton Swabs and Balls
- Dental Floss
- Diapers
- Facial Tissue
- Feminine Hygiene Products
- Grease
- Wet Wipes (baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, flushable wipes)


Often, these items do not even make it past the lateral connection from your home to the local sewer system, building up and clogging the line. If these products make it to the street, they can still plug up and damage the pipes and pumps that convey sewage to the WWTF, potentially causing overflows and basement back-ups that can be costly to repair. If these products make it to the WWTF, they can also jam up equipment there.

To help protect the investment we have all made in our homes, the municipal sanitary sewer system, and the Saukville WWTF, please dispose anything that is not toilet paper or human waste in the garbage, not the toilet. Click for video

2. Can I pour old chemicals down the drain?

NO. Some chemicals are difficult to remove from wastewater, are hazardous to treatment plant workers, and if they pass untreated through the plant, they can be hazardous to the environment. Do not flush or put down the drain: motor oil and gasoline, solvents, pesticides and fertilizers, paint, varnish, paint thinner, or any other hazardous chemicals.

3. Can I pour grease down the drain?

No. Do not pour grease down your drain as it is harmful to your household pipes as well as the sewer system. The recommended disposal option is to pour your cooking grease or oil into an empty food can or jar, let it solidify, and dispose of it with your regular household garbage. If poured down the drain, grease will accumulate in sewer pipes and pumps over time, potentially causing clogs and back-ups. If you have a grease trap, it should be checked and cleaned at least monthly.

4. What do I do if my sewer lateral backs up?

A sewer lateral is the underground pipe that is part of your home's plumbing system. It carries wastewater from your home to the sewer system. If you own your home, you also own your lateral from the end of your home's plumbing system to the connection with the Village sewer main. If the sewer lateral at your home or business becomes plugged and is backing up:

1. First, contact the Saukville WW facility at 262-284-3185 during regular work hours. Staff will check the sewer main in front of your residence or business to verify that the main is open and flowing.
2. Staff will notify the property owner as to if there is blockage in the street connection or if/when any blockage has been cleared.
3. If the blockage problem is in the property owner's sewer lateral, which runs from the building to the main in the street, the property owner will need to contact a plumber to open the lateral, at their own cost.

If you notice any back-up issues, you may contact the Saukville WW Utility, 262-284-3185, during regular business hours, Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or Village Hall at 262-284-9423. If after hours, please contact the Police Department at 262-284-0444. They will contact Utility personnel to respond to your request.