Prevent Sewer Back-Ups and Overflows

Have you ever experienced a sanitary sewer back-up or overflow? Luckily, most overflows are prevented because the City’s Wastewater Division is engaged in a preventative maintenance program.

However, this type of program is costly to operate and requires the use of one of our most precious resources - water. The City of Redmond is currently recruiting customer partners to help prevent back-ups and overflows by using the sanitary sewer system wisely.

Sanitary sewer systems are designed to handle three things: used water, human body waste and toilet paper.

You can do some simple things to help the City protect the environment and maintain the sewer system in Redmond.

DO NOT

• Pour fats, oils or grease from cooking down the drain
• Use the toilet as a wastebasket. Dental floss, flushable wipes, diapers, feminine hygiene products… plug sewers
• Use the sewer main to dispose of food scraps

DO

• Collect grease in a container and dispose of it in the trash or dispose of cooking grease with your food recycling
• Scrape pots, pans and dishes into the trash or food recycling bin before rinsing in the sink
• Place a wastebasket in the bathroom to dispose of everything but toilet paper (such as disposable diapers, flushable wipes, personal hygiene products, dental floss, etc)

These suggestions can save you money too! Most sewer back-ups occur between the house and the City’s main, where the homeowner is responsible for correcting the problem. Avoiding back-ups also means avoiding plumbing bills.

When a blockage occurs in the City’s sewer main, the City will correct the problem. Please call the Public works Operations Center at 425-556-2800, to report a back-up or overflow.

For additional questions please contact the Wastewater Source Control Program at 425-556-2858 or at tcash@redmond.gov.

Thank you in advance your help.