Will It Flush?

See what happens to facial tissue, wipes, feminine hygiene products, QTips, dental floss and flushable kitty litter when they’re flushed down the toilet. The results might surprise you. Click here to view video.

Amusing and interesting, but also serious. Whether it’s EnviroStars small businesses disposing of waste properly or individuals doing the right thing, collective effort is needed to help protect our river/aquifer system and keep our utility rates in check by not clogging the drain.

Here are some individual things you can do to help protect our river and sole source aquifer.

Reduce, reuse and recycle. Use a garbage can for trash. Improperly discarded trash can be carried by runoff into storm drains. Call the recycling hotline. 509-625-6800.

Avoid using fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.  These products can be carried into storm drains and degrade water quality. Pull weeds by hand when possible and plant native species that need less water and are disease resistant.

Never flush prescriptions or medications down toilets or drains. Remove any personal information from the label. Make the medicine unusable. Dissolve pills and mix liquids with kitty litter or dirt. Seal the container and place in trash.

Dispose of household hazardous waste properly. Paints, solvents, cleaners, fertilizers, fluorescent bulbs, batteries and pesticides can be disposed of for free at a regional solid waste disposal site.

Fix leaking cars. If oil or antifreeze leaks onto the ground, double bag the polluted soil and dispose of it in the garbage can. Kitty litter can be used to soak up spilled oil and fluids. Recycle used oil and antifreeze at a regional solid waste site or at approved waste oil drop sites, such as automotive shops.

Scoop pet waste and put in garbage can. Cover and control animal manure.

Buy and use products that are safe and environmentally friendly. Choose water-based paints such as latex, instead of oil-based paints.