The City of Bismarck is experiencing an increase in wastewater pump station malfunctions in certain areas of the City and we need help from Bismarck residents. Crews are regularly unclogging mounds of rags and wipes from pumps, at considerable expense, and there is the very real potential for the environmental consequence of raw sewage backing up into yours or a neighbor’s basement.

Sometimes we forget the toilet is not a trash can. All wipes and disposable cleaning products belong in the trash, not the toilet.

Did you know flushing wipes down the toilet can cause problems in your home and in the City’s sewer system? “Disposable” wipes may be labeled flushable, but they can clog the sewer system, contributing to costly cleanups and may result in basement sewer backups.

Common Offenders
• Paper towels • Cleaning wipes • Facial wipes • Baby wipes • Diapers • Feminine Hygiene Products

Many cleaning products are labeled “flushable” or “disposable," but they often don’t dissolve or break down after being flushed. A general guideline is, if it doesn’t dissolve as fast as toilet paper, it’s not flushable.

We need your help! The City asks everyone to please do your part and place these materials where they belong – in the trash.

View 'Don't Flush Trouble' video