PRINCE ALBERT -- The City of Prince Albert is warning residents that flushing disposable masks down the toilet could result in pricey repairs for homeowners.
“It does end up costing the city money and if it does end up plugging your own sewer service line, it will end up costing the homeowners money also,” said Water and Sewer Manager Geoff Soderberg.
City crews do routine maintenance on the sewer lines and are finding disposable face masks coming back on jet hoses, he said.
“Actually there have been blockages because of the masks in the sewer,” said Soderberg.
It is illegal to flush anything other than human waste and toilet paper, according to a city bylaw created in 2015.
Items such as diapers, kitchen grease, hair, paper towels, wipes and Kleenex will clog sewer lines have been found in Prince Albert’s sewer, he said.
Masks cannot be recycled and must be thrown away in garbage bins.
“There’s a proper method to dispose of things. We have the city landfill for stuff that’s supposed to go there. They should just be put in the right areas,” said Soberberg.
