FAQs • Glenwood Springs, CO • CivicEngage

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Sewer System Use

1. How should I dispose of paper towels, flushable wipes, hair, feminine hygiene products and other miscellanous trash?: Never ever flush trash into the sewer system! These materials are likely to cause a sewer backup because the sewer systems are not designed to handle them. Everything besides toilet paper and normal human waste should be disposed of in a trash can!

2. What are some of the odd items the City has found in the sewer system?: Our operators have found many strange items in the sewer system over the years. Some of them include rusty firearms, a full six pack of beer, live snakes, wire bras, full sized towels, plastic containers, tree branches, sediment, baseballs, trashbags and lids.
These should never have found a way inside the sewer system! They cause maintenance nightmares and sewer backups.

3. How should I dispose of cooking oil and grease?: Never put it down the drain! Fats, oils and greases plug sewer lines and cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars for removal! Grease should be poured into a can and thrown away.

4. How do I report a wastewater spill?: If you think the sewer system may be backing up, or there is a water leak, call dispatch at 970-625-8095

5. Is it OK to discharge contaminated water into the the stormwater system?: NO! The stormwater system goes directly into the river. The stormwater system is designed only for normal surface water runoff. Common contamination sources include car washes, oils from parking lots and waste from agricultural uses.

6. What should I do if I think that somone may be illgally discharging into the City's sewer system?: Please call dispatch at 970-625-8095 and the wastewater line at 970-309-4567. Even discharging an RVs blackwater or greywater tank is illegal. Septage haulers are required to take their loads to plants such as Rifle or up to South Canyon; if they hook into the City's sewer system and discharge, they are breaking the law. Other chemicals can hurt the wastewater plant's treatment process and ultimately contaminate the river.