Print
Share page with AddThis

Inspector's Insight

Help us…..help you

Things that are OK to put down the drain or toilet-

  • Normal drainage from bathing, dishwashing, laundry
  • Human waste and toilet paper

Things NOT to put down the drain or toilet-

  • Sanitary wipes- regardless of what the packaging says, these will not decompose in the sewer system, and will simply move down the pipe until they get hung up somewhere and cause a backup or equipment failure
  • Feminine hygiene products- again, these may claim to be “flushable”, but they do the same thing as sanitary wipes
  • Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG)- these materials turn sticky and solid when they cool down in the sewer, and block pipes and equipment
  • Anything else that is not normal drainage, human waste or toilet paper

Why do you care?

  • Blockages and damage to equipment in the public sewer system costs all rate payers more money
  • If a problem in the public sewer can be traced to a particular source, there can be enormous financial liability for the property owner/operator/resident
  • Problems on the private side of the sewer system are entirely at the cost of the property owner or customer, and these costs can be huge

More on FOG (Fats, Oil and Grease)-

  • Allow hot grease to cool and then scrape into garbage
  • Scrape all cookery, serving dishes and plates with a rubber scraper into the garbage before washing
  • Chemical additives to treat grease buildup don’t work
  • Recycle cooking grease and oil whenever possible

FAQ

How do I locate my house sewer line?

  • The Sewer District has records of the original sewer installation to almost all homes and businesses in the East Wenatchee Area.  Just leave us a message on this website

How do I know if I am connected to sewer?

  • Usually this is an easy question;  just leave us a message on the website and we will research your address and let you know
  • Sometimes this question is a tricky one to answer.  We can work with you to schedule a site visit and try to get an answer

What should I do if I have a slow drain or sewer back up?

  • You can attempt to clear the drain yourself.  Chemical drain cleaners can often be effective, and, if you are comfortable doing it, you can use a plumber’s snake from a drain in the house to try and clear the line
  • Call a rooter service or a plumber.  The Wenatchee area is lucky to have several local rooter services and plumbing companies

What if I think there is a problem with the public sewer that is causing my structure to have drainage issues?

  • Call the Sewer District Inspector at 509-630-4099 during normal working hours M-Th 7:00-5:30, or email the Sewer District Inspector.
  • Call the Sewer District