What can (and can't) you flush down the toilet?

(FEBRUARY 3, 2023) Portland cleans wastewater from your house. Some wastewater comes from your kitchen. Other wastewater comes from your bathroom. Much of it comes from your toilet.

There are only three things to flush down your toilet. The city says this: "Remember the three P's":

• • • pee (liquid waste, or urine)

    • poop (solid waste, or feces)

    • paper (toilet paper)

However, some people flush other things down the toilet. That makes big problems in water pipes. For example, sometimes wastewater comes back up into the house. That is unclean and unsafe.

Sometimes a box of wipes say they are "flushable". The city says that is untrue. You should not flush cleaning wipes or baby wipes down the toilet. They clog pipes. That means they stop water and waste. (Watch the video below to look inside the pipes.)

You should not flush old medicine or other chemicals, either. The city cleans the water, but it cannot remove chemicals from medicine, paint, or motor oil. These things cause pollution.