Public Education

​
Berwick Sewer District Rules and Regulations, Article I, Section 1  states that
​
"... prevent the introduction of pollutants into the public Sewer System which will interfere with it's operation ... will pass through Sewer System, inadequately treated, into the receiving waters, or be otherwise incompatible with the sewer system. ... provide for fees for the equitable distribution of the cost of operation, maintenance, and improvement to the Sewer System."

Fats, Oils, & Grease

{cease the grease}
After fats, oils, and grease (cooking oils, butter, margarine, shortening, lard, animal fats) are washed down the kitchen sink, they cause a whole mess of problems, including the following:
  • clogged pipes and pumps
  • back-ups and overflows
  • negatively effect the wastewater treatment process
  • increase operating costs

​You can help keep the grease out of the sewer system by following a few basic practices:
  • do not pour used oil and grease down the drain; put into a glass jar with a lid, & toss in the garbage when full
  • scrape all food scraps (i.e., meat trimmings, gravy, salad dressing, butter, shortening, marinades) into the garbage can; do not wash them down the drain
  • use the mesh drainer to catch bits of food after washing dishes​

Illicit Discharge

{stop the stormwater}
​Clear water is stormwater - rain water, melting snow, melting ice, ground water - entering the collection system via Illegal connections: 
  • a sump pump in the basement
  • a downspout connection from the gutter
  • a foundation drain
​
When clear water enters the collector system, it can affect both the collector system and treatment plant operation. 
​
Excess water in the collector system can cause:
  • ​back-ups in homes and businesses
  • overflows in streets
  • additional electricity usage at pumping stations
Excess water in the treatment process can cause:
  • potential overflows at plant if not enough space to contain the water
  • additional (and costly) chemicals are needed:
    • clear water causes a less-than-ideal environment for vital bacteria cleaning the waste - chemicals are added to keep the bacteria alive
    • due to the increase of water, more chemicals are needed to disinfect the water before being discharged to the environment
​
Berwick Sewer District is a SEWER ONLY system. The Town of Berwick handles stormwater separately, which means that we have no need to treat clear water. Any excess water entering the treatment process increases the operation costs, which in turn increase the sewer user fees. 

​​Rags 

{your toilet is not a trash can}
​If it is not human waste or toilet paper, do not flush. 

Flushing anything else could lead to serious issues:
  • clogged pipes and pumps
  • back-ups and overflows
  • costly expenses to remove clogs and repair the pipes

Across the United States and the world, baby wipes and supposedly "flushable" wipes are causing major problems in the sewer systems.
  • baby & "flushable" wet wipes do not dissolve like toilet paper
  • wipes get caught in grease in the pipes
    • creates "fatbergs"
    • causes blockages
    • can result in back-ups and overflows
Some items that may be flushed down the toilet contain harmful substances:
  • e.g., cigarette butts, dryer sheets, pharmaceuticals
    • contain toxic chemicals that may not be removed during the treatment process
    • negatively affect the environment 
    • cause issues in towns downstream if they use the receiving water for drinking water.
  • ​​cat litter
    • "flushable" cat litter will settle to the bottom of the pipes, and cause blockages.
    • cat feces may contain a parasite that isn't always removed during treatment
    • harmful to marine lif​e.  

How to safely dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals:

MedReturnME is a free and anonymous drop box program in York County where you can drop off any unwanted medications. These medications can be prescription, over-the-counter, veterinary medicines, drops, and ointments. The local drop box is located in the lobby of the Berwick Police Department. Before dropping off any medications, be sure to remove any personal information from the label. For more information, please contact the Berwick Police Department at (207) 698-1136 or check out the MedReturnME website.