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Wastewater

To help you understand better how the VDE can provide our customers with the disposal and treatment of wastewater, and ensure its safety and long-term viability, here is a comprehensive slide show that explains how the system works.

Wastewater: How It Works

Please do not flush diapers down your toilets!!

We have had issues with disposable diapers and rags being caught in the West Cove A and B sewer pump stations. These stations pump raw sewage from West Cove to the wastewater treatment facility on Clearwater Drive: if the pump stations fail, sewage will go into the lake. Rags or disposable diapers ARE NOT flushable – please dispose of these items properly. Additionally, “flushable” or “biodegradable” wipes are not safe for our wastewater system, or septic systems, and should be disposed of in the trash.

What is flushable?

YES!  

  •  Human waste 
  • Toilet paper

NO!

  • Sanitary products
  • Paper towels
  • Cloth products
  • Unused drugs
  • Diapers
  • Toys
  • Cigarette butts
  • Motor oils, paints, other hazardous household chemicals
  • Grease – so this happened…bacon fat was poured down a garbage disposal.  Liquid state going in, but the sewer laterals are several feet underground, which means that whatever is in the lateral gets cold.  The fat solidified and caused a sewer backup.
  • This is a partial list – please see this flyer, What’s Flushable? published by NHDES for more non-flushable items.