Just because the package says "flushable" doesn't mean it's true. Many items marketed as disposable and/or flushable do NOT degrade like toilet paper, and they wind up clogging pipes, tangling pumps and causing messy sewer backups into streets, businesses and your home. This increases the City’s maintenance costs to fix pumps and clean City sewer pipes.
The drains that connect your home to the main sewer are only big enough to carry water, toilet paper and human waste - often no wider than 4 inches.
Do not flush...
- Diapers (cloth, disposable, "flushable")
- Facial tissues, cotton balls, swabs and pads
- Cleaning wipes of ANY kind (baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes,etc.)
- Toilet bowl scrub pads
- Swiffers
- Napkins (paper or cloth), paper towels
- Dental floss
- Egg shells, nutshells, and coffeegrounds
- Fats, oils, and greases
- Hair
- Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material
- Vitamins, medicines or other pharmaceuticals
(in Albany take unwanted medication to the Albany Police Department for proper disposal—it's FREE!) - Wash cloths, towels, rags (any cloth item)
- Clothing
- Sheet plastic, or plastic of any kind
- Hazardous materials (bring to the Republic Services Household Hazaradous Waste Roundup—it's FREE!)
- Bandages or bandaids
- Kitty litter
Is it really flushable?
Article: "'Fatberg' dead ahead! 15 tons of slime and wet-naps clog London sewer"
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/fatberg-dead-ahead-15-tons-slime-wet-naps-clog-london-6C10843060
The introduction of various "flushable" products into the wastewater collection system has changed the characteristics of sewage. While these products, such as handiwipes, facial tissues, feminine hygiene products, and other things like floss and cotton swabs, flush down the toilet, that doesn't mean that they won't cause problems further down the waste stream.
The impact of these products on the wastewater collection system was significant enough in Spokane, WA, that a video was recently created to educate the public on the impacts.
Lo que no se debe poner en el inodoro.
Solo porque las intrucciones del paquete dicen que "se puede poner en el inodoro" no significa que sea verdad. Muchos artículos que estan etiquetados como desechables o biodegradables, no se desintegran tan facilmente como el papel higiénico, y terminan tapando la tuberia, enredandose en las bombas de agua y causando desagradables desbordes del drenaje en las calles, negocios y su hogar. Esto incrementa el costo de mantenimento de la ciudad para arreglar el equipo y limpiar las tuberias de drenaje.
Las tuberias que drenan el agua desde su hogar hasta el drenaje principal solo tienen la capacidad de acarrear agua, papel higiénico y desechos humanos – siendo todo esto no más ancho que 4 pulgadas.
- Pañales (de tela, desechables, "biodegradables")
- Toallitas cosméticas, bolitas de algodón, toallas sanitarias.
- Toallitas húmedas de CUALQUIER clase (para bebés, toallitas cosméticas, desinfectantes, etc.)
- Esponjas para limpiar el inodoro.
- Swiffers (toallitas de repuesto)
- Toallitas (de papel o de tela) o servilletas.
- Hilo dental.
- Cascarones de huevo, cáscara de nuez, o granos de café.
- Grasas y aceite.
- Cabello.
- Toallas sanitarias, tampones, condones, o cualquier otro material que no sea orgánico.
- Vitaminas, medicinas u otros fármacos.
(en Albany favor de llevar los medicamentos que ya no quiera al departamento de policía para que ellos los desechen, es un servicio gratuito!) - Toallas, trapos o cualquier material de tela.
- Tela.
- Plásticos de cualquier clase.
- Materiales peligrosos o nocivos para la salud (puede llevarlos a Republic Services Household Hazaradous Waste Roundup—es gratuito!)
- Tiritas adhesivas sanitarias "curitas"
- Arena para los desechos de los gatos.
¿Es biodegradable?
El hecho que ahora hay tantos productos que se cree "se pueden poner en el inodoro", y a su vez llegan hasta el sistema de colección de agua, ha cambiado las características del drenaje. Anque las toallitas humedas o cosméticas, productos para la higiéne femenina, hisopo y bolitas de algodón, se vayan con el agua al jalar de la cadena del inodoro no quere decir que no causarán problemas mas adelante en el sitema de tuberias.
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The City has a permanent maintenance easement along both sides of the canal. It is necessary for workers to walk or access the canal along its banks in order to inspect the channel and carry out repairs. While some vegetation helps stabilize banks, it must also allow inspection and repair.
Garden Planning
Deep Canal Section:
Shallow Canal Section:
Establishing a beautiful, low-maintenance planting requires selecting the appropriate plant for the types of growing conditions in your landscape. For example, each plant requires a certain amount of sun or shade, prefers different levels of soil moisture, and may have particular maintenance needs. The more you learn about the conditions in the area you wish to plant, the more likely you are to succeed in selecting plants that will thrive.
The illustrations show typical moisture levels in relation to the canal water level. When designing your planting and fencing, it is important to make sure maintenance personnel can access the canal for regular inspections. The plant lists provided below should help guide you.
Planting for erosion control and bank stabilization
Choosing plants of varying heights and structures (trees, shrubs, and groundcovers) helps prevent erosion in two important ways.
- The above-ground structure of plants (the stems, branches, and leaves) intercepts rain and slows its progress, lessening its impact as it lands on the ground. This reduces the erosive force of the rain.
- The underground structure of plants (roots and rhizomes) anchors soil and keeps it from washing away or breaking free of the bank in the canal. Root systems also provide natural channels for water to infiltrate into the ground, decreasing runoff.
It is important to plant the canal banks so that the soil remains intact and protected. From both above and below ground, plants work to protect the soil from being lost to the powerful force of water.
Why native plants?
There are several important reasons to use native plants rather than ornamental or cultivated varieties. First, plants that are native to our region are already adapted to local climate, soil, and water conditions and reduce the need for added water, fertilizer, or pesticides. Most native plants need little or no maintenance, which means less time spent mowing and pruning. Native plants also support local ecosystems, providing food and shelter for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. In short, native plants can save people time and money and are good for our environment.
Planting trees
While trees provide shade and habitat, they are a major problem if planted too close to the canal bank, as some soils in the valley are loose and the canal banks are steep. The banks simply cannot bear the weight of a grown tree. Weakened banks can lead to trees falling over and damaging your property, fences, and buildings. When a tree falls, it also can take a large portion of the bank with it, dropping sediment into the channel where it clogs the culverts and adds to visible turbidity.
For these reasons, the City strongly advises citizens to plant trees at least 10 feet away from the canal edge, also known as the top of bank. This also helps meet our visual inspection requirement. Trees can be planted well back from the canal edge and still provide the aesthetic and ecosystem benefits we seek without compromising the canal structure.
Invasive Plants
Non-native plants can have a place in our urban landscaping, if they’re managed. Some plants are so invasive that the City discourages their use altogether, and some have earned a place on Oregon’s official quarantined list. Plants you may recognize from this list of “DO NOT PLANT” species include:
- Scotch broom
- Butterfly bush
- English ivy
- Yellow flag iris
In addition, the City strongly discourages aggressive plants such as
- St. Johns wort
- Bamboo
- Blackberries, raspberries
Weed management is a special challenge in an urban setting. Keep these in mind:
- NO PESTICIDES MAY BE USED WITHIN 10 FEET OF THE CANAL
- Each species has its own appropriate management technique (pulling, spraying, mowing, etc)
- The wrong type of management technique (pulling, spraying, mowing, etc) can actually do more damage than good
- Early identification is the easiest and least expensive way to control weeds and protect your yard
Three types of plant lists
Three carefully thought-out lists of recommended plants are posted here. We encourage property owners to consult the lists when planning their landscaping, whether property is residential, commercial, or agricultural.
All three lists include extensive information about each species, the types of growing conditions they require, and photos. The plant lists are meant to provide an inspirational place to start planning your planting, but are not meant to restrict the plants you may use. We've taken much care to choose plants that will survive and thrive if planted in the proper location, along with making sure that the plants are available at nurseries within a reasonable distance of Albany and Lebanon. Each list was created with a particular user in mind:
- Urban Plants (View Plant List)
The urban plant list comprises species that will look great and perform well near the home landscape. It provides an extensive plant palette to choose from. The few ornamental species in the urban list are locally hardy and should not interfere with any neighboring native vegetation or landscaping. We have avoided plants which are aggressive and might colonize adjacent properties, such as bamboo or ivy. - Naturalized Area Plants (View Plant List)
This list is for anyone who wishes to use only native plants. Plants on this list can be used in a more naturalized, wild planting, or in a designed landscape. They would be well-suited for large areas where the property owner does not intend to mow or prune frequently and wants a stable, sustainable plant community. - Farm Plants (View Plant List)
This is a short list of species that are appropriate to plant near an agricultural area. All grass species have been reviewed by the Oregon State University Extension Service and will not interfere with local seed crops. The trees, shrubs, and groundcovers are all native species that will be hardy, without seeding or spreading prolifically.
There are lots of resources and information about weeds within the Willamette Valley and how to control them.
List of Links
Native plants
Invasive species
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The City of Albany gets its water from the South Santiam River a few miles upstream of Lebanon. The water is diverted from the river into an I8-mile man-made canal through Lebanon and across farmland to Albany. It enters Albany east of I-5 and south of Grand Prairie Road. It continues west. Crossing Waverly Drive, Geary Street. Hill Street and Queen Avenue and parallels Vine Street to the Water Treatment Plant at Third Avenue and Vine Street. The Treatment Plant has been in continuous use since it was built in 1912.
History
The Canal was dug by hand in the 1870s as a transportation route to move goods from the eastern part of the valley to the "Port of Albany" on the Willamette River. Barge traffic stopped when users found the current was too swift for travel upstream.
Water Rights
Water diverted into the Canal is controlled by water rights and permits issued by the State. The City of Albany holds rights and permits for 31.7 million gallons. They are an 1878 right to 13.3 million gallons a day (mgd) and a 1979 permit for 18.4 mgd. Legally, the older a right or permit, the more secure it is. The dates help determine how Oregon water is allocated and protected. If water rationing is necessary due to a drought, for example, those who hold newer rights or permits are cut off first.
Get notified about problems along the canal
Sign up for the Linn-Benton Alert Emergency Notification System
The Linn-Benton Alert system is a telephone based emergency notification system for residents in both Linn and Benton counties.
Reporting problems along the canal
Call 541-917-7600
Please indicate you are calling about the Canal, and leave your name, address and telephone number, the location of concern, and a brief description of the problem.
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History
The City's wastewater collection system dates back to the early 1900s and includes vitrified clay tile, concrete, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic materials. The sewer system collects wastewater from 219 miles of sewers in eleven sewer basins in Albany. The sanitary sewer system includes pipes ranging in size from 6 to 72 inches in diameter and 14 lift stations. The Water Reclamation Facility is jointly owned by the City of Millersburg and accepts wastewater from the City of Millersburg's sewer system. The Millersburg system includes four pump stations and pipes ranging in size from 6 to 21 inches.
The Albany-Millersburg Water Reclamation Facility was completed in 2009 and is located at 405 Davidson Street NE. The plant provides secondary wastewater treatment through an activated sludge process and includes a solids reduction process to both improve the quality and minimize the volume ofbiosolids.
An integrated wetlands treatment project, the Talking Water Gardens, was opened in 2012.
It cools effluent from the treatment plant to meet regulatory requirements, provides further treatment to improve effluent quality, serve as a living laboratory to educate, a conservation area for habitat of native species, and a recreational asset for the community.
The project is now in a growing phase to reach a desired 80-90% plant density in the wetland cells. This density will allow the gardens to reach the cooling goals, as well as provide further cleaning of the water by the plants.
Capacity
The treatment facility has an average daily dry weather flow capacity of 12.3 million gallons per day (MGD) and a peak wet weather capacity of 68 MGD. The facility treats wastewater substantially above regulatory requirements and has sufficient reserve capacity for growth until approximately 2030.
Sludge is screened to remove material that is not readily biodegradable, treated by aerobic digestion and thickened beforeapplication on non-food producing private agricultural lands.
Challenges
The Capital Improvement Program for the wastewater system identifies projects that are needed to upgrade and expand the system for future users ensuring that it continues to serve current customers. Pipes are deteriorating or are the wrong size and service needs to be extended to areas that are not now served.
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Wasting Water Doesn’t Make Cents.
If you live or have a business in Albany and irrigate your lawn, you qualify for a FREE irrigation audit. Our trained staff will show you practical ways to reduce your water usage and maintain a healthy lawn.
Free water audits are conducted during June through August every year
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