Protect Our Water System

Water is a fundamental element of day-to-day life for any community. Because of the efforts of those in water recovery and water treatment programs, you can turn on your faucets and have healthy drinking water. Your help is needed to protect the water system for the whole community and prevent plumbing problems for yourself.

Help protect the Broomfield water collection and treatment system by following the guidelines below about what and what not to flush or put down the drain.



Keep it Out of the Sink |  Think Before You Flush |  Correct Disposal |  Keep Broomfield StormwaterClean


Keep It Out of the Sink

Don’t put these items down the sink drain. They should be properly disposed of:

Incorrect Disposal

  • Never pour oil or grease (especially animal fats) down sinks, drains or into toilets
  • Do not dispose of medications down the drain
  • Do not dispose of contact lenses down the drain
  • Do not flush needles or sharps down the drain
  • Do not dispose of household hazardous wastes like paint and fertilizers into drains

These items can clog pipes and cause sewer overflows and backups into homes, businesses and basements, or may release toxins into the water system.



Think Before you Flush

Protect Broomfield’s sewer and other water systems. Don’t flush these items down the toilet. They should be disposed of in trash bins: 

Incorrect Disposal

  • Never flush rags or towels
  • Do not dispose of flushable wipes in toilets (even though they say “flushable,” they destroy pumps and screens within the system)
  • Do not dispose of medications in your toilet
  • Do not dispose of contact lenses in your toilet
  • Do not flush women's sanitary products
  • Do not flush needles or sharps in your toilet

These items do not break down in water, resulting in home plumbing system blockages, sewer back-ups and damage to pumps and screens in the water system.


Correct Disposal

  • Once cooled, pour cooking oils and grease into a non-recyclable container. Add kitty litter or coffee grounds, seal the container and place in the trash.
    • Remove oil and grease from dishes, pots and pans with a paper towel or napkin.
    • Pre-wash dishes, pots and pans with cold water before putting them in the dishwasher. Hot water does not remove oil or grease but rather liquefies them. Once cool, they return to a solid and can clog your pipes and sewer lines.
    • Broomfield residents can participate in the used cooking oil recycling program operated by the Public Works Fleet Services Division. For more information, call Fleet Services at 303-438-6336.
    • Scrape food scraps from dishes into trash or start a compost pile at your home with food scraps that are not meat.
    • Minimize the use of your garbage disposal because even cooked food containing oil and grease can clog sewer lines.
  • Dispose of used rags or towels in trash or recycling bin, as appropriate.
  • Medicine can be dropped off at the Broomfield Police Department. Find all the information on the Medication Disposal web page. 
  • Dispose of used flushable wipes in a trash bin.
  • Needles, syringes and other sharps can be disposed of at the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Management Facility. Instructions for packaging hazardous materials are included on the Boulder County Hazardous Materials website. 
  • Broomfield residents can participate in the periodic household hazardous waste event to drop off household waste like paint, fertilizer and other household products. Visit the CCOB Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste Disposal web page to learn more or sign up.

Keep Broomfield’s Stormwater Clean

Protect Broomfield’s stormwater!  Stormwater is any precipitation (like rain, snow or hail) that falls from the sky. The water then streams along the surface of the ground. Natural drainage systems are altered to be able to rapidly collect runoff and convey it away, using curb and gutter, enclosed storm sewers and lined channels. This stormwater runoff is then discharged, untreated, to downstream waters such as streams, reservoirs and ponds.

Landscaping material (rocks, compost, dirt, etc.) and yard debris deposited at the curb and in the gutter can get washed away in stormwater runoff. As mentioned, this stormwater runoff discharges directly into downstream waters untreated and can have many adverse effects on plants, fish, animals and people.

It is illegal and a violation of the Broomfield Municipal Code to dispose of or allow materials other than stormwater to discharge into the storm sewer system. To avoid this, gather and dispose of yard debris promptly and plan to have landscaping material delivered in your driveway or find a staging area on your property when conducting landscaping projects. Learn more about what you can to protect Broomfield’s stormwater runoff and the effects of pollution on the Stormwater webpage. 

Steps to Take if You Are Experiencing Problems

The homeowner is responsible for the service line from your house to the main line. You should contact a plumber that handles wastewater collection service lines to assist you in resolving the problem. 

If you have any questions, contact the City and County of Broomfield's Utility Services division at 303-438-6334 or publicworks@broomfield.org.