Before we go any further we must ask for you to excuse our potty mouth… though, not in the way in which you’re typically used to, we’re talking literally here. Today we’re going to be discussing the growing issue of so called “flushable wipes” and the havoc that they can cause to both municipal sewage systems and the residents they serve.
Growing in popularity over the last few years, “flushable wipes”, as they’ve been marketed are pre-moistened wet wipes that can be used to help you remove anything unwanted during your time spent on the porcelain throne; and although this toilet paper alternative may seem like the ideal choice, nothing comes without a consequence. Since these “flushable wipes” are traditionally made out of many other harmful materials such as plastic, polyester, cloth etc., they’re not as easily broken down in our sewer systems and can cause a great deal of problems such as clogging, putting unnecessary stress on sewage infrastructure and waste water employees.
In fact, a study conducted in 2018 found that over 90% of sewage blockages were due to improper disposal of wet wipes, all of which must be cleaned out and broken down manually by utility employees. As you can imagine, this can be a costly endeavor and can cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in premature equipment repair and replacement as well as manual brute force labor. As the popularity of these so called “flushable wipes” increases within communities so does the amount of city resources that are needed to reconcile this issue.
How you can help:
- Only flush the “3 P’s” (Pee, Poo and toilet Paper)
- If you do elect to utilize “flushable wipes” be sure to dispose of them alongside your other various solid wastes in a manner that does not involve flushing.