No Wipes in the Pipes

“Out of sight and out of mind,” was the thought that many of us grew up with and it continues today. This concept has probably led to many issues, but now a costly problem we never dreamed of. The wipes are chocking our sanitary sewer system, the pumps, screens, manholes, low points or any other area where the flow is restricted. The problem seems to be getting worse.

The disposable wipes can be grouped together from sources like baby wipes, kitchen cleaning wipes, paper towels, facial tissues, bathroom wipes, diaper liners, etc. Additionally, products like diapers, feminine hygiene products, floor cleaning wipes and assorted hand towels all add to the list. These are not meant to be flushed. The only paper product meant to be flushed is old fashion toilet paper, no matter what the manufacturer puts on the label. 

Just because a product label reads, flushable, does not mean it should be flushed. Currently a product can say flushable, if it’s placed in the toilet, the lever is pushed, and the wipe goes down out of sight and mind. Flushable does not mean that it biodegrades or even that it breaks down into tiny particles that don’t cause problems.