Bathroom products have come a long way since Mr. Whipple asked us to please not squeeze the Charmin, and that’s a good thing. But as wonderful as it is to leave the bathroom feeling fresh and clean, you can’t believe all the marketing hype – especially when it comes to “flushable” wipes. Because while these so-called “flushable” wipes may go down the drain with fewer clogs than old fashioned baby wipes, they can still cause significant issues for wastewater treatment centers.
It’s an issue that the Grayson Utilities Commission is unfortunately very familiar with, to the point that the utility recently sent out notices to customers asking them to please refrain from flushing these types of sanitary wipes – encouraging them instead to place these items their bathroom garbage.
The notice asks them to “help in preventing clogged sewers and overflows,” noting that “increased flushing of wipes (and) paper towels cause issues in sewer systems and lift station(s).”
“In recent weeks,” the letter to customers read, “the Wastewater Lift Station on River Road has experienced frequent pump outages caused by a large volume of ‘flushable’ wipes and paper towels.”
It then goes on to explain that even items marked as “flushable” can create issues when they don’t break down exactly like toilet paper.
“Even wipes labeled flushable don’t break down like toilet paper,” the letter continued. “Once flushed, they often tangle together, blocking pumps, and cause costly backups in homes and throughout the wastewater system. When pumps stations are clogged, they stop working and require cleaning and repair – or even replacement – in order to get the sewage moving again. These expenses can be very costly and could eventually lead to increases in sewage rates for all customers.”
You read that right. If folks continue to flush items that shouldn’t be flushed, we could all see our utility bills increase.
But why can’t you flush these items, even though they are labeled by the manufacturer as flush safe? Well, the utilities commission explained that too.
“Wipes are made from strong fibers, designed to hold together when wet – a feature that makes them useful for cleaning, but disastrous for plumbing,” the utility noted. “When flushed, they collect on other debris inside sewer lines and create larger blockages.”
So, even though you can still poke a finger through them with relative ease, they don’t break down the same way tissue does. And because they can create these “larger blockages,” they can also lead to other issues inside the home. Some of these, according to the utilities commission, include “backed up drains and toilets inside homes, and damage to household plumbing systems,” as well as “expensive repairs to wastewater pumps and treatment equipment.”
No one wants any of that – particularly the first two that are more likely to hit tenants or homeowners than the utility.
So, what can be flushed? According to the utilities commission, “only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed. Everything else belongs in the trash – even items that say flushable.”
In addition to avoiding placing flushable wipes in the toilet, the utility says the trash bin is also the best place for baby wipes, cleaning wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, cotton swabs, dental floss, coffee grounds, food waste (including fats, oils, or grease, which the utility says should “never” be poured down drains), cat litter and other pet wastes, or needles and sharps. Flushing any of those items can cause problems both inside the customers’ home as well as for the utility. But “taking a few simple steps at home,” they note, “can prevent costly repairs and keep the wastewater system running smoothly.”
Sure, it’s convenient for us to flush them and forget them. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say. Particularly when we aren’t the ones who have to clear a clogged pump station. But increased utility rates – or the cost of a plumber to fix problems on your side of the meter – those won’t stay out of sight or out of mind very long at all.
Perhaps it’s best to just heed the commission’s warning, and put those “flushable” wipes in the trash.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
