Community Chat

[MorningLover]

CBSN Bay Area

Disinfecting Wipes Being Flushed Down Toilets Causing Major Pipe Problems

Sterilizing cleaning wipes are flying off of store shelves. Unfortunately, many of those wipes are ending up in sewer systems. A lot of people are using an increasing number of those wipes to keep things clean out of coronavirus concerns.

Workers at sanitation and sewage districts across the Bay Area want this to stop because the wipes are clogging up the pipes. Wes Fredenburg runs one of the vac trucks for the San Rafael Sanitation District. His job is to clear sewer lines. He has been fighting wipes for the last few days. “They get snagged in the pipes and cause a build up, cause a blockage and overflow. Or they can get caught in a pump and stop the pump,” said Fredenburg. “They just don’t break down. It’s like flushing rags down the toilet.”

He says one issue with the wipes is the labeling. Some brands actually say they are 'flushable.' 

There’s legislation that they are looking at requiring manufacturers of wipes to use proper labeling. So, if there’s synthetic material in the wipe, like plastic or regenerated callous, you can’t label them as ‘flushable’ anymore. Bottom line, regardless of what the label says, those wipes should be put in the trash, not toilets.

“Help us out. Keep your wipes out of our pipes!” 

[Cakers3]

True-some say "flushable" but they do not break down.  I posted someplace around here comparing flushable personal wipes and which ones actually never dissolved.

Baby wipes are the worst.

[Cakers3]

Even certain "plush" toilet paper does not dissolve as well as plain ol' TP.

[SeaMaiden]

NEVER FLUSH ANYTHING OTHER THAN TOILET PAPER EVER!

[Cakers3]

Baby wipes are marked as non-flushable but people do not care.

I foresee a ban on "flushable wipes" in the near future.

I believe the UK is planning on doing so.

[millieshops]

As someone who has lived for years and years with a cesspool in the backyard, I just assume lots of things otherts might flush or even grind in  a disposal just shouldn't be happening.    All my wipes and filters go into the trash even though I'm now in a sewered community.

[goldensrbest]

That is just common sense.

[SilleeMee]

I never flush any type of wipe, 'flushable' or not. They all need to be placed in the trash.

[Preds]

[Moonlady]

This is no surprise. People flushing "flushable" (which aren't) wipes has been an ongoing problem. These fools, who just can't live without what's being pushed in commercials, have been wreaking havoc on the sewer system for years. And just because you don't do it, doesn't mean you're safe. People flushing those things (and, now, who knows what) down the toilet, have caused their neighbors to have backups and incur huge bills to remediate the damage to their homes and property. 

Americans and their hangups...