13 votes

Disinfecting wipes being flushed down toilets causing major pipe problems

4 comments

  1. [4]
    skybrian
    Link
    From the article: [...]

    From the article:

    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.

    He showed KPIX 5 example of how rags and wipes can clog up and completely jammed a pump. Not very sanitary for sanitary wipes.

    [...]

    “There’s legislation that’s we’re looking at requiring manufacturers of wipes to use proper labeling. So, if there’s synthetic material in the wipe, like plastic or regenerated cellulose, you can’t label them as ‘flushable’ anymore,” explained Dow.

    Bottom line, regardless of what the label says, those wipes should be put in the trash, not toilets.

    1 vote
    1. [4]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [3]
        bleem
        Link Parent
        Do napkins count? I have one roll of TP left and then napkins til the 24th

        Do napkins count? I have one roll of TP left and then napkins til the 24th

        1 vote
        1. DanBC
          Link Parent
          You can test by putting a napkin in a jar of water and shaking it up. If you get a cloud of very small disconnected stuff after 10 seconds it's probably flushable.

          You can test by putting a napkin in a jar of water and shaking it up. If you get a cloud of very small disconnected stuff after 10 seconds it's probably flushable.

          1 vote
        2. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. bleem
            Link Parent
            dont pull a pence. I dont need prayers lol

            dont pull a pence. I dont need prayers lol