LANSING, Mich. — With the toilet paper shortages that are happening due to the Coronavirus, citizens are resorting to other paper products for their cleaning needs. These can include “flushable” wipes, tissue, paper towels, etc. These items do NOT breakdown and will eventually cause issues in the sanitary sewers. This could then create backups into homes, which is the last thing anyone wants to deal with right now.
Following is an article that was written from the Southern Clinton County Municipal Utilities Authority for their partner communities to put in their newsletters and we wanted to share this with you today.
No Wipes Down the Pipes
Wipes, cloths, and rags are being found in sanitary sewers at an ever-increasing rate. Many of these products are labeled as flushable, but while they may clear the toilet, they will most likely cause problems downstream in the sewer system, in your own pipes, or in your septic system.
These products are becoming notorious for blocking private sewer laterals, public sewer mains, and binding up municipal pumps. Items that specifically list the term flushable (but should NOT be flushed) include diapers and diaper liners, baby wipes, premoistened wipes, a wide variety of bathroom cleaning wipes and brushes, feminine hygiene products, toilet seat covers, doggy doo-doo bags, and cat litter.
Other products have been found to clog pipes and pumps after being flushed include Qtips, dental floss, paper towels, hair, and rags. Instead, please place these items in a trash can.
SCCMUA is not the only community impacted by these so-called flushable wipes. From private septic systems to major metropolitan areas, flushable products are causing plugged pipes, sewage backups, and increasing costs of equipment maintenance. While a toilet may be capable of flushing golf balls, these synthetic products simply do not break down and will have to be removed at the treatment plant or in pumping stations.
Only three items should be flushed down the drain; #1, #2 and toilet paper. All other material is not made to flush smoothly through the sewer system. Please help keep the sewer system flowing smoothly by not flushing anything else down the toilet.
Even though a product may say it is “Flushable” … Unless it is toilet paper, it should not be flushed! Some items not to flush:
- Baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes, etc.
- Diapers (cloth, disposable, "flushable")
- Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material
- Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) • Dental floss, Q-tips, and cotton balls
- “Swiffers,” toilet bowl scrub pads
- Napkins (paper or cloth), paper towels, facial tissues
- Seeds, peelings, egg shells, nutshells, and coffee grounds
- Bandages and bandage wrappings
- Clothing, wash cloths, towels, rags (any cloth item)
- Plastic of any kind
- Medicines/pharmaceuticals (put original containers in a plastic zip-lock bag, throw the bag in the trash or take to a recycling, drop-off, or household hazardous waste collection)
- Harmful chemicals such as solvent-based glue, paint, strippers, wood preservatives, nail polish, antifreeze, engine cleaners/degreasers, gasoline, motor oil, fertilizers, pesticides, and pool/spa chemicals
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