Wipes Block U.S. Sewers Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Blocked sewers are an elevated problem during the pandemic as home-bound Americans use the wipes for disinfectant and personal hygiene purposes.

The increase in wipes being flushed down toilets has caused officials in cities, rural communities and the national U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to plea for people to be more careful.

Wastewater plant operators are reporting a surge of clogged pipes and damage to equipment. The so-called ''flushable'' wipes are an ongoing issue, now compounded by the coronavirus.

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[beccagalopogusberry]

Thank you again for putting this message out there! As a plumber, we have been to many more clogs with wipes during this pandemic, and we are risking our safety and health to unclog the sewer so the customers health is not at risk. We need to get the word “flushable” off these wipe packs!

[ATLRIOT]

People aren't going to learn fast enough. Just pass a bill that makes it not possible to sell wipes that are not 100% biodegradable at the same rate as TP. This problem has been going on forever.

[briangarrow]

Wipes should ALWAYS go in the garbage!
3P's- poo, pee and paper!!
This message is brought to you by America's Pump Station Professionals.

[dreamingcode]

I'm a landlord and my idiot tenants use these. It blocks the plumbing to the point I sent out letters explaining if they use these and it blocks the pipes they are responsible.

[aminramli]

No one care, plus they don’t even care about their lives either

[ShizzleMeister]

I work for a water reclamation facility in Utah and let me tell you, those wipes cause a "shit" load of problems with our grinders and influent pumps.

[justrusty]

At least now I know better. Never trust packaging.

[finngrimm]

Paper always go into trash. Do you see people shitting in trash

[guzmanme]

I'm pretty sure some locations could launch a lawsuit very easily against companies that advertise that their wipes are flush-able, thereby promoting them to be thrown in the toilet, where we find that we not flush them.

[Milosz_Ostrow]

Few communities and cities in North America have education programs to teach the public what may and may not be flushed, so they shouldn't be surprised by what is going on now.

[ian]

City will just increase taxes on your water, then never lower them. IQ 200.

[Ketriofcourse]

Well, these companies should stop labeling them and flushable, baby wipes and regular wipes clogs sewage.

[engineered.mechanized]

What's wrong with this video? Why does it look like an early 2000s TV report?

[sallym]

Omg...humans LOL. I'm also beginning to see masks strewn around in the streets. As if it's not enough that we leave dog poop bags and plastic bottles all over the place. Litter bugs.

[kevenskilatonyius]

LOVE THEM AS PLUMBER ! MADE MORE $ ON EACH CALL . was biggest boom in business . ADDED HOURS TO EACH CALL . TAKES LONG TIME TO CLEAN OFF

[MrThunderMonky]

Why do those packages get away with saying flushable and "Septic/Sewer Safe" if they are not? I've always know that to be false advertising but most people dont know.

[missyyy-]

Maybe we need to update our sewage infrastructure that hasn’t been a consideration in decades. Personally I don’t buy the wipes anymore because of this and because I would not use them without being able to flush them. But I believe it’s time to either get them off the market or upgrade our systems to accommodate modern life.

[Travel-Adv]

Hopefully there will be pipes designed to only affect residences that are inconsiderate and doesn’t use flushable wipes.

[cance]

I ALWAYS dispose those disinfecting wipes in the trash can.

[joancommissiong]

Use disposable small plastic bags to store your wipes then toss the bag into your garbage at end of day so you won't block sewers.