With the recent shortage of toilet paper, it has been brought to the attention of our office that many households are increasing their use of ‘flushable’ wipes, paper towels, etc. for sanitary cleaning purposes. Flushing baby wipes — even those that are labeled flushable or biodegradable — and paper towels down the toilet can lead to sewer backups and in-home plumbing issues. This can lead to blockages within the private sewer lateral, where the property owner is responsible for correcting the problem. Additionally, they can cause issues within the city sewer mains and eventually at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
While it might seem to make your daily life easier, putting the wrong thing down the toilet or drain can and does cause blockages, which take time and money to fix.
The wipes should be thrown in the trash. They should not be flushed down the toilet. This is the same with paper towels, etc.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Scott Bishop
Assistant City Engineer