So-called ‘flushable’ wipes are grossly misnamed, according to the folks responsible for keeping sanitary sewer lines flowing smoothly.
“We’ve had some serious blockages in the lines caused by flushable, baby and Lysol wipes,” said Warman Public Works and Utilities Manager Jason Wiebe in a report to Warman City Council on Monday, August 10. “It’s a world-wide problem. These so-called flushable wipes cause serious damage, especially to pumps.”
Wiebe said the Warman public works department recently cleaned and flushed one-third of the city’s sanitary sewer lines as part of its regular maintenance program.
“This helps prevent potential sewer back-ups and also provides an understanding of what’s being put into our sanitary sewer lines,” said Wiebe. “As contractors are flushing the sanitary system, they report any nuisance items in our lines such as rocks, grease and other debris.”
Wiebe said large amounts of grease were reported in the lines, especially around commercial businesses.
But a more serious issue, he added, is the so-called flushable wipes.
“In order to remove these blockages, the contractor has to increase water pressure of the jetting nozzle,” he said. “This can cause sewer-smelling air to become trapped behind the flushing nozzle and travel up the sewer connection before exiting through toilet bowls, P-traps in showers and floor drains. This is sometimes referred to as ‘burbing.’
“We had a few complaints of a sewer smell and water splashing out of toilets, which we assume was the result of an increase in flushing pressure.”
Wiebe said the increase in the amount of Lysol and baby wipes may be a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Due to panic buying, there was a toilet paper shortage, and it was reported that paper towel and ‘flushable’, baby and Lysol wipes were being used instead of toilet paper,” he said. “These items are not meant for the sanitary sewer system as they don’t break down as toilet paper does.
“Not only can they cause sewer blockages and back-ups, they can also damage sewer pumps in lift stations.”