Disinfecting Wipes Being Flushed Down Toilets Causing Major Pipe Problems

[left-of-center2012]

Amid the coronavirus scare, sterilizing cleaning wipes are flying off of store shelves. Unfortunately, many of those wipes are ending up in sewer systems.

A lot of people are using an increasing number of those wipes to keep things clean out of coronavirus concerns. Workers at sanitation and sewage districts across the Bay Area want this to stop because the wipes are clogging up the pipes.

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.

full article:
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/03/18/coronavirus-disinfecting-wipes-being-flushed-down-toilets-causing-major-pipe-problems/

[madaboutharry]

1. It says right on the container not to flush them down the toilet..

[AirmensMom]

2. We have a septic tank.

Most of my friends swear up and down that those things are septic safe, but there's no way I would ever flush them. We don't even buy them because they stink to high heaven. There are only 3 things that ever get flushed in our house, and they're the 3 obvious ones.

It took me a while to convince family members not to flush things like paper towels and tissues. The thing is that they are made to hold together while wet. TP dissolves, which is why you don't use it to wipe up a spill. Those wipes are stronger than any paper towel or tissue. It's no surprise that they're clogging things up. This is a real shit show for sure, pun intended.

[captain queeg]

3. Dumbasses will be causing major problems in apartments and urban areas

Once the septic systems start backing up we can add a bunch more health issues and diseases to what’s going on. Plumbers and maintenance crews are going to be staying home like everyone else.

[LisaL]

4. Some of us predicted this was going to happen.

While discussing necessity of toilet paper.

[Maeve]

5. NO!!!! Jeez, even the 'flushable' wipes can wreck the system

As "Adam Ruins Everything" put it--you can call tennis balls 'flushable' but that doesn't make it a good idea.

[MFM008]

6. Wait till they get them

Mixed up with the cotenelle wipes.......🤪

[Kaleva]

7. Living on the high end of town has it's advantages.