Wipes Damage Wastewater Treatment Plants

Fatbergs could sink the wastewater treatment plant.

Fatbergs are large masses of congealed fat, “flushable” wipes, and other debris that can build up in wastewater systems and cause major blockages. The accumulation of these materials can be dangerous for wastewater treatment plants and lead to costly repairs.

To prevent this, please do not flush anything except toilet paper, especially not the so-called “flushable” wipes.

"Those wipes don't dissolve like toilet paper, and they get tangled around equipment and sensors in our wastewater treatment plants," said Utilities Director Randy Williams.

These wipes have become a nationwide problem, forcing cities to make costly repairs.

In 2019, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) conducted a study about how wipes affect wastewater systems. The study found that even if wipes say they are flushable, they still cause damage when they get into public wastewater systems.

"When flushed, wipes regularly create problems in home plumbing, public sewer system piping, pump stations, and treatment plants," according to the report.

So please, help us keep the pipes clear; don't flush anything except toilet paper.

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