World Toilet Day, an observance of the United Nations held annually on November 19, is designed to raise awareness of people living without access to safely managed sanitation. Visit https://www.un.org/en/observances/toilet-day for more information. But it’s also a great time to educate ourselves about a growing nationwide problem that is compromising the integrity of our own sanitation treatment systems.
From baby wipes to a bulb syringe, from makeup to mop heads, from dentures to diapers. Those are just a sampling of items discovered in sewer pipes and wastewater processing facilities – items that cause backups and breaks, ultimately leading to costly repairs at taxpayer expense. In addition, so-called “flushable wipes” have become a major problem. Workers often have to clean out check valves on a daily basis, removing hundreds of pounds of “gunk” that, left unchecked, could significantly damage the sewer system.
To Flush Or Not To Flush? Only Flush The “Three Ps”
As illustrated by the types of items retrieved from clogged toilets and governmental water treatment systems, the things people flush range from surprising to unbelievable. In contrast, the types of things safe for flushing can be easily understood by this simple phrase: Only flush the three Ps – Pee, Poop and (toilet) Paper. The first two Ps are obvious, but the third one is an area of growing concern with the popularity of various wipes and the degree to which these are truly safe for our home plumbing and community sewer systems.
Toilet paper is designed to break down and fall apart quickly when it contacts water and is agitated, which allows it to dissolve well when it flows through your pipes and enters the sewer or septic system. In contrast, most wipes are made from synthetic or blended fibers that take a long time to break down, causing snags and clogs and accumulating to form major blockages. This can be easily demonstrated by dropping a sheet of toilet paper and a single wipe in separate glasses of water, side-by-side. After only a few seconds, the toilet paper will fall apart in your hand, while the wipe will likely maintain its form even after trying to pull it apart.
Bad Flushing Habits Now Can Cost You Big Bucks Later
Toilet paper is designed to break down and fall apart quickly when it contacts water and is agitated, which allows it to dissolve well when it flows through your pipes and enters the sewer or septic system. In contrast, most wipes are made from synthetic or blended fibers that take a long time to break down, causing snags and clogs and accumulating to form major blockages. This can be easily demonstrated by dropping a sheet of toilet paper and a single wipe in separate glasses of water, side-by-side. After only a few seconds, the toilet paper will fall apart in your hand, while the wipe will likely maintain its form even after trying to pull it apart.
Bad Flushing Habits Now Can Cost You Big Bucks Later
“Just Because It Can Be Flushed, Doesn’t Mean It Should.” That’s the tagline of the “Get FlushSmart” campaign sponsored by the Responsible Flushing Alliance, an independent, nonprofit trade association committed to educating consumers and reducing damage to critical sewage infrastructure. Visit https://www.flushsmart.org for more information. The Alliance says that, on average, it costs between $300-$450 to repair home plumbing system damage caused by clogs, and from $4,000-$15,000 if a whole-house re-pipe is needed. According to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, wipes add almost half a billion dollars per year in operating costs for US water utilities – costs that will likely be borne by taxpayers. Visit https://www.nacwa.org/home for more information.
Are Flushable Wipes Really Safe To Flush?
Whether a wipe is marked “do not flush” or “flushable,” most experts agree they aren’t good for our water supplies and the systems that treat them. Just because a wipe fits inside your toilet’s siphon jet (that’s the small opening at the bottom of your toilet bowl that creates the “flushing power”), doesn’t mean it will disintegrate once it disappears from your view. The International Water Services Flushability Group, comprised of water services providers and the associations that represent them, have created specifications for products marketed at truly safe when flushed down the toilet. Visit https://www.iwsfg.org for more information. While some states have passed laws with respect to labeling, there is currently no state law in Florida nor federal standard that flushable wipes meet specific standards in order to be labeled as such.
The Bottom Line
Stick only to the Three Ps when it comes to being confident about what’s safe to flush down your toilet. Recognizing the importance of this issue to customers and communities, the Florida Governmental Utility Authority is developing an educational campaign that will be launched in the months ahead. Details will be announced at https://www.fgua.com.
Ditto, dental floss!
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