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239-261-1000It can often be tricky to know what is safe. We’ve found the hard way that flushable wipes aren’t flushable after all. Unfortunately, consumers rely on manufacturers on proper procedures of disposing of flushable wipes whether certain toilet paper is safe and then there are items like grease which can be hard to dispose of correctly. These issues start in the home where flushable wipes clog toilets first and if they get through eventually lead to massive clogging of treatment plants.
Not so long ago the sewer system in South Carolina became inoperable after thousands of baby wipes clogged a few of the pumps at the Plumb Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. It required the plant to bring in substitute pumps to keep the system working and this is just the beginning.
This issue affects everyone. New york city alone has had to spend $18 Million dollars on baby wipe related problems and states like Alaska, California, Wisconsin, and Hawaii is among others who have major issues develop because of improper disposal of “flushable baby wipes.”
Often wipes get mixed in with other materials and as a result, the wipes turn into gray, stinky masses that clog our city plumbing facilities. This year alone, a 210-foot mass blocked a sewer in a southwestern English town called Sidmouth were a mixture of fat or grease and wipes congealed into a huge mass that eventually would take around eight weeks to clean up and dispose of properly.
One of the major issues is that wipe companies brand their wipes as “flushable.” Naive home-owners believe the manufacturer and don’t read the small print in the back, which warns consumers that flushing their wipes can cause a blockage. Want to avoid costly plumbing issues, don’t flush anything other than toilet paper and bodily waste.
Here are some warning signs:
– Bad sewer odor coming from a toilet
– Water backup
– Frequently clogged toilets
-Water seeping from the bottom of the toilet
-Brocken or non-functioning valve
After much research about these wipes, we began to question why baby wipe companies claim that their wipes are flushable. Fortunately, this issue has been brought to the courts with countless lawsuits being filed about this issue.
To help prevent these issues and any future unexpected problems with your plumbing, Pro-Tec is offering an annual Maintenance Program that offers you peace of mind. Our team flushes your water heater, checks connections, valves, piping. Visually inspects all plumbing components. We check for leaks or corrosion and clean aerators for proper water flow. The Maintenance Program offers you a 10% discount off of any service and upfront pricing always!
Refferences:
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/08/683359201/massive-fatberg-found-blocking-sewer-in-british-seaside-town
https://www.thameswater.co.uk/?utm_expid=.CQDnhrOFQRmAKDUi6eUGRg.1&utm_referrer=
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/15/nyregion/the-wet-wipes-box-says-flush-but-the-new-york-city-sewer-system-says-dont.html
