Many are familiar with flushable wet wipes. While people may enjoy the convenience and luxury of the wipes, they may not realize the problems they present to the sewer system. Flushable wet wipes can damage personal plumbing systems, resulting in expensive repairs. Wipes can form fatbergs, or masses of solid waste in a sewage system, which can cause major local sewage problems. If left unchecked, fatbergs can damage sewer pumps that serve entire communities.
Wipes are made from the material “air-laid paper,” textile-like material categorized as nonwoven fabric made from fluff pulp, and commonly possess cleansing chemicals, disinfectants and cosmetic fragrances. Due to wet wipes being air-laid and much more robust than normal toilet paper, they don’t disintegrate as easily or quickly when flushed, which can clog sewage treatment equipment and home septic systems.
Since “flushable” wipes fail to disintegrate fast enough, they clog the pumps in the sewage system.
“The more durable the material is, the more likely it is to clog,” Dagher Engineerings plumbing engineer Joe Munafo said. “If you’re flushing paper towels, you’re running a bigger risk than with toilet paper. And if you’re flushing wipes– even flushable wipes– the chance of a clog goes up.”
The continuous flushing of wipes can lead to the clogging of all drains in a home, especially if the wipes have gone far enough down the drainage system. A clogged piping system can lead to the backup of bathtubs, sinks and toilets. Even though some have not yet experienced a clogged drainage system, the problem will eventually occur if they choose to continue flushing wipes down the toilet.
After wipes are flushed down a toilet, they exit the house through a pipe that connects to a public sewer system. Since “flushable” wipes fail to disintegrate fast enough, they clog the pumps in the sewage system. The clogging can lead to a buildup of debris, known as fatbergs. Fatbergs are formed by a combination of non-biodegradable materials.
Clogging can cause the pumps to break down and redirect motionless wastewater back toward houses. The problem requires serious attention and can be incredibly costly both personally and to the community.
The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) addresses the “flushability” of nonwoven disposable products. The overall goal of INDA is to reduce the amount of non-flushable materials in the wastewater stream. Along with the help of technical experts, INDA developed a technical assessment and test methods based on the combined experience of the nonwoven disposable products industry, academics, consultants and the wastewater industry.
Over a long enough time, they can form fatbergs and shut down an entire public sewage system, resulting in repairs that will have to be paid by taxpayer dollars.
Although the INDA tests are diligent, they only follow specific consumer behavior patterns, including the certain number of wipes in a given number of flushes. When people fail to follow the recommended patterns of use, the wipes may not break down properly and, overall, contribute to sewage problems.
To avoid the problems flushable wipes can create, consider replacing the wipes with normal toilet paper. Toilet paper disintegrates quicker and more easily when flushed, which lessens the chance of having a clogged sewage system. Although the safest option is to not flush wipes, if you must use a flushable wipe, check that the manufacturer is a member of INDA, and try to use them sparingly.
There are alternatives that may be superior to wet wipes when considering the risk of harm they pose to personal and community plumbing. In the long run, wet wipes are simply not worth it.
Over a long enough time, they can form fatbergs and shut down an entire public sewage system, resulting in repairs that will have to be paid by taxpayer dollars. Even if the problem never gets quite that bad, wet wipes still present the constant threat of an unexpected and expensive plumbing repair. Think before you flush.
Photo by Kayla Florenco
