PA American Water Warns Against Flushing Sanitizing, Flushable Wipes

On March 21, Pennsylvania American Water is telling customers not to flush sanitizing wipes and “flushable” wipes down the toilet. 

Flushing wipes, paper towels, or other paper products not intended for use in wastewater systems, down the toilet can lead to sewer backups and in-home plumbing issues which may be expensive to repair. 

Even wipes labeled as “flushable” or “biodegradable” can cause backups for sewer utilities and headaches for homeowners.

“Flushing or dumping the wrong things down the drain can cause problems in your local sewer system and cause blockages in your own home,” said Jim Gable, senior manager of southeast operations for Pennsylvania American Water. “Many sewer blockages occur between your house and our sewer main, where the property owner is responsible for correcting and paying for the repair. During this already stressful time, we want to help our customers avoid blockages that could create costly plumbing emergencies.”

Gable added that improper disposal can also cause problems in the local sewer system. 

“Your dedicated local wastewater system employees continue to come to work every day and make sure your community’s sewage is being properly treated,” he continued. “We provide an essential service, so please help us out by putting wipes, paper towels and other products in the trash where they belong, not in your sewer system where they can damage our equipment and cause blockages.”

In addition to wipes, Pennsylvania American Water also warns against pouring grease, fat or oil down the drain. When washed down the drain, grease and oil can adhere to the insides of the pipes that carry the wastewater from homes and businesses to the sewer treatment facility. 

Over time, this buildup of grease can restrict the flow of wastewater, leading to blockages that can cause sewage overflows or backups in homes and businesses. It can also have an adverse effect on the environment if the overflow enters local rivers, lakes and streams.

Pennsylvania American Water encourages adults and kids alike to watch this “12 Things That Should Never Go Down Your Drain” 30-second video and print and post this poster in areas near sinks and toilets.

Additional tips for homeowners include:

-- Allow grease to cool and use a rubber scraper to remove the fat, oil and grease from cookware, plates, utensils and cooking surfaces. Then place the grease in a sealed container and dispose of it in the trash.

-- Install baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and empty them into the trash.

-- Keep in mind, garbage disposals do not prevent grease from washing down the drain. Also, detergents that claim to dissolve grease may pass it down the line and cause problems in other parts of the wastewater system.

For more information, visit PA American Water’s Preventing Sewer Blockages In the Home webpage. 

[Posted: March 21, 2020]  PA Environment Digest