Are you flushing those supposedly "flushable" wipes?

[T_R_Oglodyte]

You really shouldn't be ....

Coronavirus Pandemic Renews Interest in Flushables Issue - WEF Highlights

During the coronavirus pandemic, water utilities around the world are emphasizing the importance of flushing only the “Three Ps” — pee, poop, and toilet paper. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amplified the water sector’s plea, urging Americans only to flush toilet paper...

news.wef.org

 

[Passepartout]

Unless you have an unlimited budget for plumbers and Roto-Rooter, DON'T.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Unless you have an unlimited budget for plumbers and Roto-Rooter, DON'T.

Or if you like to pay more fees for discharge to your local sewerage agency or you like to see public sewers plug up and overflow more often.

 

[easyrider]

People are flushing wipes like crazy these days. Even before the covid 19 toilet paper shortage these wipes have been a problem. I had a call on one of our rentals that the toilet wasn't working. I went over to see what was going on and used a cable to try to unclog the line. First pull was a cable covered in wipes. This didn't clear it. I have a power cable but it wouldn't go through and forcing it usually has bad results. Had to hire out and have the guys dig up the sewer line clean out as the clean out was totally plugged at the baffle. What a mess.

Interesting is that the wipes claim to be flush-able on the package. I know this because I wanted to charge the renters for the clog and they claim these were flush-able because the label said so. The cost was about $500. An amendment was signed to actually state what is permissible to flush, lol.

Bill

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I know this because I wanted to charge the renters for the clog and they claim these were flush-able because the label said so. The cost was about $500. An amendment was signed to actually state what is permissible to flush, lol.

Bill

When they put "flushable" on the label, all that means is that it won't clog the toilet - in other words, that it can be flushed. It indicates nothing about what happens after it leaves the toilet.

Travelers in Latin America should be aware of the difference - in almost all areas TP isn't supposed to go in the toilets either, because of clogging issues.

 

[easyrider]

If I hadn't seen the clog with my own eyes I would not believe these wipes turn into a big wad of hard paper machete. The wording in the rental contracts says no foreign objects in the toilet and gives some examples which now include all wipes and paper products except regular toilet paper.

The sinks drains have verbiage about what is acceptable and not acceptable going down the drain. We had one guy put paint down a drain and it hardened to cause a clog. Another guy washed Fix All down the drain and it floated up to the bathtub drain. His wife called to tell me there was a white rock in the bathtub drain.

All of these people were and are very good renters. I put these in the s### happens file, lol.

Bill

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Epidemic of wipes and masks plagues sewers, storm drains

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Mayor Jim Kenney kicked off a recent briefing on Philadelphia's coronavirus response with an unusual request for residents: Be careful what you flush. Between mid-March, when the city’s stay-at-home…

hosted.ap.org

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Officials report 10K gallon sewage spill in Beulah; flushed wet wipes caused a clog

BEULAH — Village officials reported a sewage spill happened this week in Beulah and state regulators confirmed it was because of a baby wipes clog in the pipes.

www.record-eagle.com

 

[x3 skier]

Had RotoRooter come out for a blockage. “Flushable” wipes and roots both were the culprits. Since it was a fixed price that was probably based just on a root clearance, I suspect they lost on this one since they planned on two hours and were here for four. No more “Flushable” in my plumbing systems.

Cheers

 

[pedro47]

No Flushable wipe here. . They are going into a special trash bag. No "Flushable wipes in our septic tank system."

 

[Patri]

Our sewer department has said even tissues should not be flushed. They don't dissolve like tp.
Good idea to put this in rental agreements. I'm sure most people have no idea.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

‘Do Not Flush’: Oregon requires label to stop wipes in pipes

(PAMPLIN MEDIA) — Oregonians need a bit more potty training, according to state lawmakers. After years of angst — and unnecessary costs — for local governments, Oregon became the second state…

www.koin.com

"“There’s no such thing as a flushable wipe,” says Clean Water Services chief of staff Mark Jockers, “even the ones that say they’re flushable.” "

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

E&E News: 'Fatberg' fight: Congress takes plunge on flushable wipes

<p>Congress is plugging its nose and wading into the gnarly problem of whether "flushable wipes" should, in fact, be flushed down the toilet.</p>

www.eenews.net

As noted upthread, "flushable" only means that the wipe will not get stuck in the toilet bowl. It doesn't mean that they are compatible with a sewer system.

Congress is starting to take notice. House appropriators this week included language in the fiscal 2022 Financial Services and General Government bill report that calls on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the marketing claims of flushable wipe manufacturers and make sure companies aren't misrepresenting the nature of their products.

House appropriators noted in the bill that the FTC in 2015 hammered out a consent order with Nice-Pak Products Inc., a maker of wet wipes, in which the company agreed to stop advertising moist toilet tissue as flushable unless it could substantiate that the product is safe to flush.

Wet Wipe Manufacturer Agrees To Substantiate “Flushability” Advertising Claims under Settlement with FTC

Under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, Nice-Pak Products, Inc., a manufacturer of wet wipes, has agreed to stop ad

www.ftc.gov

In addition, Nice-Pak will stop providing trade customers, such as retailers, with information to make such unsubstantiated claims. Costco, CVS, Target, and BJ’s Wholesale Club were Nice-Pak customers that sold the formulation of the company’s moist toilet tissue that was the subject of the complaint under their own private labels.

“The evidence didn’t back up Nice-Pak’s claims that their wipes were safe to flush,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “If you claim a product is flushable, it needs to flush in the real world, without clogging household plumbing or sewer and septic systems.”

According to the FTC’s complaint, Nice-Pak violated the FTC Act by misrepresenting that a certain formulation of its wipes: 1) are safe for sewer systems; 2) are safe for septic systems; 3) break apart shortly after being flushed; and 4) are safe to flush. The FTC also alleges Nice-Pak provided the means and instrumentalities for retailers and others that marketed the product under their own label to make similar misrepresentations. The company’s tests did not reflect, real world household plumbing or septic conditions, the FTC alleged.