Owensboro Regional Water Resource Agency (RWRA) is alerting the public that many disposable wipes flushed down toilets are causing blockages in the local sewer systems.
Holly Castlen, RWRA director of environmental compliance, said that wipes that are perceived to be flushable are often found throughout the community in places like nursing homes, daycares and preschools.
However, she said these wipes do not dissolve as traditional toilet paper does. Instead, they elongate as they move through the sewer system and accumulate other solids along the way.
Due to the problem, RWRA said they recently experienced a blockage at the wastewater treatment plant that resulted in equipment and labor costs of almost $5,000.
“Sewers systems are designed to accept human waste and toilet paper. Solids such as wipes, rags, paper towels and feminine products should not be flushed but placed into solid waste receptacles,” Castlen said.
She said that the problem is also not isolated to Owensboro, as cities and sewer agencies around the world are urging flushable wipe manufacturers to re-label their marketing. Some instances have led to federal lawsuits.
People are not being asked to stop using disposable wipes, but are encouraged to throw them away rather than flush them.
