No Wipes in Pipes

"Flushable" wipes should not be flushed

Close-up of fatberg caused by "flushable" wipes

Nearly everyday our Utilities Field Operations crews respond to service requests for sewer overflows. What causes raw sewage to back up in your home or office? Sometimes it’s tree roots or other debris, but most often it is grease and wipes. Together, they cause more than half of our sewer backups and create nasty fatbergs in your pipes that clog your system. They cannot be unblocked by hot water or soap -- they must be removed by a professional.No Wipes in Pipes flyer

Remember to only flush the four Ps:  Pee, Poop, Puke & (toilet) Paper

Fatberg in a blocked sewer mainSo-called flushable wipes, along with paper towels, diaper wipes, tampons, sanitary pads, makeup towelettes and even facial tissues (aka: kleenex), cause nearly 35% of local sewage backups. When you flush down the toilet, if a product doesn’t disintegrate immediately like toilet paper, it can clog your pipes. Always throw these items in the trash.

Watch this Adam Ruins Everything episode and you’ll never flush a wipe!
Fatberg chunks in a shovel