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Are Flushable Wipes Septic Safe?
Flush responsibly and avoid plumbing catastrophes later on
Photo: vladdeep / Adobe Stock
Photo: vladdeep / Adobe Stock
Highlights
Flushable wipes have a hard time clearing the curves in piping.
They contain synthetic materials that don’t break down in water like toilet paper.
If wipes are flushed across many households, the city’s sewer system can shut down.
Flushing these wipes can lead to plumbing emergencies like clogged sewer lines.
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Since labels on “flushable” wipes market them as safe, you should be able to flush them down your toilet, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Most flushable wipes contain synthetic materials that make it impossible for your septic or sewer system to break them down.
Why Flushable Wipes Aren’t Really Flushable
We’ve all been tempted to toss a baby wipe in the toilet, and how harmful could that be? Technically, you can flush a flushable wipe and it probably won’t immediately clog your toilet. However, chances are that once the flushable wipe makes it to the first curve in your pipes, it’ll get stuck there.
Worse yet, flushable wipes tend to build up over time until you have a bigger problem, like having to replace or clean your septic tank.
This isn’t the most cocktail-party-friendly topic, but toilet paper disintegrates in water, allowing it to flow through your plumbing system. Meanwhile, “flushable” wipes contain synthetic materials like plastic or polyester that don’t break down in water or pass through turns in the plumbing system.
Most of us know the dangers of flushing paper towels down the toilet—some of us have even experienced the panic that creeps up when you flush a paper towel and hold your breath to make sure it goes down. Due to the synthetic materials in flushable wipes, they hold together better than paper towels. Over time, because they don’t disintegrate like toilet paper, they will eventually clog your pipes and ultimately cause damage to your plumbing system.
What Happens If You Flush Wipes?
Photo: Peera.P / Adobe Stock
When one person uses flushable wipes, they will likely cause plumbing problems, toilet overflows, and septic issues. But if more and more people in a neighborhood start using flushable wipes, it has a larger impact on city sewage equipment.
Sewage pumps have impellers inside them that pump water through the system. Flushable wipes clog the system, get caught on the impellers, and can cause the entire system to shut down. Think of it like taking a ball of string and wrapping it around the blades of a fan; your fan might not stop immediately, but the string will quickly get tangled and cause a big old mess.
Even worse, when flushable wipes come in contact with oils and fats in the sewage system, they can cause huge solid waste clogs known as “fatbergs.” Fatbergs are dangerous and expensive for cities to get rid of. It can take weeks for teams of workers to clean out a large fatberg.
Why Are Wipes Called Flushable If They Actually Aren’t?
As of now, there aren’t any laws requiring companies to prove that their products are flushable. In other words, packaging can say a product like baby wipes or wet wipes is flushable even though there isn’t any proof.
A study conducted at Ryerson University in 2019 tested 101 single-use products, including 23 labeled as flushable. None of the single-wipe products passed a sewer system test.
Even though we know these products create problems for household plumbing and city sewer systems, consumers experience confusion due to marketing promoting products as flushable.
The Cost of Using Flushable Wipes
Hiring a local plumber in a plumbing emergency will typically cost between $45 and $200 per hour, and the average cost to clean a sewer line is usually $175 to $400. But the problem of flushable wipes costs cities millions of dollars every year, and if your septic system breaks because of the wipes, a new septic system costs up to $20,000.
How to Keep Your Pipes Clear
In simple terms, don’t flush anything but toilet paper down your toilet and avoid rinsing fats and oils down your sink. If you think you have a problem, call a local plumber right away to have it fixed before it builds up into a plumbing emergency.
Amy Pawlukiewicz contributed to this piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some flushable wipes companies say they are designed to disintegrate within a few hours to a few days after being flushed. These wipes allegedly use materials that are more water-soluble than traditional wipes. However, many experts have raised concerns that even so-called "flushable" wipes do not break down as easily as claimed and can contribute to clogs and blockages in sewer systems.
To prevent plumbing and sewer problems, avoid flushing wipes, even those labeled as flushable. Instead, dispose of them in the trash. This can help prevent costly plumbing issues and reduce the strain on wastewater treatment systems.
Toilet paper is the only material that you should flush down toilets. Other items like wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, and medications should be disposed of in the trash. Flushing these items can lead to plumbing issues and damage to sewage systems. Grease and cooking oils should also be avoided as they can solidify in pipes, causing blockages. Proper disposal helps prevent clogs and ensures the efficient operation of wastewater treatment systems while protecting the environment.
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