Does It Flush? Why it matters to you!
It really does matter! The label “flushable” on products like wipes and kitty litter are not truly accurate. Yes it will flush out of your toilet bowl but chances are very good that it won’t get through the pipes under your house. If it does it will eventually clog up under the street and that means backups for your whole neighborhood.
Why?
“Flushable” does not mean it will dissolve in the 30-90 seconds necessary to pass through the pipes into the sewer or septic system. Many products like facial tissue and wipes take hours or days to break down. The term "flushable" certainly is a catchy phrase. Add "safe for sewer and septic systems" and it makes a very powerful sales pitch. The fact is the only things that should be flushed are toilet paper and waste matter.
- Here is a great video demonstrating how materials do and do not dissolve: https://youtu.be/SLTVqkXVvNk
- Oregon Live article discusses how agencies all over the United States are seeing damage and increased costs caused by products marketed to the public as Flushable http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/09/flushable_bathroom_wipes_blame.html#incart_river_default
- Portland’s KOIN TV also investigated sewer line clogs and increased costs caused by so called "flushable" products. See that segment at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hdX3c5wcgE
It Gets Worse?
Now add to this the food grease people rinse down the sink. Grease may thin with soap and hot water but under your house the temperature is 40 degrees and it congeals again in the pipes. Let’s include old medications flushed down toilets and dental floss or other personal products and you can imagine the clogs and debris in the sewer pipes. If these clogs build up under your house or street everyone in your neighborhood is at risk to experience sewage back up in their homes.
What else?
If these clogs move far enough down the lines they end up in the “pump stations” which are designed to force sewer uphill to the treatment plant by using massive pumps. The damage to the pumps by un-dissolved wipes, personal products, food grease and kitty litter can cost thousands of dollars. A replacement pump can be $5,000 – $50,000 dollars each. The City has over 20 pumps in the system and the life of these pumps is shortened by the amount of debris and clogs they encounter. These pumps are monitored constantly and crews are sent out 24 hours a day when a clog or issue occurs.
The Public Works Division monitors and maintains the sanitary sewer pipe system, which consists of over 80 miles of pipe in Newberg. They utilize specialized underwater cameras and vacuum systems in an effort to prevent build up however it is not feasible to monitor the entire system 24 hours a day. Thousands of people putting non waste items in toilets and down sinks are costing everyone more in emergency maintenance, repairs and replacement.
The City of Newberg along with other agencies including the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies urges all property owners to save money and public resources by not putting anything into the toilet except toilet tissue and waste. Prescriptions, wipes, facial tissues, dental floss and grease do not belong in our sewer system.
- Need Tips on disposal of Kitchen Grease and Oils? See our Tip sheet “Freeze the Grease”
- Medication recycling drop box is available free all weekdays at the Public Safety Building located at 401 E Third St Newberg Oregon
