You already know not to put fats, oils and grease (FOG) and potato peels and other gooey stuff down your sinks, or even the garbage disposal, right? Do you also know that you shouldn’t put “flushable” wipes down your toilet?
Several brands of wet wipes advertise that they are flushable, and safe for sewers and septic systems. Well, the fact is that they don’t break down fast enough and they can clog your pipes. View this cautionary 2 minute video from Consumer Reports: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/video-hub/home–garden/bed–bath/flushable-wipes/16935265001/22783507001/
Also, while your home may have modern plumbing, your City or County sewer system is probably quite old. The Water Environment Federation (WEF) held its annual convention last month and they are warning the public that wet wipes are causing serious problems with our waste water systems.
You are probably already going green and have switched to a low-flow toilet and have water restrictors on your faucets and showers. That saves you money, but it means that less volume of water is flowing through your pipes to push the waste through. At The Kastrop Group we recommend that all new plumbing be sloped at a minimum of ¼” per foot to help the pipes drain and reduce the chance of clogs.
Be sure that you are protecting your pipes from clogs and your community’s sewer system from non-disintegrating wipes and paper towels. For more information on non-dispersible products, visit the National Association of Clean Water Agencies http://www.nacwa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1581&Itemid=335 Happy Thanksgiving!