The original item was published from April 26, 2021 8:04 AM to April 27, 2021 2:04 PM
Do NOT Flush Disinfecting Wipes OR Paper Towels Down The TOILET – Throw Them IN THE TRASH Instead!
Public agencies encourage Californians to follow the Centers for Disease Control recommendations to clean surfaces with disinfecting wipes to reduce the spread of COVID-19; it is important to discard those items in the trash, not the toilet.
Flushing wet wipes, paper towels and similar products down toilets will clog sewers and cause backups and overflows in our city and nearby waterways, creating an additional public health risk in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Even wipes labeled “flushable” will clog pipes and interfere with sewage collection and treatment throughout the state.
Wastewater treatment facilities around the state are reporting issues with their sewer collection systems that run beneath our cities. These clean water utilities are asking folks to throw them in the trash instead to avoid backups and sewage overflows.
This can lead to beach closures and impact public health and safety!
Wipes are among the leading causes of sewer system backups, impacting sewer system and treatment plant pumps and treatment systems. Many spills go to our lakes, rivers, and oceans where they have broad ranging impacts on public health and the environment, killing fish and contributing to algae growth.
Happy Spring! Help Keep Our Sewers Clean!