Debunking The ‘Flushable Wipe’ Myth

Dealing with "Public Enemy No. 2"

Flushable wipes are an oxymoron, a myth, they don't exist, no matter what the packaging says.

The City of Broken Arrow’s Utilities Department is asking residents to put wipes in the trash, not the toilet, even those marketed as "flushable wipes."

"Public Enemy No. 2"

Considering the most significant challenges worldwide, you might think about war, famine, or the economy. Few of us would think of what New York Magazine called "Public Enemy No. 2"—the indestructible wet wipe!

Global cities are battling this familiar foe as wet wipe use rapidly increases in popularity. If you think about it, disposable wipes are everywhere these days. Baby wipes, Dude Wipes, makeup remover wipes, electronics wipes, furniture wipes—the list is endless.

While they are often marketed as "flushable" and may initially go down the toilet, they are not safe for your plumbing, septic tanks, or especially the City's sewer system.

Common Culprits of Clogs

Wipes are common culprits that clog and shut down city sewer lift stations that carry wastewater to the sewer plant. Large quantities of these materials are flowing weekly into the sewer lift stations around the city. And as a result, they can clog the pumps in the sewer lift stations and shut them down like what happened on April 5, at the Adam’s Creek Lift Station in the northeastern part of the city.

City Utilities workers must manually pull these wipes out of the pumps with their hands to get the pumps running again.

Damage Caused By Wet Wipes

When the pump stations shut down, raw sewage can flow into manholes and wet wells and eventually into our rivers, streams, and ponds. Putting these wipes into the toilet instead of the trash can lead to illnesses in people and animals and harm plant life.

And, if the manholes back up far enough into residential sewer lines, raw sewage can come into your home sinks and bathtubs by entering a path of least resistance, costing you thousands in plumbing bills and home repairs.

When in Doubt, Throw it out!

So, remember no matter what the label says, toilet paper and human waste are the only things anyone should flush down the toilet, not flushable wipes, paper towels, or even Kleenex.

Please help protect the environment and shared water systems by only flushing toilet paper and human waste. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out!