Tag Archives: Nondispersibles

Collections Systems Professionals Invent New Tools for Battle Against Non-Flushables

June 30, 2020

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Northumbrian Water sewerage maintenance operative Mark McCone overlooks the Porcupine (left), a tool invented by colleague Ray Armstrong in 2014 to prevent blockages related to woven wipes and identify their sources. McCone recently invented two successors to the Porcupine, named the Stinger and the Sentinel. Image courtesy of Northumbrian Water

Flushing household products – such as wet wipes for restroom use or cosmetic wipes for removing makeup – is a global issue for the wastewater sector. These products are often mislabeled as “flushable” despite their inability to disperse in conventional collections systems. Flushing them can result in costly and messy septic backups, environmental contamination, and […]

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Coronavirus Pandemic Renews Interest in Flushables Issue

May 15, 2020

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The coronavirus pandemic has attracted renewed attention to the issue of labeling sanitary wipes and other consumer products as “flushable” even if they do not disperse easily in conventional collection systems.  Image courtesy of Renate Köppel/Pixabay

During the coronavirus pandemic, water utilities around the world are emphasizing the importance of flushing only the “Three Ps” — pee, poop, and toilet paper. In March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amplified the water sector’s plea, urging Americans only to flush toilet paper and dispose of all other items in garbage receptacles. The […]

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Invasion of the Fatbergs Coming to a Screen Near You

April 23, 2019

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Invasion of the Fatbergs Featured

Florida outreach campaign centers around spoof horror-movie trailer The horrors of fatbergs — those accumulations of grease, baby wipes, paper towels, and other trash that combine to block wastewater pipes — are very real for water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). JEA, a public utility in Jacksonville, Fla., decided to have a little fun bringing these […]

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Federal Judge Postpones D.C. Wipes Law

February 7, 2018

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On Dec. 22, a federal judge blocked the Nonwoven Disposable Products Act of 2016, a law proposed by the Washington, D.C. City Council that would discourage wipes manufacturers from inaccurately labeling their products as “flushable,” until the city issues a labeling rule. The first flushable wipes law in the U.S. was set to take effect in […]

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Water Advocates Help Defeat Wipes Rider

August 19, 2017

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Water Advocates Featured

Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) advocates helped defeat a proposal in Congress that would have counteracted efforts to reduce damages caused by wipes that do not disintegrate when flushed. U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R–Md.) offered an amendment that would have revoked a law passed by the Council of the District of Columbia. The local […]

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‘What Not To Flush’ Messaging Hits the Streets of California

October 6, 2016

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Flushables - Dublin San Ramon - Truck Wrap 1

The Dublin (Calif.) San Ramon Services District’s public education messaging has gone mobile. To spread its messages about items not to be flushed down toilets and the value of water, the district has equipped their vehicles with educational signs. The district’s “What Not To Flush” program asks customers to never flush wipes, diapers, or feminine […]

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Can’t Flush This

June 29, 2016

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Photo courtesy of United Utilities.

United Utilities (Warrington, England) produced a music video called “Can’t Flush This.” The parody of M.C. Hammer’s 1990 hit “Can’t Touch This,” communicates the negative consequences of flushing items not intended to go down the toilet. In the video, “MC Plumber” and his two assistants rap in a bathroom and breakdance outside while conveying the […]

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What 2 Flush

May 18, 2016

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What 2 Flush Featured

To educate ratepayers about wipes and many other products that can cause clogs and harm the environment, the Orange County Sanitation District (Fountain Valley, Calif.) launched its What 2 Flush website. The online resource includes public service announcements, nondispersible-related news, and list of information explaining why certain materials shouldn’t be put down the drain. Materials […]

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