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 […]
Tag Archives: Nondispersibles
Collections Systems Professionals Invent New Tools for Battle Against Non-Flushables
Coronavirus Pandemic Renews Interest in Flushables Issue
May 15, 2020
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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 […]
Invasion of the Fatbergs Coming to a Screen Near You
April 23, 2019
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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 […]
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 […]
Water Advocates Help Defeat Wipes Rider
August 19, 2017
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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 […]
‘What Not To Flush’ Messaging Hits the Streets of California
October 6, 2016
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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 […]
Can’t Flush This
June 29, 2016
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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 […]
What 2 Flush
May 18, 2016
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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 […]
June 30, 2020
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