The Department of Public Works is urging residents not to flush disinfecting wipes, towelettes and baby hygiene products down the toilets. Even though some of these household products are labeled and marketed as “disposable” and/or “flushable,” they still have the ability to clog drains and sewer lines on your property. These products can cause blockages and service problems in the public sewer system and at pumping stations.
Unlike toilet paper, these products do not break down once they are flushed. Business owners and homeowners are responsible for keeping their sewer connections open to the public sewer system, so repair of blockages in the pipelines can be costly to the property owners, as well as to the city when the blockages occur farther down the line. When these products get into the public sewer system, they collect together, cause very large obstructions and clogs in the main collector lines and get tangled in pump stations, requiring repair, or worse, replacement of equipment.
Please place these items in the trash, not the toilet.