Blockages can occur either in the OUA's main sewer line or in the private sewer service line, which the property owner owns and is responsible to maintain. The private line, also known as the lateral, connects the home or building to the sewer system. Wastewater from sinks, showers, toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines flows through the lateral line to the public sewer system. Lateral lines can be blocked or obstructed by items washed down drains and flushed down toilets. Sewer pipe backups are a problem that no homeowner wants to have; take a proactive approach and keep your pipes clog‐free.

Just because the package says they are disposable doesn’t mean you should flush pre-moistened personal wipes down the toilet. Many pre-moistened wipes don’t break down in the sewer system as toilet paper is designed to do. If you check the label closely, many packaged wipes state they are not to be flushed down the toilet. Even the wipes labeled as flushable may clog your plumbing, sewer lines and pumps and shorten the life of equipment in the sewer system.

Toilet paper is an organic material, which breaks down easily and is acceptable to the treatment process.

At your home, the clog could lead to back-ups and expensive repair bills. For sewer utilities, clogs can cost millions of dollars each year to remove wipes that may mix with fats and grease in sewer lines to form massive clogs.  Sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants were not designed to handle wipes. They catch passing debris and grease creating a "ball" that clogs pipes. They also get drawn into the sewer collection lines and pumps, then clog and damage them. They are costing home and business owners a lot of money; municipalities are spending thousands in additional maintenance and premature equipment repair and replacement.

Other items to keep out of the toilet are cleaning wipes, disposable diapers, dental floss, paper towels, and pop-off scrubbers on toilet cleaning wands. These should all go into the trash.

 Tips to prevent costly backups:

1. If it is not toilet paper, it does not go with the flow and should not be flushed.
2. Place a waste bin in the bathroom, preferably near the toilet, so nobody's tempted to flush other items.
3. Inform your children and houseguests.
4. Wipes are the number one problem; however, there are many other items being flushed so remember, if it is not human waste or toilet paper, it is trash so do not flush.

Please flush wisely to protect pipes and our environment.

Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable? (Consumer Reports)