By Neil Doyle
BLOOMINGTON – With toilet paper flying off the shelves, many households are increasing their use of “flushable” wipes, but Illinois American Water warns against flushing these items down the toilet.
According to the company, flushing baby wipes – even those that are labeled flushable or biodegradable – and paper towels down the toilet can lead to sewer backups and in-home plumbing issues.
“I’m not going to advise against using the wipes because in times like these they are handy, but I would refrain from flushing them down the toilet,” said Eric Haney, owner of A-1 Haney Plumbing in Bloomington. “I would keep a garbage with a bag near the toilet to dispose of them.”
“They don’t degrade like your toilet paper does, they take a lot longer, and if you have any imperfections in your piping it can hang up in those spots and it will just build up until you plug your sewer,” said Haney.
Haney added that flushing the wipes could lead to sewer backups at city pumps.
In addition to disinfection wipes, Illinois American Water also warns against pouring grease, fat or oil down the drain.
Tips for homeowners include:
- Allow grease to cool and use a rubber scraper to remove the fat, oil and grease from cookware, plates,
utensils and cooking surfaces. Then place the grease in a sealed container and dispose of it in the trash. - Install baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and empty them into the trash.
- Keep in mind, garbage disposals do not prevent grease from washing down the drain. Also, detergents
that claim to dissolve grease may pass it down the line and cause problems in other parts of the
wastewater system.
Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]
