Have you ever bought a pack of personal care wipes, believing they were perfectly fine to flush down the toilet? Even those wipes labeled as "flushable" aren't truly flushable, as they don't break down in water the way toilet paper does. Check out the above three images to compare what an antibacterial wipe, "flushable" wipe, and toilet paper look like after being submerged in water for 12+ hours. This resembles what they look like in your pipes and the public wastewater collection system!
When these non-dissolved materials accumulate in pipes and pumps, it can cause some serious clogging problems. If the clog occurs on private property, the property owner is responsible for the plumbing bill. To avoid that expense, be sure to only flush #1, #2, and the paper hanging next to you. You'll also be helping to protect our local waterways and environment, as an accumulation of too many wipes in pipes can lead to backup of wastewater into homes and public spaces.
Starting this July, product packaging for baby wipes, makeup wipes, cleaning wipes, and other personal care wipes sold in Oregon will have to clearly indicate that these products should not be flushed down toilets, after
HB 2344 takes effect.
Thanks, Eugene-Springfield for keeping our community safe and beautiful! Learn more about how you can prevent pollution and protect our waterways
on our website.