Pandemic causes plumbing problems
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LAKE COUNTY – The COVID-19 pandemic has left some grocery-store shelves low on toilet paper, so paper towels are being utilized. For cleaning often-touched surfaces, disinfectant wipes are being used regularly. The change has resulted in a spike of these materials being deposited in public sewer systems.
On Thursday, city workers in Ronan spent the majority of the morning working on a sewer clog on the southeast side of the town. “We have experienced an increase in mainline blockage calls during the last several weeks,” said Dan Miller, director of Public Works for the City of Ronan. “Today, in response to a homeowner’s complaint, we cleared a sewer main and found a large quantity of wipes.”
Wipes are a problem for sewer infrastructures in cities of all sizes and in all parts of the country. Although many products are labeled as flushable or disposable, they are commonly constructed with fabric or synthetic fibers and are designed to remain intact. They don’t disintegrate like toilet paper.
Sanitation officials say that wipes, when flushed into the sewer system, generally take longer to break down or deteriorate when compared to traditional toilet paper and wreak havoc on sewer systems.
In the wastewater treatment process, wipes can either wrap around and jam up equipment or create sewer line blockages by accumulating layer upon layer. These globs of gunk can become stuck in the pumps and block.
While public sewer systems across the state are reporting increases in wipe-related mainline sewer obstructions, many have also seen an uptick in clogged toilets and sewage system backups due to the coronavirus-induced toilet paper shortage. The replacement alternatives for toilet paper have caused havoc within the sewer systems, including paper towels, restaurant napkins and strips of old clothing.
Polson Water and Sewer Superintendent Ashley Walker said that his department hasn’t experienced any problems. Walker further explained that his department has been very proactive in educating the public by placing informational reminders in their customer’s monthly statements and posting a list of flushable products on the department’s website. “Our customers have been doing an excellent job following the guidelines,” said Walker.
