Don’t flush wipes in the toilet
Fairfax County urges residents not to flush wipes in the toilet, including those labeled “flushable.”
A major regional sewer line that carries wastewater from Fairfax County is currently undergoing emergency repairs. During maintenance work, wipes clogged several pumps along the line, reducing capacity and contributing to a wastewater overflow, the county states. Crews are working to restore full system capacity while repairs continue.
Unlike toilet paper, wipes do not break down in the sewer system. Instead, they can accumulate and clog pumps and pipes. During infrastructure repairs, the system is more vulnerable to blockages that reduce capacity and increase the risk of overflows.
Wastewater from parts of Fairfax County travels through this regional sewer line to Washington, D.C. Because the system crosses jurisdictional boundaries, what is flushed locally can affect equipment and waterways downstream.
To protect the Potomac River and the regional wastewater system:
- Flush only pee, poop. and toilet paper.
- Throw all wipes in the trash.
Amen. EVEN WIPES LABLED FLUSHABLE WILL CLOG SEWER LINES. ALL WIPES CLOG PIPES. THE NEXT BACK UP COULD BE DIRECTLY TO YOUR BATHROOM OR A NEIGHBOR”S BATHROOM
Seems like whatever company is producing non-flushable wipes but labeling them as flushable deserves to get a huge, or maybe many, lawsuits.
Early contender for photo of the year award.
Maybe DC and Marylanders should start flushing these things and thus plug their ongoing leak!