People are flushing things they shouldn’t, putting the public water system at risk. Stop it, say officials

Cleaning wipes, flushable wipes, paper towels, and rags are being found in sanitary sewers at an alarming rate, area officials tell Potomac Local News.

People are flushing down the toilet things like baby cleaning wipes, paper towels, tissues, dental floss, and tampons, and other sanitary products.

Unlike toilet paper, officials say these products don’t break down when flushed, and they’re now causing clogs and backups in the sewer system.

Flushing wipes, even those labeled flushable, can lead to sewer backups and plumbing issues,” said Stafford County Public Works Director Jason Towery.

In Fredericksburg, officials there are telling residents “No Wipes in the Pipes!”

“Remember that the sewer pipe from your sinks and toilets all the way to the city’s mainline is the responsibility of the home or business owner. So, the clog you prevent may be your own,” said City Manager Tim Baroody.

A problem in more than just pipes, these items also get tangled in pump stations. If that happens, costly repair of equipment is needed, causing backups and potential discharges of raw sewage into homes, businesses, and waterways.

“Water and wastewater services are extremely important for the protection of public health and to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Water is essential to everyone, and we all play a role in wastewater treatment,” added Towery.

Residents should also avoid putting grease down the drain, officials added.

In Prince William County, officials at the Service Authority tell us they will begin their annual spring flushing campaign, where Service Authority’s drinking water providers—Fairfax Water and Manassas City—temporarily change the primary disinfectant in their water treatment process from
chloramines to free chlorine.

The service authority says residents should expect to see trucks in their neighborhoods in the coming weeks, with crews performing hydrant flushing activities.  Customers will also notice slight chlorine smell in their tap water.

“We suggest that customers refrigerate tap water or use water filters to reduce chlorine odor,” states the Service Authority in a press release.

And, because there will be brief periods of cloudiness in their tap water, residents should run cold-water tap for two minutes to reduce cloudiness.