The City of Windsor is asking the public to stop flushing "flushable" wipes.
The Public Works Department wants the public to know that while these products are marketed as safe for flushing, they can pose significant challenges to sewage systems and the environment.
According to a release from the city, recent studies have shown that so-called "flushable" wipes do not break down as easily as traditional toilet paper, leading to clogs and blockages in plumbing and sewer systems. This can result in back-ups, costly repairs and environmental damage.
Karina Richters, Supervisor of Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change, says when people flush them, they can get caught in private connections, in your toilet or mainline sewers.
"They're starting to see this occurring more and more and they wanted to bring this out to have people not flush things down the toilet that they're not supposed to," she says.
Richters says if that blockage occurs in your toilet or your sewer connection, that could lead to your own home to have basement flooding issues.
"If it's in the sewer system, it also causes problems as well, basically on the road and the streets. That's what we're trying to avoid," she says.
Richters says if a lot of these also get into the pumping stations or the waste water treatment plants, it can create maintenance issues.
"So the only thing that should go down your toilet, what we always say to the kids, is number one and number two. So pee, poo and toilet paper. Everything else should go into the garbage," she adds.
Residents are being urged to dispose of wipes properly in waste bins rather than flushing them down the toilet. This simple action can contribute to the prevention of sewer blockages, protect our waterways, and reduce the strain on municipal infrastructure.
Click here to find out more information about flushable wipes.