The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is reminding residents to only flush toilet paper and human waste.
Wipes and other non-flsuhable items should be disposed of in the trash, not the toilet.
“Flushing things that aren’t meant to be flushed can damage your own sewer pipes as well as the sewer treatment facilities that we all depend on,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Even so-called ‘flushable’ wipes shouldn’t be put in the toilet.”
The DEP said that even if the products are labeled with the words "flushable" or "biodegradable," they're not meant for the sewer system. Flushing materials such as these can cause backups in the sewer system resulting in costly fees for repairs and potential impact to the environment if the overflow makes its way to streams, rivers or lakes.
In March, the Pitsburgh Water & Sewer Authority issued a similar warning to Pittsburgh residents.
The DEP also says food scraps, grease and oils should not be put down drains as they too can cause issues in wastewater systems.
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