CA Sanitary District Receives 2015 “WuHoo” Award for Disposable Wipes Campaign Efforts

The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District received the 2015 Dr. Teng-chung Wu Pollution Prevention Award, affectionately known as the “WuHoo Award,” from the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board on Sept. 9.

The WuHoo Award recognizes CCCSD’s efforts in discouraging flushing of disposable wipes.

“Disposable wipes, even those labeled as flushable, are a problem for all wastewater collection and treatment agencies,” said Melody LaBella, the district’s pollution prevention program coordinator. “Significantly more maintenance work is required to remove masses of flushed wipes from sewer pipes, pumps, and treatment plant equipment.”

The Sanitary District’s effort to limit disposable wipes began in 2009, when tangled masses of wipes began clogging one of its pumping stations.

Since then, the district’s “Wipes Clog Pipes!” campaign has spread the message at community events and through newsletters, social media ads, and a large billboard.

The Disposable Wipes Problem

Wipes advertised as disposable or flushable may not be that versatile after all.  Consumers who follow the flushing directions sometimes find their toilets and septic tanks clogged with wipes, and the wipes are known to clog municipal systems.

Although they are supposed to biodegrade quickly, these flushable wipes are costing millions of dollars of damage to both consumers’ pipes and wastewater treatment plants’ plumbing.

Damage To Wastewater Plants and Homes Alike

Consumers are taking their frustrations out through Internet forums, complaining about exorbitant plumbing costs with the use of flushable wipes. With high labor rates, homeowners are paying hundreds of dollars to fix clogged toilets.

The damage doesn’t stop at the toilet level. Some homeowners’ septic tanks have failed altogether, requiring extensive repairs to make the home functional again.

Consumers have even seen wastewater flow back into the home through showers and sinks. Even if consumers follow the disposable wipes’ directions, by flushing one wipe at a time, they are still experiencing plumbing problems.

Additionally, as consumers diligently flush the wipes one at a time, they are slowly accumulating at wastewater treatment plants. Many city sewer officials across the country are finding that more treatment equipment, including intricate piping, is breaking down from the flushable wipes influx. Sewer workers’ efficiency has dropped significantly as they rearrange schedules to simply resolve clogs within the system.

Aside from labor costs, specialty equipment is being installed just to deal with the disposable wipes. A grinding machine, costing $1 million, is necessary to break the flushable wipes down before they enter the main sewer lines and pump area.

Flushable Wipes Lawsuit Investigation

Consumers who experienced plumbing problems after using “flushable” toilet wipes may have legal recourse. Many of these disposable wipes are marketed as being “flushable,” suggesting that they will break down in water the same way toilet paper does.

However, consumers and sewage officials nationwide have complained that these disposable wipes are not flushable, and are actually clogging pipes and causing extensive problems for septic systems.

Attorneys are currently investigating whether the manufacturers of these flushable wipes may be held responsible for misleading consumers into believing the wipes are flushable. If you believe your plumbing system has been damaged from using disposable wipes, you may be able to collect financial compensation.

Join a Flushable Wipes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased one of the following flushable wet wipes, you may qualify to join a free class action lawsuit investigation:

• Babyganics® flushable wipes
• Charmin Freshmates
• CVS flushable wipes
• Equate® flushable wipes by Wal-Mart
• Kandoo® flushable wipes by Pampers
• up & up® flushable wipes by Target
• Walgreens flushable wipes
• Other flushable wipe products

Join Now