Flushable Wipes Under Investigation for Clogging Toilets

Investigations have been launched into potential issues consumers may be facing after using flushable wipes. Consumers  bought these products with the assumption that they were safe to dispose down the toilet, but many report that the wipes ended up damaging their plumbing systems.

Despite being marketed as flushable, biodegradable, and sewer and septic safe, some of these products are being suspected of not breaking down in the water and causing clogs. Consumers have reported having to spend hundreds of dollars in repairs to unclog blocked pipes and toilets. Meanwhile, waste-water treatment plants have repeatedly announced having to spend millions to repair and replace damaged machinery that could not process the flushable wipes.

Consumers have posted negative reviews online, reviewing wipe brands such as Kleenex, Cottonelle, Wet Ones, and Charmin, claiming that they were forced to spend hundreds of dollars to unclog their pipes after flushing the wipes. It was also indicated that even if the wipes were used sparingly, they could still cause plumbing problems. One reviewer claimed his toilet clogged after flushing just one wipe. In the reviews, consumers reported a variety of plumbing issues after using the wipes:

• Toilet clogs
• Increased utility rates
• Septic backups in bathrooms, showers, and basements
• Septic system failure

Additionally, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission stated that hundreds of man hours have been wasted removing these wipes and repairing broken equipment. Last year, the commission reportedly spent $1 million installing a special grinding system that was designed to shred the wipes and other non-flushable products before they reach the sewer pumps.

Overview of Flushable Wipe Issues

Several inquiries have been conducted to determine whether it is advisable for consumers to flush these products. Wipes from Kleenex, Cottonelle, Charmin, and Scott were compared by Consumer Reports, which found that the wipes remained intact for at least 10 minutes after being immersed in water. In contrast, the same test showed toilet paper broke apart in seconds. Another study was conducted in Vancouver, Wash., after the city spent more than $1 million replacing several sewage pumps that were being routinely clogged by the wipes.

This time, Kirkland flushable wipes were put to the test by Vancouver’s sewage employees. The workers dyed the flushable wipes and non-flushable wipes (as a control group) with bright colors and sent them down the sewer system for one mile. When the employees checked the wipes at the half-way point, the non-flushable wipes were still intact and the marketed “flushable” wipes only showed minor rips and tears.

Due to the sheer volume of complaints, the Federal Trade Commission recently started looking into the label claims on “flushable” wipes. As of now, there are no set standards for these products. Consumers buy these wipes due to being touted as being safe to flush.

These problems have led to the potential of filing a flushable wipes class action lawsuit and has caused a new investigation to be launched. The investigation is to help consumers who were economically harmed by these products. The plaintiffs have stated that they would not have purchased or flushed the wipes if they had known they were not flushable.