Toilet paper substitutes can cause clogs, city warns

By COLLIN GALLANT on March 20, 2020.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

With so much talk about toilet paper, city utility officials are reminding residents that its potential replacements – wipes and paper towel – can lead to costly and disruptive blockages, and therefore should not be flushed.

Beyond bodily waste, toilet tissue is the only thing that should go into a toilet, say officials. Everything else goes into conventional garbage to avoid damage in homes and throughout the sewer system.

“It is very important that residents understand the impact on the city infrastructure,” said Lora Brennan, the general manager of the environmental utilities department.

Stories of people stocking up with toilet paper and worries about supply persist despite official statements to the contrary as the call to limit outside contact continues to battle COVID-19 spread.

That led City of Medicine Hat utility officials to issue a statement reiterating the potential stand-ins for TP – namely personal hygiene wipes or thicker paper towel – cause substantial clogs after they go down the toilet.

“Manufacturers market them as flushable because they will pass through the toilet, but often get caught at 45-degree bends in the home or sewer system.

“This can then lead to sewer blockages that can result in back-ups in the home or the city system.”

Each year the city’s sewer department spends time and money clearing out a variety of items, like wipes, grease, feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, from the system and at the waste water treatment plant.

Currently the department is focused on conserving resources and manpower, and a significant number of clogs could hamper operations, said Brennan, as well as lead to clogs and backups in homes.

Toilet tissue is designed to break down when soaked, but paper towel and even facial tissues is stronger.

Likewise human waste will liquefy and flow more easily than undigested food.

A number of other items should be kept out of toilets, including cotton balls, condoms, dental floss, baby wipes, diapers, kitty litter (which can be marketed as flushable), hair, gum, medication, and bleach.