Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable?

As parents to a toddler, it’s fair to say we’ve gone through our fair share of wet wipes in the past two years.   These modern conveniences are a lifesaver for grubby fingers, faces and bottoms.  Some of the wet wipes available for both adults and children claim to break down in waterways and be “flushable”.

The unfortunate news for those with a septic system is that these wipes wont always break down in time for your septic system to leach them out.  When regular toilet paper comes into contact with water, it deteriorates and pulls apart.  Wet wipes on the other hand, are designed to maintain a level of consistency when soaked, hence they do not fall apart when removed from their packaging.  What you need is a wipe that holds together long enough to be removed from the packet, but quickly enough that it breaks down in your system.  In reality, what you are getting are a variety of products on the market, all made differently, leaving you without a clear idea as to just how many wipes your system can handle at any one time.

Many septic systems are built from concrete and are susceptible to the growth of tree roots (we’ll cover this in a future post).  Roots may begin to grow in the septic system and form a web, which catch solids and wet wipes as they pass through the pipes.  Toilet paper generally isn’t a problem as it breaks down quickly, but wet wipes can stick together before they are able to break down, creating a soggy, solid mass that can obstruct pipes and disrupt the normal flow of your septic system.  Home owners who are connected to sewer also should be aware of these issues, as wet wipes are increasingly causing major clogging and damages to sewers all around the country.

For local businesses, the tourist season is kicking off and with that comes many visitors that may not even know what a septic system is, let alone proper procedures for their care and maintenance.  A small note on your toilet wall notifying guests about the presence of a septic system and what not to flush can serve as a gentle reminder to others so they can help prolong the life of your system and avoid an unexpected blockage.

Our advice is the only things that should go down the toilet are things that you ate, and a toilet paper.  Anything else you put down there will generally become a problem…it’s just a matter of when. 

It’s hard to say how much or how often you can flush wet wipes.  The safest answer is not at all.  And when the toilets stop flushing on Christmas day, when all the family is around for a barbeque, you can be sure that the manufacturers of these so called ‘flushable’ wipes, wont be there to foot the bill.

If you think that your system may be affected by the flushing of wet wipes, sanitary products, or other foreign objects, give Geographe Liquid Waste a call to see how we can help.