From babies to kitchen counters, we’re all familiar with the dirty deeds carried out by sanitary wet wipes. When it comes to wreaking havoc on our sewer infrastructure, however, wet wipes have more than one dirty secret.
Most of those involved in sanitation agencies and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) already know the first secret: the vast majority of “flushable” wipes are not flushable at all. The second little appreciated attribute of wipes, however, is that they contribute to microplastics pollution. It is this second fact that makes wet wipes so problematic for our sewer systems and, ultimately, our environment.
A recent CWEA/CASA webinar shared the latest facts on wipes and the preliminary findings of a CASA-sponsored study conducted by ten member agencies to understand and document the fate of various disposable wipes—flushable and not flushable—in sewage collection systems. I attended the webinar presentation and came away with a new appreciation of the history of the disposable wipes industry, the costly damage they cause when flushed into the sewer, the potential public health risks they pose when they cause sanitary sewer overflows (SSO), and their potential to cause lasting environmental damage.
Wet wipes were first introduced to the American consumer in the early 1960s. They were invented and patented by Arthur Julius, a former cosmetics industry employee, and most successfully marketed to the restaurant industry.
According to the presentation by CASA staff Jessica Gauger and Jared Voskuhl, wipes are labelled by manufacturers (INDA) as either “flushable” or “do not flush” based on their composition. Non-flushable wipes are typically composed of wood pulp and plastic fibers which have the potential to leech microplastics into waterways when introduced to the sewer system and landfills. Supposedly “flushable” wipes are typically composed of wood pulp and regenerated cellulose (rayon/lyocell). Despite these slightly less harmful (though still plastic) constituents, their “flushability” is cause for concern.
The INDA standard for flushability only requires that 60% of the wipe break down after 60 minutes in a very turbulent environment. This environment is equivalent to 60 minutes in ocean force waves which, as you may imagine, is not representative of the average sewer environment. In fact, a recent study by Ryerson University in Ontario, Canada, tested 101 single-use wipes and not a single one of them dispersed well enough to pass a flushability test. Wastewater (IWSFG) dispersibility standards contend that in order to be flushable 95% of the wipe must break down after 30 minutes in a less turbulent environment to better replicate real sewer conditions. The difference in labeling and misleading advertising has led to inconsistencies and consumer confusion. Moreover, the flushing of these wipes results in fatbergs and clogs that cause major damage to sewer infrastructure.
As if wipes weren’t already a problem for our sewer system, the onset of COVID-19 brought forth a storm of sorts (I’ll leave you to fill in the pun). According to Gauger and Voskuhl, California’s stay-at-home order and sanitation guidelines coupled with a toilet paper shortage resulted in an influx of wipes in our sewer pipes. This lead to a spike in blockages in sewer collection systems, lift stations, and pumps. These blockages caused Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) that are not only unhealthy for people, animals, and the environment, but also costly to clear and repair, resulting in higher sewer rates. What’s more, the disposal of cleared material can lead to the creation of microplastics pollution in our groundwater and waterways, entering the food chain and ultimately our bodies.
In other words, those expensive wipes cost you more than you think.
The good news is that the wastewater industry and advocacy organizations like CASA are working on better standards for flushability and labelling. There is hope that the US can catch up to other countries that use safe, dispersible wipes. In the meantime it’s up to all of us to keep wipes out of our pipes to reduce the strain on our drains!