MANCHESTER — They may say "flushable" on the package, but those convenient bathroom wipes are creating a major headache for the City of Manchester's wastewater system.
And the problem doesn't simply disappear when someone flushes the toilet.
Flushable wipes, baby wipes and other disposable cleaning products are contributing to clogged sewer lines and wastewater pumps, forcing city workers to spend time clearing blockages that could otherwise be avoided.
The message to residents is simple: If it's not toilet paper, don't flush it.
Unlike ordinary toilet paper, which is designed to break apart rapidly in water, many disposable wipes remain intact long after being flushed. As they travel through sewer lines, they can become tangled together, collect grease and other debris, and eventually form blockages capable of stopping wastewater pumps.
That means something as simple as flushing a baby wipe can eventually create a much bigger problem for the city's sewer system.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, household products, including some marketed as flushable, can contribute to sewer blockages and overflows.
When wastewater cannot flow properly through the system, sewage can back up into homes and businesses or overflow from sewer lines, creating potential health hazards and environmental damage.
For Manchester, the problem means additional work for city employees who must unclog drains, clear pumps and keep wastewater flowing.
In some cases, workers must remove accumulated wipes and other debris from pumping equipment to restore normal operations.
And those problems come with a cost.
Across the country, wastewater utilities spend millions of dollars annually dealing with damage caused by improperly discarded wipes and other materials.
The Responsible Flushing Alliance reported in 2026 that public agencies nationwide spend more than $440 million annually repairing wastewater equipment damaged by improperly flushed wipes.
Closer to home, the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District reports that unclogging and repairing pumps costs its ratepayers approximately $90,000 annually, with wet wipes responsible for the majority of clogs.
Those expenses illustrate how something that seems harmless inside a bathroom can become costly once it reaches a public sewer system.
The problem isn't limited to large cities.
Corbin Utilities Commission has issued similar warnings to its customers, explaining that wipes advertised as flushable can clog private sewer pipes and damage wastewater pumps.
Even when wipes successfully travel through a home's plumbing, that doesn't mean they will make it through the municipal sewer system without causing trouble.
Wastewater pumping stations are designed to move sewage through the collection system and toward treatment facilities. When wipes become tangled in mechanical equipment, pumps can lose efficiency, become blocked or suffer damage.
Workers must then spend time removing the material, cleaning the equipment and, in some cases, making repairs.
A severe blockage can also cause wastewater to back up into nearby homes or businesses.
The EPA warns that sanitary sewer overflows can release untreated sewage containing bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful organisms. Such incidents can also contaminate waterways and require expensive cleanup efforts.
The situation has become so troublesome that wastewater utilities across the nation have launched public education campaigns reminding customers that toilets are not trash cans.
One of the most common messages is to flush only the "three Ps" — pee, poop and toilet paper.
Baby wipes, personal hygiene wipes, disinfecting wipes, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, cotton swabs and similar materials should all be placed in the trash.
Even products specifically advertised as flushable may not break apart quickly enough to prevent problems in sewer pipes and pumps.
The best solution is also the easiest.
Keep a small trash can in the bathroom and dispose of wipes there instead of flushing them.
Residents should also avoid pouring cooking grease and oil down household drains. Grease can accumulate inside sewer pipes and combine with wipes to create even larger obstructions.
For homeowners, taking these precautions can help prevent expensive plumbing repairs. For the city, fewer wipes entering the system means less time spent unclogging pumps and drains and fewer opportunities for equipment damage.
Manchester's wastewater system is an essential service that residents depend on every day, even if most people rarely think about what happens after they flush.
Keeping that system operating properly requires cooperation from everyone connected to it.
A wipe may disappear from sight in a matter of seconds, but it can remain in the sewer system long enough to create problems for city workers and potentially the entire community.
The bottom line is simple: A toilet is not a trash can. Regardless of what the package says, put wipes in the garbage, not down the drain.
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