In this crazy time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to think about your sewer system. With your entire family home 24 hours a day / 7 days a week, and the shortage of toilet paper supply, following best practices for paper product disposal can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of headaches.
The toilet paper supply shortage is frustrating, but don’t flush anything else!
It’s very hard to find toilet paper these days. Many people have resorted to alternatives such as bidets, flushable wipes, paper towels, and facial tissue. If you want to avoid a sewer backup, DO NOT flush anything but toilet paper. Just because a product says it’s flushable, doesn’t mean that it’s true. False advertising with wet wipes has caused a lot of problems for years. Additionally, while facial tissue paper such as Kleenex does not advertise as flushable, many people think that it is the same product as toilet paper. It is not. Toilet paper is designed to break down in septic systems, while facial tissue is not designed for flushing. The same is true for paper towels. 1-Ply paper towels may be thin, but they are not engineered to be flushed. Unfortunately, paper towels consist of the largest portion of debris found on the filter screens of wastewater systems.
One simple rule.
Another item that people are starting to flush during the pandemic is disinfecting wipes. These wipes are also not designed to break down in sewer or septic systems and can damage your home’s internal plumbing and sewer system. With bathroom traffic higher than usual because of stay- at-home measures, the likelihood of sewer problems increase when the wrong products are flushed.
The bottom line is to stick to one simple rule: ONLY FLUSH TOILET PAPER
Keep safe and healthy, and remember that your toilet is not a trashcan. Stick to the one simple rule and avoid costly repairs.
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