DPW officials plead with public not to flush sanitary wipes

A sanitary wipe clogging a pipe junction in the city's sewer system. (Courtesy photo)

The City of Rochester Public Works Department is pleading for the public's help to stop th eclogging of sewer system pipes due to flushing of wipes.

Officials say wipes of any kind can severely impact sewer pipes and pumping systems in city neighborhoods and at the city's treatment facility.

They can also damage private septic systems.

According to pubic works officials, "These products cause blockages and overflows to homes and in city streets. The presence of these products in our sewer system causes dysfunction that results in environmental harm, expensive repairs and unnecessary increased exposure for residents and city staff to bio-hazards."

The outreach urges residents to do an internet search on the subject.

"Education of the public is an important step to solving this problem," officials say.

Other non-flushable items that could cause problems in the Public Sanitary Sewer System are medicines, needles, cooking fats, oils and greases, cotton swabs, dental floss, feminine products, and cat litter.

Ideally the only things that should be flushed are bodily waste and toilet paper, they say.