INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – Results of a collection study at the Inland Empire Utility Agency may help identify what’s causing damage to the wastewater infrastructure.

In the Inland Empire system alone, professionals found a variety of non-flushable items, including paper towels, feminine hygiene products, candy wrappers, and even plastic toys.

Getting the most attention were non-flushable wipes – including a large quantity of baby wipes and cleaning wipes. Those create clogs in home pipes and municipal systems when flushed. Those items bear a “Do Not Flush” symbol. That became a statewide requirement in 2022. It’s estimated the damage they cause results in $47 million in repairs across California each year.

Story Date: November 8, 2023