Walking down the toiletry aisle at your local grocery store, an imposter lurks among the store-brand toilet paper and trusted bathroom tissue brands. Amid the harmless options lies a product that should raise alarms for everyone with a septic system: “flushable wipes.”
Despite their name, these moist wipes wear a mask of deception. The last thing you should do is flush them down your toilet.
“But why are they called flushable if they shouldn’t be flushed?” you might be asking through the wireless miles between my screen and yours.
The answer is frustratingly simple: they’re marketed as “flushable” because they can physically go down and l-the toilet. It’s a technicality that allows brands to dodge truth-in-advertising regulations despite the damage they can cause.
To put it into perspective, it’s like a company selling regular cactuses and advertising them as “wearable” just because you can stick them into your skin. Sure, it’s possible, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. This example is a fitting metaphor, considering the harm it does to your septic system.
The reason why companies are allowed to market their products this way baffles us in the septic industry. The best we can do is mitigate your system overflowing or waste buildup.
Our rule of thumb for customers at BBB Septic is this: Don’t flush anything other than toilet paper. This will ensure that you and your septic system avoid nightmare scenarios effectively.
Why You Shouldn’t Flush Them
Have you ever heard of a “fatberg?” It’s a disgusting mass of fat, oil, and grease held together via flushed, stringy, non-biodegradable solids, such as “flushable” wipes.
Imagine this: There is an imperfection in your plumbing system.
Nothing major, just a tiny bulge in the pipe, maybe from a very slight molding flaw. It’s so minor that the contractors didn’t even notice it when installing your system.
But that little imperfection is enough to snag and tear “flushable” wipes, causing bits of stringy material to get stuck. Things only go downhill from here.
Now, let’s say you’re cleaning up after cooking. Maybe you didn’t get all the grease out of the pan after sauteing beef, or a bit of bacon fat got washed down the drain. Those insoluble fats float through the water and latch onto the stringy material stuck in your pipe. As they continue to cool, they harden, building layer upon layer.
Repeat this cycle a few times, and before you know it, you’ve got what’s scientifically called a “fatberg.”
Also, the pulpy mass of non-biodegradable wipes starts to build up. Before long, your septic system is clogged with synthetic material. So if you don’t have to deal with fatbergs, you have to deal with the buildup of synthetic material in your septic tank, clogging the vents, intakes, and outtakes.
This leads to slow drains at the best and a complete plumbing disaster at the worst.
Wet Wipes VS Flushable Wipes
The first wet wipes were invented in the United States, with a man named Arthur Julius being credited with their invention in 1957. A year later, the product was trademarked as “Wet-Nap.”
Originally designed for the cosmetic industry, Julius made a bold career move by pitching his product to none other than the great Colonel Harland Sanders for use in his growing chain of KFC restaurants. By the 1970s, technology allowed for mass production of wet wipes.
They quickly became famous for being easy to use, hygienic, and effective.
However, despite this convenience, wet wipes should never be flushed. But what makes them different from their adult-marketed cousin, the “flushable” wipe?
Surprisingly, not that much. Flushable wipes are thinner, often have added scents or moisturizers, and cover a larger surface area. But beyond that? They’re just as problematic for your plumbing and septic systems.
How to Tell What is Safe
Here is a simple way to test whether a bathroom product is safe to flush: take a glass of water and drop it in, then swirl it around with a pencil for about 30 seconds.
Now check the result: Did the item begin to dissolve or break apart?
If the answer is no, it’s a clear sign that the product isn’t flushable. Your toilet might handle it in the short term, but your plumbing and septic system won’t be so forgiving in the long run.
Unlike toilet paper, designed to break down quickly in water, items like “flushable” wipes, feminine hygiene products, and paper towels hold their shape and strength for far too long. When these products end up in your pipes or septic system, they don’t just cause clogs; they can also lead to expensive repairs and nasty backups.
If it doesn’t pass the swirl test, throw it in the garbage!
The Impact
When “flushable” wipes make their way into a septic tank, they can create serious problems. From slow drains and backups to complete blockages in the worst cases. These situations often lead to costly repairs that require professional intervention. Even with regular septic tank maintenance, these issues can still occur.
The main culprit is the buildup of wipes. As discussed above, they simply don’t break down fast enough – if at all.
Over time, this leads to clogs in critical areas, like your septic system’s inlets, outlets, and filters. When these components get gummed up, their effectiveness plummets, making it an environmental hazard to your drainage field.
Beyond the damage to your home’s plumbing, a clogged septic system can pose serious environmental risks. When a system becomes blocked, untreated wastewater can leak into the surrounding soil. Over time, this polluted water can seep into the groundwater supply, contaminating it with harmful bacteria, chemicals, and viruses. For homes that rely on well water, this can pose a direct health risk to families who may unknowingly consume this water.
The environmental impact doesn’t just stop there, though. If the blockage becomes severe, untreated wastewater may overflow into nearby streams, lakes, or rivers. This can lead to water pollution.
In the worst-case scenario, excess wastewater nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, can contribute to harmful algal blooms. This leads to depleted oxygen levels in the water, introducing fish kills and ecosystem imbalances.
Keeping wipes and other non-biodegradable items out of your septic system isn’t just about avoiding costly repairs; it’s about protecting the environment and ensuring the long-term health of the local ecosystem.
Conclusion
Ultimately, “flushable” wipes are a bane of the septic and plumbing industry. The term “flushable” lulls consumers in with a false sense of security, convincing them that these products are safe for septic systems.
However, the reality is far different. Even though some genuinely flushable and biodegradable wipes exist on the market, they are in shorter supply and often more expensive than the standard wipes found in stores.
So, if you opt to use them, it’s important to remember to toss these wipes in the trash after use. While it might feel like a minor inconvenience, this simple step can save you thousands of dollars in repairs and avoid the headache of frequent maintenance calls.
If you’re looking for a more environmentally friendly or septic-safe alternative, consider using a bidet, eliminating the need for wipes. This may be more expensive up front, but they save you the long-term cost of septic repairs and are kinder to the environment.
Protecting your septic system and the environment comes down to making smart choices about what you flush. While “flushable” wipes may seem convenient, their hidden costs outweigh the benefits.
Remember, a small change in your habits today can prevent major headaches tomorrow. So, the next time you reach for a “flushable” wipe, toss it in the garbage! It’s a good way to keep your septic system running smoothly.
