News

Flushable wipes are exploding in popularity. Boosted by a desire for enhanced personal hygiene products, the global flushable wipe market hit $3.1 billion in 2024, according to Global Market Insights, and it’s expected to hit $5.3 billion by 2034. 

While they’re certainly popular, their name is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, they can be flushed down the toilet—but should they? Unfortunately for the many optimistic users (and to those responsible for caring for the systems they use every day), the answer is a resounding “no”. Even when they’re labeled with words or phrases like “flushable” or “septic-safe,” they can wreak havoc on sewer systems.

While they’re certainly popular, their name is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, they can be flushed down the toilet—but should they? Unfortunately for the many optimistic users (and to those responsible for caring for the systems they use every day), the answer is a resounding “no”. Even when they’re labeled with words or phrases like “flushable” or “septic-safe,” they can wreak havoc on sewer systems.

In this article, we’ll explain why flushable wipes are problematic, how much they cost municipalities in maintenance and repairs, and what municipalities can do to mitigate one of the most common problems found during sewer inspections.

Why Aren’t Flushable Wipes Sewer-Safe or Septic-Safe?

Contrary to popular belief, flushable wipes aren’t friendly to sewers or septic systems. Although they’re made from materials like wood pulp, cotton, and rayon, they don’t break down in the sewer like traditional toilet paper. And their longer “life-spans” mean they travel further than toilet paper before disintegrating.

Too many flushable wipes in the sewer system can lead to “ragging”—an accumulated mass of wipes, dental floss, diapers, sanitary pads, baby wipes, and other items that shouldn’t be flushed. Certainly an urban-legend-worthy sewer monster if there ever was one.

These masses turn into major clogs in sewer systems and septic tanks and require dedicated tools, machinery, and team hours to break up the accumulation. These clogs can then back up or damage aging infrastructure, leading to major issues for homeowners, property owners, and municipalities. 

How Flushable Wipes Hurt Municipalities

Flushable wipes have hurt municipalities all across the United States—and many have issued statements pleading for residents to throw these disposable items in the trash instead of tossing them into the toilet. 

A few examples:

• Colorado - The state passed a law prohibiting residents from flushing wipes, but people are still flushing wipes and clogging up sewers.
• Kaplan, Louisiana - Clumps created by flushable wipes recently forced the city to replace two pumps for a total of $35,000, and the city regularly replaces 2–3 pipes every year because of wipes. 
• Meridian, Idaho - Wastewater teams in Meridian remove masses from their sewer systems almost every day.  
• Raleigh, North Carolina - Raleigh Water issued a statement in 2022 asking residents to stop flushing wipes—and said they spent an average of $102,600 cleaning up sewer spills in 2019.

So, how do flushable wipes hurt municipalities? A few ways:

1. Cost of Equipment - Flushable wipes frequently wrap around pump impellers and clog lift stations, leading to premature equipment failure and costly repairs or full replacements. Over time, the added strain shortens the lifespan of pumps, grinders, and other critical wastewater infrastructure.

2. Cost of Spills - When wipes cause blockages, they can trigger sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), resulting in expensive cleanup efforts, regulatory fines, and environmental damage. Even a single spill can cost tens of thousands of dollars and significantly impact public trust.

3. Cost of Man-hours - Removing wipe-related clogs requires crews to respond, dismantle equipment, manually clear debris, and document the incident. Those reactive labor hours add up quickly, diverting staff from preventative maintenance and long-term infrastructure planning. 

4. Reputation - Spills reflect poorly on municipalities and local water authorities—even when it’s not their fault. That damaged reputation can lead to political pressures, frustrated citizens, and other problems. 

5. Diverted PR Attention - When municipalities or water authorities take the time to write a press release or conduct an interview to explain why you shouldn’t flush wipes down the toilet, that’s a distraction from other mission-critical activities. 

What Else Shouldn’t Be Flushed?

In addition to flushable wipes, residents should avoid flushing all items that don’t break down like toilet paper, including:

• Cotton swabs
• Cotton balls
• Diapers
• Dental floss
• Feminine hygiene products
• Medication
• Baby wipes
• Hair
• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Tissues

Find Sewer Inspection Equipment With CUES

If “flushable” wipes have increased stress levels for your team, rely on CUES. Our wide selection of innovative pipeline inspection technology includes:

• Cameras
• Camera Transporters
• Custom Vehicles
• Grout and Rehab Equipment
• Software

Or broaden your knowledge with our webinar series or our Below the Surface blog.