Disinfecting wipes are being flushed down toilets and causing major pipe problems

Disinfecting wipes are helping people combat the spreading of germs amid the coronavirus pandemic. But some experts say the wipes, arguably the supply that's been used to clean surfaces in homes the most, are harming sewers.
Why? Because people are flushing wipes down toilets, rather than dumping them in the trash.
Now, public agencies around the nation are urging people to solely throw their wipes in the trash, warning that not doing so could cause blockages and damage to sewer systems.
Wipes cause sewage issues
Facilities across California have already reported issues with their sewer collection systems, the state's Water Resources Control Board said.
Many cities in California use centralized sewage collection systems that rely on gravity and water flow to move along waste, according to regulators. Toilet paper dissolves in those systems, where as wipes and paper towels don't break down so easily.
"Flushing wipes, paper towels and similar products down toilets will clog sewers and cause backups and overflows at wastewater treatment facilities, creating an additional public health risk in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic," the state's Water Resources Control Board said in a news release.