Think soft, convenient wet wipes are harmless? Think again! When disposed of incorrectly, wet wipes turn into real monsters. All types of wipes, be it for babies, disinfecting, personal cleaning, or makeup removal, create nasty and serious problems in our sewer system. They clump together to form what water professionals refer to as a "mophead." The one to the right was pulled from the Middle Oconee Water Reclamation Facility.
Even flushing one seemingly harmless wipe leads to trouble. Unlike toilet paper, wet wipes do not break down in water. They lurk in our pipes, clinging to other sewage and trash to form large masses that block our pipelines and damage our water reclamation facility equipment. These growing monsters cause raw sewage to overflow in your home and ooze from manhole covers. The removal of this debris and the repair of damaged equipment leads to greater expenses for Athens-Clarke County water customers which is passed on through sewer rates.