By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Many cities and municipalities have tried to warn citizens of the issues
that come from flushing cleaning wipes down the drain, and Great Bend Public
Works Director Jason Cauley reminds everyone again to only flush toilet paper and
human waste down the toilet.
Cauley said the city still sees the negative effects of wipes clogging or
slowing down the sewer system. Not only can flushing wipes, or other
non-flushable items, cause problems for the city, it can cause issues in the
homeowner’s pipes before it even reaches the city’s main line.
"Those wipes solidify and cause big blockages in your personal lateral to the main," said Cauley. "If it happens to make it to the sewer main then that's a big issue for us. Even though we maintain our lines on a regular basis, we can still get that buildup by the time we get back around to do something."
Cauley said properly disposing of fats and grease from cooking is also
essential to keeping the drains clear. He encouraged residents to pour the
grease in a container, let it solidify and then throw it away in the trash.
Even the wipes that are labeled “flushable” should not be flushed.