Wipes go in the bin, not the loo

Christchurch City Council is reminding people not to flush wet wipes down the toilet following a spate of wastewater blockages in Auckland.

The increase in blockages is due to people using more cleaning wipes as a precaution against the Covid-19 virus and then flushing them instead of binning them.

“The only things people should be flushing are the three Ps – pee, poo, and paper,” says the Council’s Head of Three Waters and Waste, Helen Beaumont.

“Even so-called flushable wipes don’t break down properly in the wastewater system. They bunch together and can cause blockages, breakdowns and overflows further down the line, with the potential for sewage to then leak into our streams and rivers.

“If you do use wet wipes, please put them in the rubbish rather than down the loo.”

Ms Beaumont says it’s a timely reminder for people given the issues Auckland is experiencing.

“We don’t want to see the same happening here, so it’s important people are made aware of the issues now so they can practise good habits when it comes to disposing of wet wipes,” she says.