For Immediate Release
Mayor William P. Sapelli would like to remind residents to avoid disposing of baby wipes down toilets and drains. Grease and wipes are the leading cause of sewer blockages. These blockages caused by wipes have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Sapelli commented that while wipes may be labelled “disposable”, flushing them down toilets can lead to disastrous consequences. “Wipes wreak havoc with plumbing systems and residents need to be vigilant in properly disposing of them. The last thing we want to see are basements being flooded with sewage because of wipes clogging pipes.”
Deputy Superintendent of Water and Sewer John Decker noted that sewer backups in Town caused by wipes is on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic. Wipes do not break down and tend to quickly block pipe flow. “Grease and wipes are now the top 2 causes of sewer backups. Wipes in pipes cause thousands of dollars in damage to residential properties and the Town sewer system.”
Residents should also make sure that backwater preventer valves are installed. State and town laws mandate preventer valves which stop backflow into a basement when the system is blocked. Mr. Decker further noted that residents with septic systems should take the same precautions. Grease and wipes should never be discarded down drains and toilets.
For more information, please go to waterandsewer.org.
William P. Sapelli, Mayor