The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the demand for household cleaning items,
including disinfecting wipes, paper towels and toilet paper. As a result, people have turned to
alternatives such as so-called "flushable" wipes and other paper products. This can lead to
clogged pipes at homes and in smaller sewer systems.
In this educational video titled "No Wipes Down the Pipes!" Metropolitan Water Reclamation
District of Greater Chicago President Kari K. Steele demonstrates how various products do not
break down or dissolve sufficiently in water, and as a result, those materials can clog pipes in
homes and cause sewer backups.