Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when toilet paper was scarce to the point of panic nationwide, public works departments warned us not to flush those “flushable” wipes. It seems some people didn’t get the message.

Now, one of the nation’s largest water utility companies here in the Bay watershed says wipes and even protective masks and gloves are being flushed into the wastewater system. Then– they cause sewage backups that flow right into waterways.

Cheryl Costello goes inside WSSC Water’s largest sewage treatment plant to see the unwanted effects of Personal Protective Equipment discarded the wrong way. :