Water Sector News
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‘Flushable’ discards are clogging Fairview sewers
Personal hygiene wipes and even dog leashes are clogging a portion of the Fairview Township sewer system.
A letter sent to township residents in March warns that a grinder system might be required to shred the materials to keep sewage moving into Millcreek Township and on to Erie’s wastewater treatment plant.
And that could require a sewer rate hike to cover the $70,000 cost, according to the letter from the Fairview Township Sewer and Water Authorities.
People might be using, and flushing, more personal wipes in recent weeks because of concerns about the availability of toilet paper, but the wipes have been clogging Fairview’s Route 20 sewer pump station periodically for about six months, Sewer and Water Authorities Manager Chuck Giewont said.
Toilet paper has been hard to come by at times as people stock up and even hoard supplies to get them through shelter-at-home orders issued to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Hygienic wipes can augment or replace toilet paper.