U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have introduced the bipartisan Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act, a bill to address heath, ecosystem, and wastewater infrastructure concerns caused by the flushing of non-flushable wet wipes.

“Many consumers who use wet wipes are unaware that flushing these products creates significant problems for plumbing, wastewater treatment equipment, and septic systems,” says Collins. “This legislation would require manufactures to label non-flushable wet wipes, providing consumers with the information they need to safely dispose of them.  I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation that will help prevent homeowners and taxpayers from having to pay for expensive repairs.”

“Wastewater treatment facilities run equipment around the clock so that Oregonians’ rivers and streams are safe and clean,” says Merkley. “When non-flushable wipes are sent through our sewage systems as a means of disposal, Oregon’s wastewater facilities face costly repairs and maintenance. Furthermore, these wipes are made of synthetic plastic fibers – and because they are not biodegradable, these wipes break down into harmful micro plastics. This bill is a necessary first step in making sure these products are accurately labeled so they can be appropriately disposed of, keeping our water clean and ensuring our wastewater infrastructure is safe and efficient, a top concern I hear from small communities across Oregon.”

The WIPPES Act addresses the pervasive, but ultimately preventable problem of the flushing of non-flushable wet wipes. Many of these products are composed of manufactured plastic fibers or other strong fibers, and while these products are not marketed as flushable, consumers frequently flush them into sewer systems as a means of disposal. Due to strong fibers, these types of wipes do not break down as they travel through the sewer systems. Instead, the wipes attract fats, oils, and grease and become obstructions in sewage systems pipes that clog pumps, block sewer collection systems, and jam motors that lead to sewage backups and treatment equipment failures.

Specifically, the WIPPES Act:

• Directs the Federal Trade Commission, in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue regulations on “Do Not Flush” labeling requirements for the covered products defined in the bill, which includes baby wipes, household wipes, disinfecting wipes or personal care wipes.

• Authorizes a grant program at EPA ($5 million annually) to support and expand education and outreach activities by states, local governments and non-profit organizations to ratepayers. These grants will increase awareness of the label and proper disposal methods for these wipes.

The WIPPES Act is endorsed by the Maine Rural Water Association, Maine Water Environment Association, Maine Water Utilities Association, Portland Water District (Maine), Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), National Stewardship Action Council, and Water Environment Federation (WEF).

“With record numbers of people learning and working from home, the pandemic has highlighted the devastating effect that wipes have on our critically important wastewater infrastructure,” said Kirsten Hebert, Executive Director of the Maine Rural Water Association. “This legislation takes a step in the right direction by ensuring package labeling and educating the public on the truth about flushing wipes. We are grateful to Senator Collins for supporting this legislation and drawing attention to this significant issue.”

“We have been dealing with the negative impacts of disposable wipes being flushed into our sewers and treatment plants for over a decade,” said Scott Firmin, Director of Wastewater Services for the Portland Water District. “We were part of a working group to address this, and we hosted some of the first work to quantify the type of material that was being flushed and how it affects sewer systems. To see this legislation after all this effort is gratifying, and we are excited that a clear labeling standard will be applied to these materials. We applaud Senator Collins and Senator Merkley for advancing such an important piece of legislation.”

“The issue of so-called ‘flushable’ wipes has cost our District rate payers thousands of dollars in equipment damage and failures over the past many years by clogging our pumps and blinding our screens,” said Nick Champagne, Superintendent, Kennebec Sanitary Treatment District. “It’s no secret: our nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure is in desperate need of repair and replacement. The WIPPES Act helps preserve our infrastructure rehabilitation investments by protecting the equipment required to keep our waterways clean. We fully support and applaud the efforts of Senator Collins to present this bill, as it is long overdue.”

“The York Sewer District is excited to see the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act move forward,” said Phil Tucker, Superintendent, York Sewer District.  “For many years now, the wastewater industry has been left to deal with the environmental, financial, and operational consequences of wipes that are mislabeled. Incorporating a standard to assess flushability and consistently symbolizing ‘Do Not Flush’ will go a long way to help mitigate the impacts of wipes on our sewer system.”

INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and CASA, the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, have both voiced support of this legislation.