Flushable baby wipes and regular wipes been proven to take longer to break down when compared with traditional toilet paper. As they make their way down the pipes, rather than breaking down quickly, they start clogs that lead to blockages and cause serious damage.
It all starts in your pipes. Because the fabric in wipes holds together much longer than toilet paper, the wipes begin mixing with other particles in your system. Paper bits, grease, and other flushed debris quickly begin to build up, potentially causing a backup in your home.
Yet, in some cases, the wipes don’t stop in your drain pipes and continue to flow. They get out into your main sewer line where they not only damage your home but also potentially the entire sanitation system. Once the mess begins meshing and compacting together, it can quickly build in size. Reports have shown backups caused by wipes have occurred around the world in sewer systems and caused sewer overflows, clogs at lift stations, and even disruption within the treatment plants.