Dr. Seuss could write an amusing story about the growing masses of pre-moistened towelettes that are clogging up sewer systems everywhere. Close to home in North Brooklyn, they are dealing with this issue of tissues at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Tens of thousands of wipes flow through there daily, and often they combine with other nefarious elements in the icky stream to become a Gordian knotted mass of mess. This mess caused by these cleansing wipes has doubled since 2008.
What is being done? Mayor de Blasio has backed a bill introduced in February that prohibits using the word “Flushable” in the advertising of certain moist towelette products previously hailed as flushable. Public notices are going up in city and private buildings warning of this false ‘flushable’ advertising, and to trash instead of flush the wipes. Also, the effects of this growing problem will seep into water bills, which will be on the rise due to the added expense of clean up.
