July 01 2021
Oregonians need a bit more potty training, according to state lawmakers.
After years of angst and unnecessary costs for local governments, Oregon became the second state in the nation this year to require do not flush labels on the disinfectant, personal care, make-up and baby wipes commonly sold in the bathroom aisle. There s no such thing as a flushable wipe, says Clean Water Services chief of staff Mark Jockers, even the ones that say they re flushable.
The Washington County utility purifies more than 65 million gallons of wastewater a day for over 610,000 customers and the agency s wipe woes have only intensified since March 2020, when stay-home orders and toilet paper shortages triggered a significant jump in the pre-moistened towelettes clogging sewer lines.