Sparta Public Works Director Dillard Quick said that the city’s sewer system continues to experience clogging issues due to flushable wipes.
Quick said the wipes have become more of an issue for pump stations over the past few years. Quick said flushable wipes are detrimental to the sewer system.
“All I can do is stress, please don’t put the disposable and flushable wipes in the system,” Quick said. “Even though they advertise that they are flushable, they are not good for sewer, they are not good for sewer lines, and if you are on a septic tank, they will clog your septic tank and lines up.”
Quick said the city is having to rebuild a pump and a motor at the sewer plant this week due to more clogging. Quick said rebuilding and replacing pumps and motors are racking up quite the bill.
“Usually, when we have one rebuilt, it costs anywhere from $5,000 – $10,000,” Quick said. “Right now, we have in the budget to purchase another couple of pumps, and those pumps we have not bid those yet, but the initial price we got are around $35,000 a piece.”
Quick said the city has had to purchase spare pumps to have them on hand due to how often they clog up.
“It’ll burn the pump up really quick,” Quick said. “Depending on what kind of wipe it is, some of them degrade more than others, but none of them are really good.”
Quick said rags have also caused clogging issues. Quick said he encourages people to use toilet paper as an alternative.