In the world of wastewater management, the usual suspects, Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG), have long been recognized as a primary threat to the health and capacity of our sewer systems. When improperly disposed of down residential or commercial drains, these substances cool, solidify, and adhere to the interior of sewer pipes. Over time, this buildup restricts flow, causes backups, and leads to sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), which release untreated sewage into streets, homes, and local waterways.
But in 2025, the conversation must expand. FOG is still a problem, but it’s no longer acting alone. A new class of non-dispersibles, wipes, hygiene products, and fibrous materials, are rapidly outpacing FOG as a leading cause of clogged wastewater infrastructure. While awareness of FOG has increased, the rising volume of so-called “flushable” wipes has created a second front in the battle to protect our pipes and the environment.
The Wipe Epidemic: A Modern Infrastructure Crisis
Despite labeling, most wipes marketed as “flushable” do not disintegrate in water the way toilet paper does. A 2023 study by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) found that even after 30 minutes of agitation in water, over 90% of “flushable” wipes remained fully intact. Once in the sewer system, these materials combine with FOG, hair, and other debris to form dense, cement-like obstructions known as fatbergs, some of which have grown to weigh several tons.
Estimates now suggest that non-dispersible wipes account for as much as 40% of all blockages in municipal sewer systems, and the cost to cities is staggering. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) reports that U.S. utilities spend over $500 million annually on equipment repairs, labor, and emergency response directly related to wipe-induced clogs.
Moreover, nearly 30% of all wipes labeled “flushable” still contain synthetic fibers like polyester and polypropylene, which do not break down in water or in wastewater treatment plants. These fibers also carry microplastics into the environment when they do eventually pass through treatment systems, posing additional ecological risks.
Sewer Overflows and Environmental Impacts
Clogged sewer lines don’t just threaten utility budgets, they endanger public health and natural ecosystems. When blockages lead to backups or manhole overflows, untreated sewage can enter nearby streams, rivers, or storm systems. These overflows carry pathogens, nutrients, and pollutants that degrade water quality, harm aquatic life, and make local waterways unsafe for recreation.
Many municipalities are under pressure from federal and state environmental agencies to reduce SSOs under their NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits. However, these efforts are undermined by avoidable blockages caused by improper waste disposal.
Public Misconceptions and Marketing Failures
A large portion of the problem stems from misleading marketing and public misunderstanding. The term “flushable” has no enforceable federal standard in the United States. That means manufacturers can use the term with little regulatory oversight, even if the product doesn’t actually break down once flushed.
Industry leaders, including the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), have been pushing for clearer labeling and consumer education. The proposed “Do Not Flush” labeling standards by the International Water Services Flushability Group (IWSFG) would help ensure that only products proven to degrade under typical sewer conditions can bear the “flushable” label.
When Wastewater Fails, Stormwater Pays the Price
Here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough: wastewater issues don’t stay in the wastewater system. When sewers back up or overflow, they often find their way into the stormwater system, especially in older cities with combined or partially connected systems. That means untreated sewage—loaded with bacteria, nutrients, and other pollutants—can end up flowing directly into creeks, rivers, or storm drains.
Even in systems that are technically separate, wastewater overflows can breach stormwater infrastructure. Manhole overflows near curb inlets, for example, don’t stop to ask if they’re violating protocol—they just go downhill. And once that raw sewage hits a stormwater outfall, it becomes a water quality violation under the NPDES stormwater permit too. So now, instead of just being a sewer maintenance issue, it’s a stormwater compliance issue—and that opens the door to fines, consent orders, and long-term monitoring requirements.
Plus, stormwater BMPs (best management practices) like detention ponds, bio-retention areas, and constructed wetlands weren’t designed to handle raw sewage. When wastewater gets into these systems, it overloads them, contaminates them, and often renders them ineffective. So all the good work you’re doing to meet your MS4 permit? It gets undercut by one fatberg and an overflow event upstream.
The bottom line is that wastewater mismanagement doesn’t just wreck pipes, it compromises your stormwater program, too.
What Needs to Change?
A solution to this issue will require a multi-pronged approach—including better regulation, infrastructure upgrades, and most critically, behavioral change among consumers and businesses. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
1. Public Education
Local governments and utilities need to expand campaigns that clearly communicate what can and cannot be flushed. Messaging should focus on the “3Ps”: Pee, Poop, and (Toilet) Paper. Everything else, including wipes, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, and paper towels, should go in the trash.
2. Commercial Enforcement
Restaurants and food service establishments must adhere to strict grease management practices. This includes using grease interceptors, training staff on proper disposal, and scheduling regular maintenance. In many areas, grease control ordinances can be enforced under local sewer use regulations, with non-compliance resulting in fines or service disruptions.
3. Updated Regulations
Stronger labeling laws for personal hygiene products are needed. Some states, like California and Washington, have passed laws requiring prominent “Do Not Flush” labels on non-flushable wipes. Federal-level action, however, remains limited. Advocacy for standardized testing protocols and truth-in-labeling is ongoing.
4. Infrastructure Resilience
Municipalities are investing in smarter infrastructure: grinders at pump stations, enhanced screening systems, and real-time monitoring of flow conditions. These investments are critical, but they’re not a substitute for prevention. Even the best technology can be overwhelmed by user misuse.
A Collective Responsibility
Protecting our wastewater systems, and by extension, our stormwater quality, is not just the responsibility of public works departments. It’s a shared duty that starts in every home and business. The system was never designed to handle synthetic wipes, liquid grease, or fibrous trash. When these materials are flushed, they don’t disappear. They accumulate, cost millions, and too often, resurface in the form of environmental disasters.
Final Thoughts
While the narrative around fats, oils, and greases hasn’t changed much in the last decade, the scope of the threat has expanded dramatically. The combination of aging infrastructure, consumer behavior, and misleading product claims is creating a costly and increasingly urgent problem.
Addressing it will require cooperation, awareness, and a shift toward accountability from industry, from government, and from individuals. If we can’t keep wipes and grease out of the pipes, the consequences will keep rising to the surface.
