CAPE MAY POINT — Despite many packages of “flushable wipes” claiming to be sewer-friendly, these wipes may pass through toilets but do not break down and can cause clogs in not only household plumbing but also in sewer lines and wastewater treatment facilities.
During the July 22 meeting, Commissioner Suzanne Yunghans informed the public that Public Works is requesting that residents and visitors refrain from flushing any wipes.
“Please, please, please, please, from Public Works, do not flush the flushable wipes,” she said. “You know the ones you buy at a grocery store that say, ‘plumber approved.’”
Yunghans said the Public Works team had to take a sewer pump apart that was clogged with flushable wipes. In the past, a whole sewer line has even been clogged them.
“Please remind your renters, and for yourselves, please don’t flush them,” she said. “It’s really a very unfortunate mess.”
Mayor Anita VanHeeswyk asked if there were larger pipes that would allow wipes to pass.
“There’s a station at Coral and Yale [avenues], and maybe that also’s been clogged,” she said. “I was wondering if there was something we should be doing to increase the size.”
Yunghans said she would look into that.
In other news, Yunghans said Public Works has been busy with regular summer maintenance.
She added that the metal work on the new Public Works building was expected to be complete July 22. The remaining work includes landscaping and inside electrical work.
Discussion of an ordinance regarding tree removal and replacement is postponed to the Aug. 26 meeting. Clerk Elaine Wallace said the ordinance needs to be reviewed by the Planning Board to ensure consistency with the Master Plan, and the July meeting was canceled.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
