Moses Lake Today

City of Moses Lake issued the following announcement on Aug. 27.

The Wastewater Division has seen an increase in non-flushable items that cause blockages and pump failures in the City’s wastewater system.

 Non-Flushable items include the following items that should not be disposed to the wastewater system: 

• Non-flushable wipes including disinfecting wipes and baby wipes
• Q-tips
• Contraceptive materials
• Under garments
• Rags and other cloth products
• Female sanitary products
• Latex gloves
• Hair, children’s toys, cell phones, and jewelry
• Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG)

Disposable Wipes should not be disposed to the City’s Wastewater System unless they are labeled “flushable."

Non-flushable wipes, including disinfecting wipes and baby wipes, are designed for tough jobs and do not break down quickly. Non-flushable wipes cause wastewater pumps to fail and cause blockages within the wastewater pipes. Please do not dispose non-flushable wipes to the sewer system; instead, dispose them in the trash.

Fats, Oils, & Grease (FOG) should not be disposed to the City’s Wastewater System.

If disposed down the sewer, FOG will cause blockages and odors in the sewer pipes. FOG will also disrupt the biological treatment processes at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plants. When cooking with FOG, the excess FOG should be placed in a disposable container and disposed in trash. The remaining FOG within cooking utensils should then be absorbed with a paper towel, before washing the utensil; then the paper towel should be disposed in the trash.  

Flushable items only include human bodily waste, toilet paper, and wipes that are labeled “flushable." 

Disposable wipes that are labeled “flushable” and toilet paper are designed to break down quickly, and they do not cause disruptions to the City’s Wastewater System.

The City of Moses Lake Wastewater Division sincerely appreciates your consideration in keeping our wastewater system working smoothly. Thank you.

Original source can be found here.