'They block everything': disposable cloths clogging up St. Anthony sewers
The town of St. Anthony wants people to think twice before flushing certain household items down the toilet, after a series of sewer blockages in municipal lines have kept workers on constant unclogging duty.
The most recent trouble spot took some doing for crews to unblock.
"Finally, after putting the camera down there, on the third try, they found there were quite a few things that weren't supposed to be in there," Mayor Ern Simms told CBC Radio's On The Go.
"They were disposable cloths that people use on their mops and brooms, and that sort of thing."
Simms said the workers weren't surprised by the find.
"There's very little that they haven't taken out of a sewer line," he said, adding such disposable cloths are a common find.
"A lot of the newer products that are coming online that are disposable, they're not necessarily biodegradable."
3-ply another culprit
Disposable cloths are one problem, but Simms said three-ply toilet paper is also causing headaches.
"It's great to think you have wonderful toilet paper … and paper towels that are so strong and everything that don't tear easily. But once they go into a sewer line they don't tear — they block everything off."
Simms said the hospital has been having similar problems since introducing a disposable facecloth.
"That thing has caused them major problems. They've had to have their sewer line flushed on many occasions."
'People have been warned'
Following numerous blockages and sewer backups, Simms said the town has gone on a publicity blitz, asking homeowners to keep such items out of the toilet.
"People have certainly been warned," said Simms.
"Hopefully they're going with it. It's taking up a tremendous amount of time on behalf of our crew."
With files from On The Go