• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Robbinsdale: Flushing “Flushable” Wipes a No-No

5:24 PM | Thursday, April 19, 2018

In any residential neighborhood, what happens behind closed doors is generally a private matter. But in the most private room in the house, people are making a mistake that’s become a public problem.

“You’ve got sanitary wipes for adults that are using them now, so then, they get flushed cause nobody wants to look at them in their garbage can and stuff ,” said Joel Konkol, Robbinsdale’s utilities supervisor.

Konkol says so-called “flushable” wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, so when you combine them with hair and other items, they can cause blockages in the sewer main line.

“One catches and then they start to build up,” Konkol said. “And they intertwine, and they just stop everything from going through.”

Much of the problem, according to Konkol, stems from the labeling on the products. For starters, they’re branded as “flushable,” and some even have illustrations showing that they’re safe to flush down a toilet.

“Unfortunately there’s some manufacturers who are lying, or they’re not accurate,” Konkol said. “They just don’t break down.”

Konkol argues that if you trust the labels, you could end up with a basement full of raw sewage.

“They can plug up your own line, just out of your house,” he said. “Or if they get out in the system and cause a stoppage somewhere down the line, and it does back up, you might be the house that gets it. Or your neighbor.”

City officials recently posted a picture on the Robbinsdale Facebook page, showing the intertwined mess created in the sewer by these wipes.

They’re hoping the message resonates with residents.

“You can use the products, just don’t flush them down the toilet,” Konkol said.

Representatives of the industry behind wet wipes say that people are flushing items that never claimed to be flushable, such as cheap baby wipes, which are meant to be bundled in disposable diapers and thrown in the trash.

Delane Cleveland, reporting

Robbinsdale

Related Stories

Two People Killed in Robbinsdale Drive-By Shooting:  Two people are dead following a drive-by shooting… Read More
Lawmakers Still at Odds Over Public Safety Solutions:  With the legislative session winding down at… Read More
Lakeview Terrace Farmers Market Debuts Saturday:  This year Robbinsdale will have something residents… Read More
Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School Celebrates 35 Years:  In kindergarten, nothing quite gets the… Read More
Robbinsdale City Council Censures Member Tyler Kline in 4-1 Vote:  The Robbinsdale City Council voted… Read More
Taqueria Victor Hugo Food Truck Sets Up Shop in Robbinsdale:  Bottineau Boulevard is Robbinsdale's… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in