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<br /> <br /> <br />Harry Kim <br />William A. Kucharski <br /> <br />Mayor <br />Director <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Roy Takemoto <br />Diane A. Noda <br /> <br />Managing Director <br />Deputy Director <br /> <br />County of Hawai‘i <br />DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT <br />345 Kekūanāoʻa Street, Suite 41 · Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 <br /> Ph: (808) 961-8083 · Fax: (808) 961-8086 <br />Email: cohdem@hawaiicounty.gov <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br /> <br />March 20, 2020 <br /> <br />Environmental Management’s Plea: Please do not Flush “Flushable” Wipes <br /> <br />Keeping Hawai‘i County’s sewer systems up and running is crucial during the <br />Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which is why people should not flush wipes and <br />paper towels. <br /> <br />These commercial products contribute to line-blocking, and the increasing use of these <br />products make the problem much worse and at the worst time, according to Bill <br />Kucharski, Director of Environmental Management. <br /> <br />Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a significant increase in the use of <br />cleansing wipes in homes and offices. Although the packaging states that the wipes are <br />“flushable,” they should not be flushed. <br /> <br />“These wipes are made with micro-plastics and do not dissolve in the waste water,” <br />Kucharski said. “They stay whole after being flushed.” <br /> <br />Additionally, the structure of the wipes lends itself to clinging to and catching on rough <br />pipe interiors and in pump stations, which push waste water to the sewage treatment <br />plants. <br /> <br />Kucharski said this can result in the ultimate blockage of the sewer, and a blocked <br />sewer can then cause your toilet and drains to backup. Wipes do not act like toilet paper <br />in the waste water, he said. <br /> <br />Kucharski appealed to people to dispose of the wipes in regular waste containers and <br />not in your toilets. <br /> <br />“The people who work every day keeping our sewer systems working need your help <br />now more than ever, and so please dispose of these wipes in your trash, not in your <br />toilets, Kucharski said. <br /> <br />For further information, please call Environmental Management at 961-8083. <br />County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />