Protect Our Pipes from Pesky Wipes

Sanitary sewer pump clogged with "flushable" wipes.

Virginia Beach’s sanitary sewer system carries wastewater away from your home and to local wastewater treatment facilities, where it is cleaned before being returned to local waterways​. It is designed to transport water, toilet paper and human waste only. Flushing any items other than these can lead to issues in your home’s plumbing or the City’s sanitary sewer system. 

Pre-moistened wipes, even those labeled “flushable,” are a common cause of pipe blockages both in your home and in the City’s sanitary sewer system. Once wipes enter the sanitary sewer system, they can combine with other materials that don’t belong down your drain – such as fats, oil and grease – to create clogs in the pipes.  

These clogs can lead to a backup of raw sewage into your home or onto your street, and lots of money down the drain. If a clog occurs in a home’s plumbing, the responsibility and cost of repairs fall on the homeowner or resident. 

You can help prevent these issues in your home’s plumbing and the City’s sanitary sewer system by only flushing water, toilet paper and human waste. 

What Not to Flush 

• Wipes (even those labeled “flushable”) including baby wipes, personal hygiene wipes and all-purpose cleaning wipes 
• Cat litter 
• Cotton swabs 
• Dental floss 
• Diapers and diaper liners 
• Facial tissues 
• Fats, oils, grease and food scraps from the kitchen 
• Family planning products 
• Feminine hygiene products 
• Paper towels 
• Toilet bowl scrubbing pads 

Learn more about what not to flush by visiting VirginiaBeach.gov/NoWipes.  

Virginia Beach Public Utilities is committed to helping Virginia Beach residents of all ages learn about the value of water and how to conserve it, how to keep drains clear, how to protect your pipes and more.

• No Wipes in the Pipes
• Public Utilities