Mount Carmel city officials are once again urging residents to stop flushing disposable wipes down their toilets after the materials caused problems with the city's wastewater system, resulting in an overflow and additional expenses.
During the recent Mount Carmel City Council meeting, Water and Sewer Commissioner Tom Meeks expressed frustration over the ongoing problem, saying wipes are clogging screens at the city's wastewater treatment facility and threatening to damage expensive equipment.
Meeks said city employees have already been called out twice on overtime to clear clogged screens, adding that continued problems could eventually burn up pumps and require costly repairs or replacements.
He also confirmed that the blockages recently caused an overflow that required cleanup. Meeks said the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency approved the city's response to the incident.
Meeks referenced a recent Facebook post by Mayor Joe Judge showing the mess created by the wipes and emphasized that the problem ultimately affects every city taxpayer.
He explained that while wipes may seem convenient to flush, they create serious problems once they enter the city's sewer system.
The commissioner warned that repeated blockages mean additional overtime expenses for city workers, along with the potential cost of replacing damaged pumps and screens.
Meeks stressed that those expenses ultimately fall on Mount Carmel residents.
City officials are asking everyone to dispose of wipes in the trash rather than flushing them, in an effort to prevent further sewer problems and unnecessary costs to taxpayers.