'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 ofsewer blockagesin municipal lines have kept workers on constantunclogging duty.

The most recent trouble spot took some doing for crewsto 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 clothsthat people use on their mops and brooms, and that sort of thing."

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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.

"Alot 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."