They might be convenient, and they might make housekeeping less of a chore, but those “flushable” white squares have created a giant headache for municipalities. The cost of removing wipes (nonwovens) from household plumbing, collections systems, lift stations and treatment plants has reached millions of dollars for some cities.New York City estimates costs of $18 million over five years related to wipes; Orange County, California, reports spending more than $300,000 in one year. Several Minnesota cities have filed a lawsuit against the wipes manufacturers.Still, the costs keep rising. Public education might be the long-term solution, but until then, municipalities must
