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Phillipsburg sewer operator urges public not to flush wipes as plant awaits screening equipment
Summary
A town sewer official told Granite County commissioners the new wastewater plant is 95% operational but needs a screening unit to prevent foreign material — including 'flushable' wipes and sanitary products — from clogging equipment and increasing maintenance burdens.
A Phillipsburg sewer representative told Granite County commissioners Tuesday that the town's new wastewater treatment system is nearly ready but that incoming “flushable” wipes, sanitary items and other foreign material are causing maintenance problems until a screening device is installed.
“My name is Maher Daniel Redish,” the speaker said during public comment, and he described recurring clogs during the COVID period and continuing debris that should not be flushed. He said the new system is “95% operations right now” but must get a fine-mesh screen in place to protect the larger $7,000,000 treatment system from damage and costly maintenance.
Redish said much of the material is not raw human feces but items such as wet wipes, tampon products and clothing that do not dissolve and that can jam pumps and screens. “We're gonna have a screen inserted to make it a lot more efficient and economical…we don't want to screw up a $7,000,000 plan,” he said.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether material scooped from collection points should be labeled or handled as biohazard; Redish and staff said the material is primarily plastic and paper and not the same as regulated clinical waste. County staff said they would review administrative rules and coordinate with the town and the county's waste contractor about handling and disposal, including whether special labeling or triple-bagging is required.
Redish said engineers told the town that the residual material “can go to a con” (conventional disposal) and that with public outreach and the new screen the town should reduce maintenance issues. Commissioners said they would check applicable administrative rules and return with guidance and asked staff to follow up with the sewer operator and contractor about disposal procedures.
The commissioners did not adopt any regulatory changes at the meeting. They asked staff to clarify whether the residual material should be treated as biohazardous waste under state rules and to confirm handling protocols before the screening installation is completed.
