Bullhead City wastewater staff warn flushable wipes are clogging pumps, costing about $40,000 each to replace

John Traquato, who identified himself as a wastewater-division employee for Bullhead City, told the City Council and audience that nonbiodegradable items flushed into the sewer — including disposable and “flushable” wipes, plastic applicators and other trash — are clogging pumps at a treatment plant. Traquato said the city has had to replace two or three pumps ‘‘at the beginning of that plant’’ and that replacements run about $40,000 apiece and often recur annually. He urged residents to dispose of wipes, paper towels, napkins and similar products in the trash rather than flushing them, saying such material causes major sewer backups, increased labor to remove obstructions and avoidable taxpayer expense.

Traquato showed photographs and described the drying bed and the types of debris crews remove, listing tampon applicators, plastic bags, razors, small metal pieces and styrofoam among items that should be discarded in the trash. He said the drying bed is intended for grease and human waste only; when pumps plug, staff must pull and diagnose pumps, and sometimes contract an outside company for repairs.

The city presentation did not propose an immediate ordinance change; it focused on public education and a clear behavioral request: do not flush wipes or other non-toilet-paper items. Traquato provided a local contact during the presentation. The transcript contains a later, garbled figure about aggregate taxpayer costs that could not be reliably transcribed; the clear figure given in multiple places is roughly $40,000 per pump replacement.