Fairfax County wastewater staff say ‘flushable’ wipes are the top cause of pump clogs

Fairfax County wastewater staff warned residents that so-called “flushable” wipes are the leading cause of maintenance problems at the county’s pump stations during a visit to one of the system’s 66 stations.

Cody, a member of the county’s wastewater program, explained that pump stations are used where gravity flow ends: they collect wastewater and pump it to treatment plants or back into a gravity line to keep the system moving. "With every pump station, we have a standby generator, a monitoring system and a pump control system that you can independently control," Cody said.

Asked about maintenance issues, county staff identified wipes marketed as "flushable" as the single biggest offender. "Flushable wipes," the staff said. The presentation described how wipes get caught in pumps and other machinery, creating major problems for crews and infrastructure. "Please stop flushing your wipes," Cody said.

County staff emphasized that pump stations vary by neighborhood but share core components and vulnerabilities. The discussion was framed as both a technical explanation of system operations and a public-education appeal: staff described the operational impacts of blockages and asked residents to help prevent avoidable damage.

The session concluded with the county reiterating the request that residents dispose of wipes in the trash rather than flushing them. No formal vote or action was taken during the visit; the remarks were presented as operational guidance and public outreach.