Septic smell blamed on “flushable” wipes

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI/KIDK)-The Town of Jackson is asking visitors and residents to be careful about the kinds of things they flush down the toilet.

On Tuesday, Teton County Dispatch handled numerous calls from people complaining about septic smells near the intersection of Kelly and Vine to the intersection of Maple Way and Powderhorn.

Town crews soon found the sewer systems had been blocked by "flushable wipes." While that may be the claim, town officials say wet wipes are not necessarily "flushable," even if they are labeled flushable or septic safe. In fact, some plumbers say no wipes of any type should ever be placed in a toilet.

The Tuesday blockage cleared itself sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday evening. After the clog cleared, there was a surge of flow that caused stagnant sewer gases to flow up and out of manholes. That, in turn, caused a wave of sewer smells that affected much of east Jackson.