FLUSHABLE BUT NOT RAPIDLY DISPERSIBLE PRODUCTS CONGRESS SESSION #9175. Overview. What s the Problem?

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1 2014 APWA International Congress & Exposition Toronto, Ontario, Canada FLUSHABLE BUT NOT RAPIDLY DISPERSIBLE PRODUCTS CONGRESS SESSION #9175 City of Kirkland, WA - Department of Public Works Orange County Sanitation District, CA Overview What s the Problem? Non-Woven Products and Concerns Those Involved Legislative Efforts The Summit at Costco What can YOU do and next steps? 3 Ps 2 What s the Problem? Proliferation of convenience products that are flushed Clogs in pipes and pumps O&M costs Debris disposal costs Engineered solutions & CIP Costs 3 1

2 What s the Problem? SSS WDR Order in California Preventing sewer spills Flushable vs. non dispersible confusion for consumers Product labeling gaps 4 How the Wastewater Industry Feels 5 6 2

3 7 What are Nonwoven Fabrics? Sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments (and by perforating films) mechanically, thermally, or chemically. They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibers or from molten plastic or plastic film. Spunlaced Meltblown Hydroentangled Air Laid They are not made by weaving or knitting like clothing and do not require converting the fibers to yarn. 8 Things Used in Bathroom Settings All can be flushed in a toilet 9 3

4 Concerns 10 Nonwoven Industry Guidelines 2003 WERF DOCUMENT #02CTS7P - Protocols to Assess the Breakdown of Flushable Consumer Products for Proctor and Gamble - did not fully address potential problems between the toilet and treatment plant we know a lot more in 2014 Contains voluntary only guidelines for testing for flushability INDA/EDANA s 2 nd ed. guidelines based on this desire become unrecognizable in a reasonable amount of time June 2013 INDA/EDANA 3 rd ed. voluntary only guidelines released to INDA members very limited comments taken from WEF & NACWA Not all manufacturers belong to INDA/EDANA or follow their guidelines - this increases potential problems for retailers and consumers and WW industry 11 Flushable vs. Dispersible OCSD Lab 2012 Toilet Paper after 5 min. Wipes after 24 hours 12 4

5 INDA Slosh Box is not as gentle as a gravity sewer 13 OCSD s First Deragging Study preventative or corrective deragging tasks on 10 pump stations Total labor cost $320,000 Ergonomic challenges Occasional needle sticks add more risks 08/13/2012 New Plant 2 Headworks 40 large trash bags of debris removed from 3 plugged washer compactors took 6-8 hours and 10 staff to correct Engineering the problem away just moves it down the line Debris doesn t disappear $$$ Used SCAP Incident Report forms 14 SCAP Non-Dispersibles Incident Report 15 5

6 Why Not Re-engineer the Substrates for Improved Dispersibility? OCSD Lab JAN 2013 HydraSpun nonwoven substrate after 1 hour some dispersion some good news? Product re-engineering is possible 16 PARSA Potty - New Jersey June 2013 Does it really break apart after flushing like the package says? You can build your own and easily test items! 17 City of Vancouver, WA Tests in Real Sewers August 2013 and Ongoing 18 6

7 Wipes and Nonwovens Use Trends 19 Those Involved WEF, WEF CSC, WEF HOD & MAs, & WERF APWA NACWA INDA & EDANA Maine WWA & Portland Water District OCSD & PARSA New England WEA Kirkland & Vancouver, Washington California Clean Water Summit Partners Canadian Water & Wastewater Association A partial list of cities and agencies 20 Legislative Attempts in the US States (CA, NJ, Maine) proposed legislation US National Legislation Congressman Earl Blumenauer from Oregon Should local municipal governments now implement bans or restrictions? Maine Legislature voted Ought Not To Pass (ONTP) and required INDA and MWWCA to work together on a data gathering and also a consumer education project targeted at Baby Wipes

8 Maine s Legislative History Timeline 22 Goals The Summit at Costco Improvements needed to info on packaging Actions and interactions Plea for champions, role models, and replication Outcomes 23 COSTCO s Newer Packaging IMPORTANT FLUSHABILITY INFORMATION: Kirkland Signature Moist Flushable Wipes comply with all industry guidelines and are proven to pass through a home's well-maintained toilet, pump and drain line without clogging. The wipe is very different than other wipes and made of a special dispersible material that breaks apart into smaller pieces due to mechanical action of flushing process. Are Kirkland Signature Moist Flushable Wipes really flushable? Yes, Kirkland Signature Moist Flushable Wipes comply with industry guidelines and are proven to pass through a home's well-maintained toilet, pump and drain line without clogging. The wipe is very different than other wipes and made of a special material that breaks apart into smaller pieces due to mechanical action of flushing process. 24 8

9 One Example: Costco Baby Wipes - June some improvements on labeling Proposed On the shelf? 25 COSTCO s Latest Packaging NEVER FLUSH MORE THAN ONE WIPE AT A TIME. * NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE IN MOTOR HOMES OR WITH BASEMENT PUMP SYSTEMS. BABY, FACIAL AND CLEANING WIPES, PAPER TOWELS, AND FEMININE HYGEINE PRODUCTS ARE NOT FLUSHABLE AND SHOULD BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY. On the shelf July Bans Can Happen 27 9

10 What Can YOU Do? Collect and Document YOUR Data Use the Incident Report form developed by SCAP CSC in CA: Preventative and corrective maintenance tasks in sewers/pump stations/treatment plants Labor hours/costs Equipment repair/replacement costs Debris hauling fees Blockages, SSO events and any fines Document your deragging costs and share with others 28 What Can YOU Do? Support improved and more prominent labeling for the consumer as well as more rapid dispersibility Understand the Plumbing Code and help strengthen city and agency ordinances if needed Advocate more outreach to retailers Understand the role of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. Understand Industry Canada and their consumer packaging and labeling act for consumers Monitor consumer actions and litigation 29 What Can YOU Do? Monitor outcomes of NACWA/WEF/APWA and INDA /EDANA discussions: 3 facilitated meetings starting in May and ending August 14, 2014 Help APWA s forward progress Assist WEF Member Associations, including Europeans and Japanese American Water Works Assoc. (AWWA)? Rural Water Associations? Vacuum sewer system operators?? Onsite systems: and Your suggestions?? 30 10

11 Next Steps: Put Non-Dispersibles in the Trash, Not the Toilet Sanitary and Combined Sewers are not an effective or proper way to move non-dispersibles to the landfill or incinerator Helps lower our maintenance labor and added CIP needs Conserves water in drought areas Conserves energy in all areas Long -term sustainability improved Extended producer responsibility needed? Flush only the 3 Ps! 31 OCSD s Simple Message - What2Flush Developed by staff for OCSD s Public Outreach Campaign: It s simple the toilet is only meant to flush the three Ps o Pee o Poop o Toilet Paper What s your supportive message? Also inform your Council or Board! 32 Also Thanks To Jennifer Leno, Chairperson [email protected] Barry Orr, Spokesperson [email protected] 33 11

12 Questions? Bobbi Wallace Surface and Wastewater Manager City of Kirkland, Department of Public Works Nick J. Arhontes, P. E. Director of Facilities Support Services Dept. Orange County Sanitation District Fountain Valley, CA Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal - Henry Ford 34 12