Page 62 - https://downmagaz.net

By flushing the wrong things, people are taxing

infrastructure that’s already deteriorating, said

Darren Olson, vice chairman of the American

Society of Civil Engineers’ Committee for

America’s Infrastructure. “Your latex glove may

not be the thing that causes a clog, but you are

adding to the burden.”

Hundreds of areas, like a portion of Philadelphia,

have combined sewage and stormwater systems

so sanitation officials say that means discarded

masks and gloves that litter sidewalks and

parking lots can also reach and help gum up

treatment plants.

Olson said masks and gloves thrown in the street

can travel through storm drains in separate

systems to lakes and other waterways.

George Leonard, Ocean Conservancy’s chief

scientist, said he’s concerned discarded personal

protective equipment could wash out to sea and

eventually add to “the plastics burden that the

ocean is already suffering from.”

Costs of clearing, cleaning and restarting

equipment are mounting for utilities.

To reduce the likelihood of clogs, WSSC Water —

a wastewater utility that serves nearly 1.8 million

customers in Prince George’s and Montgomery

counties in Maryland — installed about 27

debris grinding pumps over the last decade at a

cost of $1.5 million.

“At one wastewater pumping station alone, one

that does not have grinder pumps, we have seen

an increase of 37,000 pounds of wipes during

January–March 2020 compared with the same

time period in 2019,” said utility spokeswoman

Lyn Riggins.

62