Carmi Warns Residents Against Flushing 'Unflushable' Items

City officials see spike in sewer clogs from wipes, towels, and other non-biodegradable products.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The city of Carmi, Illinois is urging residents to stop flushing certain products down the toilet, as officials have noticed a significant increase in sewer line blockages caused by items like baby wipes, adult wipes, shop towels, and paper towels. These non-biodegradable products can create costly clogs that impact both homeowners and the city's sewer system.

Why it matters

Sewer blockages from flushing improper items can lead to expensive repairs and maintenance issues for both residents and the city's infrastructure. Carmi is taking a proactive approach to educate the community and prevent these problems from worsening.

The details

Over the past few months, Carmi officials have observed a large uptick in baby wipes, adult wipes, shop towels, paper towels, and other non-flushable products ending up in the sewer lines. These items can create blockages that are difficult and costly to clear, impacting both individual homeowners and the city's overall sewer system.

  • The increase in sewer clogs has occurred over the last few months.

The players

Carmi

The city of Carmi, Illinois, which is warning residents about flushing certain products that can clog the sewer system.

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The takeaway

Carmi's warning highlights the importance of only flushing biodegradable items down the toilet to prevent costly sewer backups and infrastructure damage. Residents should be mindful of what they are putting into the sewer system to avoid potential problems and expenses.