May 02, 2020
WILKES-BARRE The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging all Pennsylvanians to only flush toilet paper and human waste, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash.
Sewage treatment facilities have been dealing with an increase in non-flushable materials clogging filters and equipment since the beginning of the stay-at-home orders in March.
Flushing things that arent meant to be flushed can damage your own sewer pipes as well as the sewer treatment facilities that we all depend on, said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. Even so-called flushable wipes shouldnt be put in the toilet.
Tissues, paper towels, and single-use wipes, including cleansing and diaper wipes, cannot be safely flushed, even if they are labeled as flushable or biodegradable. Other non-flushable items include things like diapers, feminine hygiene products, disposable toilet brushes, disposable gloves, cotton swabs, dental floss, and kitty litter.
Flushing or dumping the wrong things down the drain can cause blockages in your own home or business, as well as problems in the local sewer system. These products do not break down like toilet paper and can clog systems very quickly. Many sewer blockages occur between your house or business and the sewer main, where the property owner is responsible for correcting and paying for the repair.
Blockages can also lead to sewage overflows that can have adverse effects on the environment, especially if the overflow enters local rivers, lakes, and streams.
Flushing only toilet paper and human waste helps ensure that the toilets, plumbing, sewer systems, and septic systems will continue working properly to safely manage wastewater in Pennsylvania.
DEP also encourages residents and businesses to refrain from disposing of food scraps, grease, fat, or oil down the drain. These should also be disposed of in the trash to help keep wastewater pipes clear.
Grease, fat, and oil can solidify and adhere to the insides of the pipes that carry wastewater from homes and businesses to the wastewater treatment plant. Over time, these buildups can restrict the flow of wastewater.
Garbage disposals do not prevent grease from washing down the drain. Detergents that claim to dissolve grease may pass it down the line and cause problems in other parts of the wastewater system.
Food scraps, grease, fat, and oil should be removed from cookware, plates, utensils, and cooking surfaces, placed in a sealed container, and disposed of in the trash. Baskets/strainers can also be installed in sink drains to catch food scraps.
Preventable toilet and sewer backups can pose a threat to human health and present an extra challenge to wastewater utilities and staff. Flushing anything other than toilet paper can damage internal plumbing, local sewer systems, and septic systems. Fixing these backups is costly and takes time and resources away from ensuring that wastewater management systems are otherwise working properly.
Having fully operational wastewater services is critical to containing COVID-19 and protecting Pennsylvanians from other public health risks. DEP thanks wastewater staff and utilities for their dedication, courage, and continuing efforts at a time when resources may be stretched thin. Pennsylvanias wastewater employees are local heroes on the front line of protecting human health and the environment every single day.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit the PA Department of Health page. For more information on DEP-related COVID-19 matters, please visit the PA DEP Alerts page.
Farmers markets prepare
to safely serve consumers
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding this week reminded Pennsylvanians that with spring and warm weather comes farmers market season in the commonwealth.
Farmers markets, like grocery stores, offer life-sustaining food and essentials and have been provided guidance from the department for how to continue operations safely and with minimal risk amid the COVID-19 public health crisis.
While farmers work hard year-round to push food to grocery stores, many are also working hard to stock their own market shelves and feed their local community, said Secretary Redding. Farmers markets are a fundamental piece of Pennsylvanias supply chain; something many Pennsylvanians have become acutely aware of in recent weeks.
When Gov. Tom Wolf first designated agriculture and the supply chain as life sustaining, the Department of Agriculture issued guidance for Farmers Markets and On-Farm Markets with recommendations on how to continue operations safely and minimize contact for shoppers and employees. The guidance includes:
Offer delivery or pick up options and online or phone ordering if possible.
Pre-package bags of fruit, vegetables, and other items to limit shoppers handling food and keep customers moving quickly.
Offer designated times for high-risk and elderly persons to shop at least once a week.
Communicate with consumers via website or social media to explain changes, delivery options, or other extra precautions to mitigate against COVID-19.
Separate stands to limit crowds and consider limiting the number of customers in the market at one time.
If possible, have a different person handle products and handle money, or wash hands and sanitize between tasks.
Remove tablecloths and eliminate samples and eating areas.
The guidance also offers farms the opportunity to open an on-farm stand to sell raw produce, eggs, or shelf stable packaged foods such as jams, jellies, or baked goods without additional food safety licenses.
In addition to the above recommendations, markets are advised to adhere to Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levines worker safety order and the Department of Agricultures guidance for Sanitization and Diagnosed Employees. Market operators are also encouraged to take advantage of free resources and webinars provided by Penn State Extension for farmers market managers to maintain safe operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because the Department of Agriculture worked so quickly to create guidelines for farmers markets and on-farm markets, Penn State Extension and our partners were able to develop fact sheets, articles, webinars and open forums around these guidelines to help the more than 1,000 essential farmers markets in the commonwealth to operate in a safe manner and continue to feed their communities, said PA Farm Markets Director and Penn State Extension Education Program Associate Brian Moyer.
Pennsylvanians interested in supporting local can find a market by visiting pafarm.com or by looking for the PA Preferred logo when shopping in a grocery store for a guarantee that youre supporting a Pennsylvania farmer.
This pandemic does not limit our need for food. In fact, its quite the opposite, added Redding. So lets remember where that food comes from, and make intentional choices to directly support local farmers. Pennsylvanias farmers markets and farm stands offer the essentials you need and theyre working harder than ever to provide a safe, reliable service.
For a complete list of guidance documents and information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to Health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.
AG to audit COVID-19
business shutdown waivers
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale this week announced he will audit how the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) has managed the waiver process for businesses that appealed Gov. Tom Wolfs COVID-19 shutdown order.
Some business owners complained that the departments waiver process was too slow and not transparent enough, DePasquale said. My audit is intended to help make sure that the waiver process is managed more smoothly should it be necessary to use it again in the future.
On March 19, Gov. Wolf ordered that businesses that were not categorized as life-sustaining must close their physical locations to help slow the spread of COVID-19, which has so far claimed the lives of nearly 2,200 Pennsylvanians and rising.
More than 40,000 businesses sought a waiver from the governors closure order through a process managed by DCED. The waiver application period ended April 3.
Im pleased that Gov. Wolf agrees that performing this audit is both appropriate and necessary, DePasquale said. Im also pleased that DCED Secretary Dennis Davin has pledged to fully cooperate with my audit team.
DePasquale said he is pleased by the bipartisan interest in the audit; Senate Republicans requested it earlier in the week. The audit process will begin immediately and results will be made public upon conclusion.
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