The City of Portage la Prairie has a message for its residents: don’t flush wet wipes down the toilet.

It was discussed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Councillor Wayne Wall explains the situation.

“I guess what’s been happening is, with stores running out of toilet paper, people have been buying wet wipes and different kinds of sanitary wipes. After people use them, they flush them down the toilet,” says Wall. “I was asked by Carly Friesen, the manager of the wastewater facility, to mention that because it is a problem in the wastewater plant and lift stations.”

Doing so could cause major damages to the city’s wastewater facility.

“Those things don’t break down like toilet paper, and they can cause problems. I know from experience in the wastewater business that one of those wipes can stall a 45 horsepower pump.”

He says you should be mindful of the three P’s when flushing stuff down the toilet.

“Poop, pee, and paper. That’s what goes in the toilet.”