Minnesota City Sues Sanitary Wipes Makers Over Clogged Pipes

WYOMING, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota city is suing six makers of sanitary wipes, saying the "so-called flushable wipes" are clogging sewer systems.

The federal lawsuit filed Thursday by the city of Wyoming seeks class-action status.

According to reports, the lawsuit says flushable wipes stay intact long enough to pass into sewer lines and wastewater treatment plants, resulting in thousands, or possibly millions, of dollars of damages.

Industry representatives have said consumers are flushing wipes that don't claim to be flushable.

Kimberly-Clark is one company named in the lawsuit. In an email to the newspaper before the lawsuit was filed, the company said it's invested in developing technologies that deliver wipes that are truly compatible with wastewater systems.

Kimberly-Clark declined comment on the lawsuit Friday. Another referred questions to Dave Rousse, president of the trade group Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, who said any sewer problems are being caused by non-flushable wipes being flushed inappropriately.