Bullhead City wastewater staff warns against flushing wipes, cites major pump damage costs

Wastewater division employee John Trequato warned residents that flushing disposable wipes, paper towels and other debris is clogging Bullhead City pumps and causing costly equipment failures.

Tranquilizing the technical detail, Trequato listed the only three things that should go into the sewer system: “1, human waste. 2, toilet paper. And 3, gray water.” He urged residents not to flush disposable wipes, baby wipes, paper towels, napkins or other non‑toilet products because “this will cause a major sewer backup.”

Trequato described removed pump debris — including wipes, plastic bags, razor blades, pencils, candy wrappers and tampon applicators — and said the city has to pull and diagnose pumps, sometimes sending them out for replacement. “We’re talking minimum $4,050,000 dollars of taxpayers dollars that can be avoided very easily,” he said.

City wastewater staff said such clogs burn up pumps and increase labor and replacement costs. The worker urged residents to dispose of non‑flushable items in the trash to avoid backups and expensive repairs.

The city did not provide a technical cost breakdown or supporting invoice numbers during the meeting; Trequato’s figure was presented as an estimate based on recent repairs. The city’s wastewater division can be contacted through the Bullhead City website for more information or to report recurring sewer problems.