Philadelphia wastewater workers are seeing 12 times more clogging than normal in their treatment plants, partly due to the fact that residents have been flushing personal protective gear.

The city’s mayor is imploring residential sewer customers to stop flushing gloves and wipes, which are straining sewer infrastructure.

“We are seeing a large increase in the amount of PPE and other items being discarded through people flushing these items down the toilet,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney tells WPVI News. “This is taking a toll on our water treatment infrastructure and residents' private property.”

Flint Residents Have a Month to Comment on $31 Million Wastewater Project Plan

Residents in Flint, Michigan, have until the end of the month to send the state their comments about a proposed $31 million wastewater project.

The city’s director of public works, Rob Bincsik, says the improvements are necessary to prevent “catastrophic failure,” according to Mlive.com.

If Flint’s city council approves applying for the $31 million loan from the state, it’ll be used to improve the wastewater treatment plant and a pump station. If the pump station remains as is, a failure could soon “take out the whole northwest section of town,” says the city’s wastewater control manager, Jeannette Best.

Senate Committee Proposes $19.5 Billion for Nation's Water Infrastructure

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has announced two draft bill proposals to invest $19.5 billion into the nation’s water infrastructure, according to The Hill.

The two proposals are America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, which would increase water storage, offer protection against floods and fix wastewater infrastructure; and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020, which would help American communities meet drinking water needs.