Is there any kind of paper towel that is safe for septic systems and plumbing?

Question

I'm pastor of a church and in one of the church bathrooms, people are always flushing paper towels down the toilet and that causes immense plumbing problems. The solution prior to now has been to post signs that prohibit paper towesls from that bathroom. Folks have to try to dry thier hands on toilet tissue, which seems sort of low-class and troublesome. Our alternatives seem to be
a) buy an electric dryer (costly and requires installation and running electricity through an older, concrete block building"
OR
b) find a paper towel that will disintegrate and is septic/plumbing friendly that works better than toilet tissue.
Any thoughts.. are there such towels out there anywhere? How can we provide a hand-drying option that doesn't leave our rest room with wet and disgusting toilet paper but isn't damaging our sewage system?

Answer 1

Perhaps if there were a trash can directly under the paper towel dispenser, fewer people would flush them?
I'm sure there are still the "continuous towel" wall units available.
http://www.alsco.com.au/washroom/hand_drying_systems.html

Answer 2

I think a word or two from the pulpit is in need here. Or a sign or two in the bath rooms. Post one over a waste basket for paper towels. God said to put paper towels here. Or how about over the waste basket: send it to the Devil. Post one over the toilet. "Don't send paper towels to the Devil. Or that towel may cause this toilet to back up. Say it is a sin to put paper towels down the toilet. I'm sure that you that you can find a good way to put it. Any thing that would break down in the septic system wouldn't dry your hands to good. Not only are paper towels bad for the septic systems they can plug the toilet. They may not be easy to find but they or a least did have towels that were in a fixture that would unroll clean toweling & roll up the wet.

Answer 3

I think a word or two from the pulpit is in need here.

Or a sign or two in the bath rooms.

Post one over a waste basket for paper towels. God said to put paper towels here.

Or how about over the waste basket: send it to the Devil.

Post one over the toilet. "Don't send paper towels to the Devil.

Or that towel may cause this toilet to back up.

Say it is a sin to put paper towels down the toilet.

I'm sure that you that you can find a good way to put it.

Any thing that would break down in the septic system wouldn't
dry your hands to good.

Not only are paper towels bad for the septic systems they can plug the toilet.

They may not be easy to find but they or a least did have towels that were in a fixture that would unroll clean toweling & roll up the wet.

Answer 4

CAll your local linen service company and ask that they install the old roll cloth type hand drying continuous towel system. They will give you a discount, and is certainly cheaper than paying for constant septic tank service. Paper towels and septic tanks do not get along well at all. Good luck

Answer 5

How about the cloth towel dispenser?

http://www.ultimats.com/roll_dispenser.html

A link with a photo for your perusal. They might just be cheaper in the long run. See if you can find a used one pulled from service during a remodel. There is a lot of commercial equipment out there like that.

Answer 6

You need to do some research to see if there are paper towels that are biodegradable.

Answer 7

No. Simultaneously scream, wet your pants, and run in circles for hours.

Answer 8

Here is a link that might be just what you need Good luck

Answer 9

nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

pee, poop & toilet paper only

all toilets & plumbing

septic - worse yet they don't dissolve!