Most standard toilet paper is safe for city sewer and septic systems, because toilet paper is made to fall apart in water. A septic safe label is the maker's own claim, so drop a sheet in a jar of water and shake it. Flush only toilet paper. Wipes labeled flushable are not safe.
Is "septic safe" toilet paper a real standard?
Not one you can check on your own. A septic safe label is a claim from the maker, so it helps to separate what the makers say from what independent sources say.
### What do the toilet paper makers claim?
Charmin says its paper "is septic safe and thoroughly tested to ensure it will settle in a septic tank and then undergo biodegradation in the tank." It adds that its products are tested at the Procter & Gamble global flushability lab in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Scott says its Rapid-Dissolving paper is clog-free and septic safe, and that it dissolves 10x faster than a leading 1-ply premium toilet paper. That comparison is Scott's own chosen benchmark, so it tells you how Scott's paper stacks up against one product, not against all of them.
### What do independent sources say?
They're broader and simpler. The EPA tells septic owners to "only flush human waste and toilet paper down the toilet." The Maryland extension adds one caution: some in the industry argue that paper with lotions and aloe doesn't break down as easily. If you're on septic, plain paper with no lotion is the safer pick.
How do you test toilet paper at home?
Use the jar test Austin Water publishes. It takes a minute.
- 1Fill a clear jar with tap water.
- 2Add a piece of the toilet paper.
- 3Put the lid on and shake for 15 seconds, which Austin Water says simulates a flush.
- 4Look at what's left. Paper that has broken into small bits is doing its job. Paper that comes out in one wet sheet or clumps is a warning.
Test two brands side by side if you're choosing between them. Austin Water's version also puts wipes, paper towels and facial tissue in their own jars for comparison, and the difference is hard to miss. Austin Water also says you can leave the jars sitting for days or even weeks to see how far each material breaks down, and that everything except the toilet paper goes in the trash when you're done, not down the toilet. A jar isn't a sewer line, so treat the result as a comparison, not a guarantee.
Does thick, quilted or ultra-plush paper cause clogs?
The research doesn't back a simple "thicker is worse" rule. It helps to know why paper resists breaking up at all. The BioResources study below says toilet paper has to balance the softness people want against the wet strength it needs so it doesn't tear apart in your hand.
### What did the study of twelve brands find?
A study in the journal BioResources compared twelve brands and found that the polymers added to give paper wet strength "decreased the degree of softness and adversely affected the redispersion of fibers." The authors also reported that low-softness, two-ply products, which stuck together between the plies, tended to break down incompletely, and that such products are mostly made from recycled fiber and use polymers to hold up when wet. Meanwhile, thickness, softness and grammage were all positively related to good disintegration, so thickness alone wasn't the culprit.
So in that study, what went into the paper mattered more than how thick it was. It's a small study of twelve brands, though.
### What should you do with that?
Judge the roll by the jar, not the ply count. If a plush roll leaves clumps, or your toilet clogs on it, switch. That's the fix. Rapid-dissolving paper is another option. Scott markets its Rapid-Dissolving line as made for RVs and boats. At home, it's a fair switch when a jar test shows your regular paper clumping, or when a sensitive line keeps clogging. It isn't required for a normal septic system.
What else looks like toilet paper but isn't safe to flush?
Wipes, facial tissue and paper towels. They feel like paper, but they're built differently, and they cause most of the trouble.
| Item | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Flushable wipes | Phoenix Water Services says they are not flushable |
| Paper towels | Phoenix says they stay strong when wet, and the EPA lists them as never to flush |
| Facial tissue | Michigan State Extension lists it as something that can damage septic and sewer systems |
| Toilet paper with lotion or aloe | Maryland Extension says some in the industry argue it doesn't break down as easily |
### Are flushable wipes safe the way toilet paper is?
No. Phoenix Water Services says flatly: "Flushable wipes are actually NOT flushable. Toilet paper, by design, starts to fall apart once in water." It also says paper towels remain strong when wet, again by design. Its rule is to only flush "the 3 P's: Pee, Poop, and (toilet) Paper."
Michigan State University Extension says even wipes whose packaging reads "flushable" and "septic-safe" aren't really. Charmin's own page does say its flushable wipes are safe for sewers and septic systems and suggests flushing only one or two at a time. Phoenix, the EPA and university extensions all say to skip them. Our pages on flushable wipes and what not to flush with a septic system go deeper.
### What about facial tissue and paper towels?
Michigan State Extension lists facial tissues, baby wipes, paper towels, gloves and antibacterial wipes as things that can damage septic and sewer systems. The EPA's do-not-flush list for septic owners includes paper towels too. Keep a small lidded wastebasket by the toilet for them.
Does it matter if you're on city sewer or septic in Phoenix?
The paper rule is the same. The stakes aren't.
On city sewer, what you flush travels through your private line to the city's. Phoenix Water Services says wipes can survive that trip all the way to a treatment plant or the nearest lift station, where they cling to pumps and equipment. On septic, everything stays on your property. Michigan State Extension explains that a septic tank lets heavy waste settle and grease and hair float, and that toilet paper degrades quickly but other materials don't and can clog the system. A failed tank or drainfield is your repair.
Not every Phoenix-area home is on city sewer. If you aren't sure which you have, see how to tell if you have septic or city sewer in Phoenix.
### How does septic maintenance fit in?
Good paper doesn't replace pumping. Maricopa County's septic guidance says the tank has no moving parts and needs very little routine maintenance, but that it should be pumped every 3 to 5 years by a licensed professional pumping company. Our page on how often to pump a septic tank covers what changes that timing.
### What if the toilet still clogs on plain paper?
Then the paper probably isn't the problem. Something further down the line is more likely. Our page on why a toilet keeps clogging covers the usual causes. HQ Plumbing & Air is licensed and insured, gives free estimates and quotes an upfront price before work starts.