As I was trying to get through another day of suspended animation in my air-conditioned, hermetically sealed office, I started browsing the company’s intranet. A number of random clicks found this gem of a discussion. I had no idea civil engineers were quite such fascinating types.
Subject: Blockages caused by re-cycled toilet paper.
Drab Weltering
Working on a reactive maintenance contractor – does anybody know
of any evidence that would indicate that using re-cycled toilet paper is
more likely to cause toilets to block than normal toilet paper. if this is
the case would it be only certain types of recycled paper? Could it be that
it might not degrade as well as normal paper?
Advise Badly
does the “poke through” test include for folding it double – just
in case of accidents
Lads Return
Are you all mad???????????????
Turn All Mocking
When paper goes through the recycling process, individual paper
fibers are broken into shorter lengths – this is why recycled paper is
normally of a poorer quality than paper manufactured from virgin wood pulp.
Logic follows that the poorer quality recycled paper is weaker & therefore
more likely to disintegrate – however it is conceivable that a manufacturer
of recycled toilet paper might make the paper thicker to counter act this.
One criteria by which strength/quality of toilet papers are tested is
commonly refered to as the “poke through” test, but I’m not sure how
scientific/controlled these tests are or where you could find results for
the strength ratings of individual brands.
Ash Windsail
There is a fair amount of research in the amount and type of
“gross solids” (ie the floating bits) that arise in sewer systems. A
software program has been prepared (by others) to help predict what may
arise. Water (collection networks) have a fair amount of experience in
modelling the movement of the sediments (ie the heavier bits of sand, grit,
etc) as well as the pollutant loads if this is of help.
Hi-tech Neighbour Blaze
From my experience, loo paper is specifically designed to have
low wet strength, i.e. it tears up easily when wet, this is helped by the
little perforations between each sheet. the turbulance in the drain should
shred the paper quickly. You are likely to get more problems when the loo
paper is allowed to run out, and users resort to tissues or worse still,
kitchen roll, which have high wet strength, and do not shred easily. Kitchen
roll is virtually indestructible, and comes in large sheets.
Fin Jowls
Try Liken Rainbow at Brunel University. He does
a lot of drainage research in this area.
All names have been anagrammatized to protect the innocent.
In fact, he loves us all. He told us so at least twelve times on Friday night when we saw him – and the rest of the Flaming Lips – treating us to a number of rousing tunes, quirky bits of video art and giant balloons. The best, and indeed only, gig I have seen at Birmingham Academy. Heartfelt thanks to Dave for getting the tickets and James for reminding me when the gig was. It’s lovely when a band cares about their audience.