Honolulu's environmental services department is warning that "flushable" wipes are anything but, and the cost of ignoring that lands on homeowners and taxpayers alike.

• Wipes labeled flushable do not break apart in water, and neither do paper towels — only toilet paper does.
• Crews at the Waianae wastewater plant are pulling out huge tangled masses of wipes that would otherwise block the lines.
• A blockage can push sewage back into a house or spill onto the street, and cleanup is expensive.
• The rule is the three P's: pee, poop, and toilet paper. Everything else — tampons, floss, hair — goes in the trash can.
• Some brands are starting to drop the "flushable" label and print "do not flush" instead.

Outlook: Expect more warnings like this as Honolulu tries to cut down on sewer backups, with details posted on the city's environmental services site.