Can you flush wipes if you have a septic tank?
Only if the pack says that the wipe suits septic systems, and the manual for your system agrees. State septic guides say to keep wipes, tampons and pads out of a septic tank.
WA Health puts “wet wipes of all types” on its list of items not to flush into a septic tank system. The brands of flushable wipes do not agree with each other on septic tanks.
Checked: 1 November 2026. Each fact below has a source.
What septic guides say
- WA Health: its list of items not to flush into a septic tank system includes “wet wipes of all types”, “tampons, applicators and sanitary pads” and “kitty litter”.
- Port Pirie Regional Council (SA): its list of items not to put in a septic tank includes wet wipes and sanitary products.
- City of Ballarat (VIC): “Don’t flush nappies, cotton buds, sanitary napkins or condoms down the toilet as they cannot be processed by the system and will cause failure.”
- NSW Office of Local Government (guide from 2000): “Don’t flush anything down the toilet that could clog up the system, such as plastic, grease, tampons, condoms, paper towels, plastics, or cat litter.”
- Northern Territory Government: do not “put rubbish in the system such as nappies, sanitary pads and condoms”.
What the brands say about septic tanks
These are the brands on our list of wipes that state AS/NZS 5328. The words in quotation marks come from the brand’s page, or from a retailer page where the table says so.
| Brand | What it says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CleanLIFE | No septic statement found. “Only flush in a well maintained sewage system.” | CleanLIFE loo, clean. page |
| Great Aussie Wipes | No septic statement found on the product page. | Showerless Wipes page |
| Kine | No septic statement found. Flush “only into a properly maintained sewage system.” | kine.com.au |
| Kleenex | “safe for properly maintained sewerage systems and commercial septic systems when used as directed.” | Kleenex text on a retailer page |
| Ocean Healthcare | The brand page says “Septic-safe”. Retailer pages say not to use the wipes with septic tanks or macerator toilets. | Brand page, Chemist Warehouse |
| Quilton | “Flushable wipes are only suitable for use in properly maintained sewerage systems and commercial septic systems”. | Quilton product page |
| Sorbent | For septic or macerator systems, “please consult the system manual for suitability.” | Sorbent text on Chemist Warehouse |
Kleenex and Quilton use the words “commercial septic systems”. Their pages do not explain the term.
Does the flushable standard cover septic tanks?
We could not confirm it. The public summary of AS/NZS 5328:2022 on the Standards Australia store does not mention septic tanks. Its section titles cover toilets, drain lines, wastewater transport, screening and treatment processes.
WSAA, which approves the use of the flushable logo, says in its questions and answers (October 2024) that a flushable product suits wastewater networks and treatment systems, “including onsite treatment systems”. That document is online again at a new address (read 1 November 2026).
Keep a septic system working
- Put wipes, tampons, pads, nappies, condoms and cat litter in the bin, unless the pack and your system manual say otherwise.
- Use strong cleaners with care. The NSW guide says that household cleaning products and bleaches “can kill the helpful bacteria in your septic system”. WA Health says that “bleaches and detergents have no adverse effects when used in moderation”.
- Follow the manual for your system and the rules of your council.
The list shows every wipe we can find on sale in Australia that states it meets AS/NZS 5328:2022, with the source for each one. See the list.
Sources
- WA Health: understanding septic tank systems (read 18 October 2026)
- Port Pirie Regional Council: do not flush (9 February 2016)
- City of Ballarat: septic tank systems (2024)
- NSW Office of Local Government: the easy septic guide (2000)
- NT Government: maintaining your septic tank system (updated 1 December 2020)
- Standards Australia store: AS/NZS 5328:2022 Flushable products (published 20 May 2022)
- WSAA: Flushable Products Standard questions and answers (new address) (October 2024)
- Quilton: hypo-allergenic flushable wipes (read 18 October 2026)
- Topcat Healthcare: Kleenex flushable wipes (read 18 October 2026)
- Chemist Warehouse: Sorbent flushable wipes (read 18 October 2026)
- CleanLIFE: loo, clean. (read 18 October 2026)
- Ocean Healthcare: flushable wipes (read 18 October 2026)
- Chemist Warehouse: Ocean Healthcare flushable wipes (read 11 October 2026)
- Great Aussie Wipes: Showerless Wipes (read 18 October 2026)
- Kine: home page (read 18 October 2026)