Contractors had already responded to two minor overflows in recent weeks caused directly by wet wipes blocking the pipes. Photo: Getty Images

Queenstown Lakes District Council is concerned at the amount of wet wipes being flushed down the toilet as the focus on hygiene increases amid the coronavirus epidemic.

General Manager Property and Infrastructure Peter Hansby issued a reminder to all residents and visitors that wet wipes should never be flushed down the toilet.

Contractors had already responded to two minor overflows in recent weeks caused directly by wet wipes blocking the pipes.

"Our contractors are reporting a large increase in the number of wet wipes found in the district’s wastewater networks in recent weeks," Mr Hansby said.

"Antibacterial wipes are currently in hot demand as people take extra hygiene precautions in light of concerns about COVID-19.  While many of these products say they can be flushed, that is simply not the case.”

The best approach was to keep a small bin next to the toilet to dispose of anything that was not one of the "three P’s, that’s poo, pee or paper". 

"Putting anything else down the toilet will ultimately cause blockages in the network and repairing these come at an unnecessary cost to the ratepayer,” he said.

"We all have a part to play in protecting our environment and keeping the three waters infrastructure running smoothly.  These blockages and overflows can be avoided if we all do the right thing,” Mr Hansby said.

The council would soon be offering local hotels and tourist attractions posters to display in bathrooms to help educate visitors about what is safe to flush down the toilet.