WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Recently, the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Utilities Department has seen a problem with wipes.

"As toilet paper has flown off the shelves some people are turning to them more, and we really want to get the message out there and educate the public that you should never flush anything but toilet paper," Gale Ketteler said.

She says they're seeing more clogged pipes, filled with disposable wipes.

Some of the clogs are in neighborhood pipes, which can lead to water flowing back into homes.

“Down the line further, we’ve had clogs in big sewer mains full of wipes and other things. The wipes get caught on tree roots, which are common,” Ketteler added.

Ketteler wants people to be aware of their actions, and understand they should only flush toilet paper.

"We’re doing our part every day to bring fresh water to you and to take that waste water away. That’s the cycle that we work on every day, and so we just ask people to do their part," Ketteler said.