About the Phantom Dumper
Someone is illegally dumping a fibrous (likely insulation) material into Orem’s Sewer System. It is costing the City of Orem nearly $4,000 in man hours each week to clean up. Please lead us to the “Phantom Dumper” so that we can prevent this unnecessary clogging and waste of time and money. This has to stop!
In the News
- Report from the Daily Herald (Original Report)
- Deseret News Report
- Fox 13 Report (video)
- Getting Creative to Catch the Phantom
- New Tactics (Fox 13)
- Getting Closer on the Case (Daily Herald)
- Spirited Discussion in Comments Section on KSL.com
- Phantom Dumper Unloads 3 times in 8 Days
- Police get Involved in the Search
FACTS OF THE PHANTOM DUMPER CASE
updated 1/10/17
- We have been testing different materials and have found a match with the type of insulation that is commonly sprayed into attics and used in homes. This insulation is made with recycled paper, which would make sense with our original test showing it was a “fibrous material.”We aren’t ruling out all other materials, but we have increased our focus on companies using this type of insulation.
- Until recently, the Phantom Dumper usually struck on Thursday mornings. We are now getting hit on different days during the week, but always in the morning. It hits the treatment plant about 10 am.
- The dumps have been happening weekly for nearly 5 months.
- Two forensic labs identified the substance as a non-toxic, non-animal fat, fibrous material such as ground-up paper, cardboard, carpet, sawdust, insulation, or similar product.
- The Phantom Dumper is most likely using one of the city’s manholes. The volume of the dumps makes the use of a drain or toilet unlikely.
- The manhole is probably on a quiet street / secluded area.