The Legend of the Phantom Dumper
Back in 2016, Orem faced a bizarre and costly mystery when an unknown culprit began illegally dumping a fibrous, insulation-like material into the city’s sewer system. Dubbed the “Phantom Dumper,” this shadowy saboteur was wreaking havoc, clogging the system, and forcing the City of Orem to spend nearly $4,000 every week in man hours just to keep the sewers flowing.
Desperate to unmask the perpetrator, city officials launched a nationwide search and tip campaign, complete with a cash reward, to bring the elusive vandal to justice. The hunt for the Phantom Dumper captured attention and spurred community vigilance.
And then, just as mysteriously as it began, the illegal dumping stopped. The Phantom Dumper was never caught, leaving behind a trail of questions, intrigue, and relief for the city’s budget. The identity of this sewer saboteur remains one of Orem’s strangest unsolved mysteries.
About the Phantom Dumper
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.