How to Prevent Fats, Oil and Grease from Damaging Your Home and the Environment

One of the leading cause of sewer overflows is grease blockages in sewer lines due to fats, oils and grease (FOG).  Sewer overflows and backups can cause health hazards, damage home interiors, and threaten the environment.

Grease can get into the sewer from household drains as well as from poorly maintained grease traps in restaurants and other businesses.

Where does grease come from?

Most of us know grease is a byproduct of cooking. Grease is found in such things as meat fats, lard, cooking oil, shortening, butter and margarine, food scraps, baked goods, sauces and soups and dairy products.

Too often, grease is washed into the plumbing system usually through the kitchen sink. Grease should never be poured down the drain. Many people are unaware that pouring hot water and detergent down the drain only breaks up grease temporarily. Grease then moves further down the sewer line and can cause problems in other areas. If a small amount of grease gets into your drain, flush it immediately with cold water. Home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system.

When grease gets into a sewer line it sticks to the insides of the pipes (both on your property and in the streets). Over time, the grease will build up and eventually block the entire pipe. The results can be:

• Raw sewage overflowing into your homeAn expensive and unpleasant cleanup that often must be paid for by the homeownerRaw sewage overflowing into your yards and streets

What you can do to help

• Never pour grease down the sink drains and toilets.Pour small amounts of grease into a non-recyclable container (e.g., juice can, empty milk carton). Once hardened,  dispose of the grease in the trash.Large amounts of FOG (e.g., oil from fryer) can be brought to the District’s collection facility located at the District’s shop yard or the wastewater treatment facility.  Contact the District office for details (661)845-1213.

• Before washing, scrape grease and food scraps from plates, pots, utensils, and cooking surfaces.Never put grease down garbage disposals.Be cautious of chemicals and additives (including soaps and detergents) that claim to dissolve grease. Some of these additives simply pass grease down pipes where it can clog the sewer lines.

The District is working hard to protect our community from sewer backups… and we need your help too!

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 For more information, please call (661) 845-1213.