Fat Clogs Drains and Sewage Systems Says Arcata Public Works

City of Arcata

 

This is a press release from the City of Arcata, but it applies to all municipal systems.

HOLIDAY FATS & OILS CLOG SEWER DRAINS AVOID CLOGGED DRAINS WITH PROPER FAT, OIL AND GREASE DISPOSAL Arcata, CA, November 21, 2018 – The City of Arcata Environmental Services Department encourages residents to properly dispose of cooking grease during the holiday season and all year long. Many people celebrate the holiday season by preparing traditional holiday feasts including turkey, ham, gravy, stuffing and, let’s not forget, desserts. As delicious as these foods may be, they are prepared with cooking oil, grease, butter and rendered fat – all of which can cause sewer back-ups if they enter the sanitary sewer system. Fats, oils and grease (FOG) used for cooking or created as a result of cooking can wreak havoc on drains and the waste water system if not disposed of properly. Fats, oils and grease should never be poured down a sink drain or toilet. If this does occur, it increases chances for clogged drains resulting in costly plumbing problems for residents or sanitary sewer overflows. Sanitary sewer overflows are a public health concern and cause environmental problems. “City crews will respond to correct sanitary sewer overflows,” says Mark André, Director of the City of Arcata’s Environmental Services Department, “But prevention is always the best course of action, and proper disposal of fats, oils and grease will avoid many plumbing and sewer problems.” Cooled and solidified cooking grease or oil should be placed in a sealed container, stored in the freezer until it has hardened, and then, put in a solid waste garbage bin. Alternatively, pour fats and oils into cat litter until it is absorbed and then dispose of the litter in the trash. Large amounts of fats and grease can also be taken to the Humboldt Waste Management Authority’s Household Hazardous Waste collection facility. Here are other tips to avoid FOG-related clogged sewer drains: • Avoid pouring cooking grease down the sink drain or toilet • Wipe greasy dishes and pots with a paper towel or napkin to absorb cooking oil before washing; • Scrape vegetable scraps from dishes for backyard compost and scrape greasy food residue into the garbage prior to washing; • Avoid placing food that contains fats, oil and grease into the garbage disposal. To report sanitary sewer overflows and for more information regarding fat, oil and grease disposal and proper disposal of Household Hazardous Wastes, please call 707-822-5957.

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Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for the info.

Kim
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Kim
5 years ago

I was told by a plumber that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest call day for the year. Potato peels…

'Merican
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'Merican
5 years ago

Fat clogs pretty much everything

Liz
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Liz
5 years ago

Never let hair go down the bathroom drain or fat/grease go down your kitchen drain. Best advice an old plumbmer told me.

Mr. Bubble
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Mr. Bubble
5 years ago

Glycerin based soaps are also horrible. They clog drains amazingly fast.

Bushytails
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Bushytails
5 years ago

Also, on the topic of random sewer advice, don’t flush your pads. Seriously. They swell up and clog pipes, either yours or the city’s…

THC
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THC
5 years ago

People really have to be told this by the government? How about some advice on mitigating the pains from turky gravy gases, nevermind, I just worked that mystery out myself ;>)

Kelley
Guest
Kelley
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Thanks for the chuckle.

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[…] Environmental Services Department had to issue a press release to encourage residents to be very careful of flushing or draining these types of […]