What are Fats, Oils and Grease?
Fats, oils and grease, or FOG are contaminates from cooking. FOG comes from things like dressings, sauces, meats and oils. When you pour any kind of grease down the drain, it can congeal and solidify into a hard substance that doesn't allow water to flow through. This will lead to clogs and blockages, causing residential damage and untreated sewage to overflow. More than 50% of overflows are caused by grease!
Why does it matter?
When fats, oils or grease goes down the drain, it can lead to your pipes clogging, and a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) where raw sewage actually backs up into your home, lawn, neighborhood and streets. Not only does this costly, nasty mess create sanitation issues, it can also run into a nearby stream or river which affects our drinking water and aquatic life.
These backups can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars in damage to your home, and with each sewer overflow your water bill increases. It's important that each residents does his or her part to help fight the clog!
These backups can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars in damage to your home, and with each sewer overflow your water bill increases. It's important that each residents does his or her part to help fight the clog!
Other pains in the drain
There are other materials that you should never flush or put down the drain. These include hair, diapers, cotton swabs, flushable wipes, feminine hygiene products, paper towels,floss, beauty products and chemicals.
Common Myths
Myth #1
"I can dissolve grease in my pipes with hot water."
Hot water gives the illusion of dissolving grease. Hot water actually pushes the grease further down the drain, where it quickly cools and sticks to the inside of pipes.
Myth #2
"I don't create enough FOG to clog pipes."
Once deposited inside a pipe, grease does not go away. Over time, any household can put enough FOG down a drain to clog its pipes.
"I can dissolve grease in my pipes with hot water."
Hot water gives the illusion of dissolving grease. Hot water actually pushes the grease further down the drain, where it quickly cools and sticks to the inside of pipes.
Myth #2
"I don't create enough FOG to clog pipes."
Once deposited inside a pipe, grease does not go away. Over time, any household can put enough FOG down a drain to clog its pipes.
