- Home
- Government
- Public Services
- DPS Services
- Sewer Division
- Fat, Oil, Grease & Flushable Wipes are a NO.
Fat, Oil, Grease & Flushable Wipes are a NO.
Help Protect Our Environment and Keep Drains Clear of Fat, Oil, Grease (F.O.G.) & Flushable Wipes (F.W.)
Fat, oil, grease (F.O.G.) and Flushable Wipes (F.W.) in sewer pipes can create severe pollution and sewer problems in our City. F.O.G. & F.W. enters sewer pipes through restaurant, residential and commercial drains. Once in the sewer, F.O.G. sticks to the pipes and thickens which can build up and eventually block the entire pipe. F.W. can easily get stuck on F.O.G. and other items within the sewer pipe compounding the problem. Blockages can send sewage backward – out of manholes into streets, rivers or into homes.
Impact of F.O.G. & F.W.
Preventing sewer backups from F.O.G. & F.W. blockages saves residents money and protects the environment. When sewer pipes on private property back up, the homeowner is responsible for the cleanup. If you regularly pour grease, oil or flushable wipes down the drain, it will form a blockage in the sewer pipe which then backs up through floor drains, toilets and/or at the lowest point in the house. A plumber will have to be hired to clean the sewer and possibly repair plumbing inside the home.
Sources of F.O.G.
Fat, oil and grease are by-products of cooking found in: food scraps, meat fats, lard, cooking oil, butter, margarine or shortening, etc.
“Flushable” Products
Wet wipes, which are used for everything from wiping babies' bottoms to removing makeup to quick house cleaning are labeled "flushable." The problem is they're really not ~ at least not the way toilet paper is. They may be flushable, but they are not biodegradable (like toilet paper) and are clogging sewer systems across the state and country. The phenomenon, which local officials call ragging, is causing major clogging problems. All it takes is one wipe to catch on a tree root or any other debris in the sewer system and then wipes or other items pile on each other causing a blockage. If residents think "out of sight, out of mind, it's not my problem" they are mistaken. If a main sewer line gets dammed by a pile of wipes, then eventually it will back up into private sewer lines which will cause a back-up in people's homes. Unfortunately, the most frequently found items in sewer systems are paper towels/napkins, baby wipes, feminine hygiene products and household wipes which don't deteriorate like toilet paper does. The only items that should be flushed is toilet paper and human waste; please throw everything else in the garbage.
Keep Drains Clear by Following These Tips
1. Pour or scrape greasy or oily food waste into a container or jar.
2. Allow grease to cool/freeze in a container before throwing in the trash.
3. Mix liquid vegetable oil with an absorbent material such as cat litter or coffee grounds in a sealable container before throwing in the trash.
4. Keep drains clean by pouring ½ cup baking soda down the drain followed by ½ cup vinegar. Wait 10 – 15 minutes and then rinse with hot water.
5. Do not put any flushable products down the drain, please throw in the trash.