Sanitary Sewer Best Practices

Do not put FROG into the drain!

FROG - Fats, Rags, Oils and Grease in the Sewer System 

Help Us Prevent Fats, Rags, Oils and Grease Clogs/Blockages in the Sewer System

Sewer overflows can cause major health hazards, costly cleanups and environmental damage. Raw or partially treated sewage can back up into homes or flow into area streets, parks, yards, ponds, rivers, and bays. The resulting corrective action usually involves hefty repair bills for homeowners and increased operational costs for sewer service providers.


THE CULPRITS OF THESE MESSES?

In many cases, they are fats, oils and grease.  All of which clog pipes

Typical sources include:

•    Food scrapsDrawing of a frog looking concerned.

•    Butter

•    Margarine

•    Cooking oils

•    Sauces

•    Dairy products

•    Greasy leftovers

What do you mean Rags?

Rags is a general term for a multitude of items that end up in our wastewater that cannot be processed properly at the Wastewater Treatment Facility.  


They include:

•    Facial tissues

•    Baby wipes, disinfectant wipes, moist wipes, etc. 

•    Toilet bowl scrub pads

•    Disposable floor wipes Picture of a hand holding a rag.

•    Napkins (paper or cloth), paper towels

•    Dental floss

•    Egg shells, nutshells, bones, and coffee grounds

•    Hair

•    Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material

•    Vitamins, medicines or other pharmaceuticals

•    Sheet plastic, or plastic of any kind

•    Diapers (cloth, disposable, “flushable”)


HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

Fats, Oils and Grease 101: Fats, oils and grease don't mix well with water and easily adhere to other materials, such as underground pipes. When washed down the drain, these substances can solidify and stick to the pipe's interior. Over time the grease can build up and cause blockages or breaks in the pipe.


Fats, Oil and Grease & the Environment

Fats, oil and grease (FOG) are a major environmental problem. When you discard your cooking oil into your kitchen sink, it accumulates inside the sewer pipes making it difficult for wastewater to flow freely to the wastewater treatment plant.


When wastewater cannot make its way through the sewer pipes, it overflows into our homes, streets, lawns and storm drains. Storm drains carry rainwater away from homes, and anything that is thrown on the street goes untreated to our water sources such as our river, ponds, and bays. You can help us keep our water running clean by disposing of your cooking oil and grease properly.