The leading cause of sanitary sewer overflows is residential customers pouring substances down their drains, and food service establishments with inadequate grease controls. Fats, oils and grease (FOG) are a byproduct of cooking and are mostly found in meats, cooking oil, lard, shortening, butter and margarine.
Troutdale's sewer system is not designed to handle or treat these substances in excess. Over time, FOG solidifies and forms grease balls ranging in size from marbles to cantaloupes that must be periodically removed. When you combine this with other undesirables like baby wipes, dental floss and feminine hygiene products, this combination can lead to major problems in the system. And if there are trees or bushes growing on top of customer’s laterals, then there’s a potential risk of roots invading the lateral, and the grease will build up over time causing a blockage.
Here are some tips to keep your drain FOG free:
- Scrape excess food from your plate to the trash can
- Wipe pots and pans with a paper towel before washing them
- Pour excess oil or grease into a disposable container, freeze it and put it in the trash
Without proper disposal, grease in the sewer system can lead to higher maintenance costs which could lead to higher consumer rates. Sewer backups can cost you thousands of dollars for the repair or replacement of your damaged property. With your help, we can keep FOG out of the sewer system and off the streets of our fine city.