Fats, Oils & Grease
in the Collection System
The Treatment Plant is experiencing a problem with grease building up in the sewer pipes and in the wet wells at the pump stations. Most of the grease that is in the collection system gets there from the byproducts of cooking. Grease can be found in such things as meat fats, cooking oil, butter & margarine, dairy products and sauces. The grease gets into the collection system when these items are put down the sink drains or when dishes, pots and pans are cleaned.
When the sewer bills were mailed out this year, there was a flyer inserted with the bill explaining the problems with disposing of greases and fats into the collection system. The best way to handle grease and fats are to scrape them off or pour them into containers and dispose of them thru the trash disposal. Never put fats or grease down the sink drains or into the toilet. Restaurants and other commercial kitchens are required to have grease traps installed and to clean them regularly, and the department will be doing inspections this spring. The Treatment Plant does have minimum sizing requirement for grease traps. Please contact us for more information.
If the grease builds up to the point that it causes a blockage, this can cause the raw sewage to overflow from the collection system. When this happens it can result in raw sewage flowing into the street, or your yard, worse yet into your home. Regardless of where the overflow occurs it will have to be cleaned up and the sewer users will have to pay for it. So please don’t dispose of any fats or greases in the collection system.
For more information, please call the Treatment Plant at (207) 967-2245.
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