Protect Your Pipes This Holiday Season

Fats, oils and grease are the top causes of clogged sewer system pipes. At this festive time of year when families are cooking and baking more, these substances can cause build-up in home and community pipelines, leading to back-ups and spills. Common FOG substances that make their way into the wastewater system include: cooking oil, lard, meat scraps, milk products, gravy, sauces, butter and shortening.

Follow these cooking tips to prevent fats, oils and grease from going down the drain:

• Pour used cooking oil into a small container such as a milk carton or can, then dispose of it in the trash.
• Scrape food scraps into the trash before washing dishes.
• Wipe cooking oil and grease off pots and pans with a paper towel before rinsing.

With a few small changes we can keep our home and community wastewater systems healthy for the Holidays.