Grease Information
Where is grease found?
Why is it a concern?
What can I do to prevent grease from entering the sewer system?
Proper disposal
How restaurant and building owners can help
How Fort Wayne helps to prevent sewer back-ups
What to do in the event of a sewer back-up
Where is grease found?
Meat
Butter and Margarine
Shortening
Lard
Food scraps
Dairy Products
Cooking oil
Sauces
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Why is it a concern?
As grease gets poured down the drain and enters the sewer it hardens and builds up over time. This creates blockages in the sewer and causes sewer back-ups and overflows. A sewage back-up into your house or your neighbor’s can damage plumbing and your belongings. These damages are costly to fix and the increase in operations and maintenance on the sewer system may lead to higher sewer bills. Sewage also contains harmful bacteria and may attract disease-carrying organisms like vermin or insects. Sewage overflows may also enter local beaches and may be a hazard to swimmers and marine life.
Above: Grease sticks to tree roots in sewer lines and eventually causes complete blockages.
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What can I do to prevent grease from entering the sewer system?
Be aware of the products you are pouring down the drain.
Educate friends and family about the proper disposal of grease.
Follow the suggestions below for disposing of grease properly.
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Proper disposal
Never pour grease down the drain or toilet
Scrape pans and dishes before rinsing or washing them
Garbage disposals grind food and grease into smaller pieces but do not keep grease out of the sewer system
Commercial additives and household detergents claim to dissolve grease but do not
If disposing of large amounts of grease, place the grease in a can or a milk jug with a lid
Mix the grease with an absorbent material such as sawdust to prevent leaks while it is being transported to the trash
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How restaurant and building owners can help
Install grease traps or interceptors. For them to work properly:
They must be designed to handle the amount of grease that is expected.
They must be properly installed.
They must be maintained (cleaned and serviced on a regular basis).
Solids should never be put into grease traps or interceptors.
Educate your employees and residents on the subject of proper grease disposal.
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How Fort Wayne helps to prevent sewer back-ups
Line flushing
Degreasing
Root removal
Areas with a high concentration of restaurants are visited on a regular basis for grease removal
Above: Combination jetter/vacuum truck can both flush or "jet" the line and vacuum out debris that washes into the manhole
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What to do in the event of a sewer back-up
In the event of a sewer back-up in your home, contact WPC Maintenance at (260) 427-1255
If you are a resident living inside the city you may dial 311 from 7:30am-5:30pm
If you are a resident living outside the city you may call (260) 426-8311 for assistance
For more information on proper cleanup in the event of a sewer back up click here
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Last Updated on 18 October 2011
Pollution Prevention