What is FOG?
FOG refers specifically to
fats, oils and grease that enter the sewer system.
To learn more about Residential FOG, please click
here.
To learn more about Non-residential FOG, please click
here.
Where does FOG come from?
FOG is generated from the cooking and preparation of food that contains fats, oils and grease. Potential contributors of FOG include, but are not limited to, homes, apartments, restaurants, industry and public facilities.
Some common food sources include:
- Fats and oil from cooked meats
- Butter, lard, shortening
- Sour cream
|
- Cooking oil
- Gravy
- Mayonnaise
|
- Sauces
- Salad Dressings
- Milk, cream, ice cream
|
Why is FOG a problem?
FOG can accumulate over time in sewer lines and pump stations reducing the capacity and effectiveness of the wastewater collection system.
In severe cases, blockage can lead to:
- Sewage backups into homes and businesses and
- Sewers that overflow onto roadways and property, eventually flowing into local waterways.
When wastewater ends up in homes, on streets and in streams it becomes both a public health and an environmental concern. Additionally, FOG increases the existing financial costs associated with regulatory compliance and the operation and maintenance of the wastewater collection system.
What is the solution?
SD1 has developed a comprehensive plan to manage the problems caused by FOG in our sewer system. SD1's FOG program and its policies were created to:
1. Educate the public and increase community awareness of the problems related to FOG in our sewer system and
2. Reduce FOG entering the sewer thereby increasing flow capacity and reducing the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in SD1's service area.
How can you help?
The wastewater collection system is a public asset. Although it is owned, managed and maintained by SD1, the entire Northern Kentucky community benefits from it being used responsibly. Please click here to learn what you can do to help keep our collection system running as clean and efficiently as possible.
Information specific to Food Service Establishments (FSEs) and restaurants can be found here.
The guidance, goals and authority pertaining to the FOG program are detailed in SD1's Grease Control Program. This program was created in 2007 and is pursued under SD1's Capacity, Management, Operations and Maintenance (CMOM) Self-assessment in response to the Consent Decree signed in 2005.
For current regulations regarding FOG, please see Article 5 of SD1's Sanitary Sewer Rules and Regulations.