What is FOG?
FOG refers specifically to fats, oils and grease entering the sewer system when poured down drains in homes, apartments, restaurants, industry and public facilities.
As a byproduct of cooking, FOG is usually found in:
- Baking goods
- Butter, lard, shortening
- Cooking oil
- Fats and oil from cooked meats
- Food scraps
- Gravy
- Mayonnaise
- Salad dressings
- Sauces
- Sour cream
FOG can be classified into two different categories: residential FOG and commercial FOG. For more information on these categories of FOG, click on the links below:
Residential FOG
Commercial FOG
Why is FOG a problem?
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| Blockage can lead to sewer overflows on your property. |
All too often, fats, oils and grease are disposed of improperly during food preparation and kitchen clean-up. When poured the down drain (sink or floor), FOG can build up, blocking sanitary sewer lines. This accumulation not only reduces the capacity of the wastewater collection system, but it also alters its effectiveness.
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.
How can you help reduce FOG?
The easiest way to solve the grease problem and help prevent overflows of raw sewage is to keep this material out of the sewer system. Through education and by adopting certain habits, it is easy to minimize FOG sources at home. To learn how to properly dispose of FOG, click
here.
SD1's FOG Program
SD1 developed a comprehensive plan to manage the problems caused by FOG in our sewer system. SD1's FOG program and its policies, which are detailed in the
FOG Management Policy, were created to:
- Educate the public and increase community awareness of the problems related to FOG in our sewer system and
- Reduce FOG entering the sewer thereby increasing flow capacity and reducing the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in SD1's service area.