Sewer overflows are a threat to public health and the environment. An increasingly common cause of overflows are sewer pipes that are blocked by grease.
Fat, oil, and grease clog our arteries, and they clog your sewers too! Grease enters the sewer system through residential drains as well as through poorly maintained grease traps in restaurants and other businesses. To find out what you can do to help, click on the links at the bottom of the page.
The picture to the right is of grease build-up at the Cold Spring Crossing pump station. In pump stations the grease coats the pump on/off switches and systems. This can cause the pumps to switch on and run more than necessary, which can cause excessive pump wear. It can also cause the pumps to switch off before pumping is complete, which in some cases can cause a sewer overflow at the pump station.
Grease is a byproduct of cooking and is found in such things as:
- Butter & Margarine
- Meat Fats
- Salad Dressing
- Baking Goods
- Oils
- Food Scraps
- Sauces
- Dairy Products
Residential Prevention
Commercial/Restaurant Prevention
