During Holidays, Grease A Headache For Water Utilities

Grease is the word—and it is also one of the problems faced by water utilities.

When homeowners pour hot grease down the drain, it can clog up the municipal water lines, "leaving a drainage maintenance disaster and possibly hurting [a] city's water supply," WTOC recently reported.

Sally Mojica, the environmental compliance inspector in Savannah, GA, described the problem.

"We end up having clogged lines," she said, per the report. "It could back up into houses and businesses, and eventually it could hurt the water supply for the city of Savannah."

This problem is on display at the Savannah Water Reclamation Facility, which provides wastewater treatment to the city and surrounding counties.

"The impact of the [Thanksgiving] holiday weekend can already be seen as you walk around the [facility]. You can spot the grease floating on the water's surface," the report said.

Operation Supervisor Daryl McCorkle described the ramifications of the grease influx.

"It can have several impacts. Aesthetically it makes the equipment look bad. The bar racks would have grease all over them," McCorkle said, per the report. "People can recycle the grease and take them to these stations and have a better impact on our treatment plants."

Sewer overflows are a major ramification of grease. In the last three years, nearly 80 percent of overflows in Savannah were traced back to residential pipes clogged by grease.

"[Over Thanksgiving weekend], we did have a lot of drain calls come in. In fact more than we could handle," Mark Jacobs, owner of Mr. Rooter plumbing said in the report.

He recommended that homeowners cool down their cooking oil and avoid pouring it down the drain.

Some water companies addressed the problem through messaging campaigns to their customers this year.

"As families across Scotland prepare for Christmas dinner and festive fry-ups, Scottish Water is reminding them that over time, cooking fats, oils and grease poured down the sink or drain can build up and cause blockages in drains and sewer pipes that prevent the waste water draining away properly causing extremely unpleasant internal sewage flooding or environmental pollution," the Carrick Gazette reported.

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s Chief Operating Officer, added a note of concern for local wildlife.

“While it is important that our customers do not pour fats, oils and grease down the kitchen sink or drain, it is also vital that they dispose of such residue responsibly, rather than leaving it out for winter birds," he said, per the report.

Some cities have collection programs for difficult materials. The city of Irving, TX, has offered some tips for residents on how to dispose of grease, oils, and fat.

"Put oil and grease in collection containers. Remove oil and grease from kitchen utensils, equipment, food scrapers, towels and brooms. Keep grease out of wash water. Place food scraps in collection containers. Recycle used turkey fryer oil through the city's Special Waste collection program," according to city materials.