Maintenance Tips

You can help keep your sewer flowing

Properly dispose of fats, oils and grease (FOG) by following these easy steps:

• Can It — Put fatty and greasy food scraps in a can and then the garbage, not the drain.
• Scrape It — Before washing, scrape out fats, oils and grease residuals from pots, pans and dishes.
• Trash It — Put fatty and greasy food scraps in the garbage, not the drain.

Also avoid disposing of coffee grounds, egg shells and disposable wipes down the sink and toilet drains. Other things prohibited from going down the sewer include concrete and discharges with scalding temperatures.

If you have a sewer easement on your property, keep it exposed and accessible, and avoid planting trees over your sewer pipe alignment. Call us immediately if you notice any problems with the sewer system or notice sewage flowing out of a manhole.

For residents

Treat your pipes right. Learn how to prevent sewer clogs at home. The majority of sewer backups and overflows caused by fats, oils and grease originate in residential areas. Common sources of FOG include meat and fatty food scraps, lard, salad dressings, creamy or oily sauces, marinades, milk and dairy products, shortening, butter or margarine, and peanut butter.

For rental owners & property managers

Stop the clog. Stop the headaches. Sewer backups and overflows on properties are costly and headache-inducing. Often the cause is FOG improperly disposed of by tenants, which hardens inside pipes and creates clogs.

For food service

Correctly train your employees — and avoid fines, lost business and cleanup costs. Fats, oils and grease disposed down the drain cause sewer backups and overflows, damaging business and property and fouling local waterways. Contact BVWD for staff training resources.