While retailers welcome Black Friday as one of their busiest shopping days of the year, many plumbers now refer to the day after Thanksgiving as “Brown Friday” for the uptick in business they get from feast-clogged pipes and sewer lines.
Grease buildup inside a sewer line.
When it comes to problems in home plumbing as well as our regional sewer system, the buildup of fats, oils and grease (also known as FOG) is a major culprit.
Just as fatty foods clog arteries, FOG sticks to the inside of pipes causing blockages and backups of raw sewage that can put public health and the environment at risk.
A “fatberg” that entered South Plant forced operators to shut down mission-critical equipment for cleaning.
Because cooking and baking are such popular holiday traditions, WTD offers environmentally friendly tips to keep the plumber off your party guest list while helping us keep our sewers fat-free all year long.
- Put baskets and strainers in sinks to catch food scraps.
- Don’t put greasy food or meat in garbage disposals.
- Before washing dishes, use a spatula to scrape batter and food residue from bowls and plates.
- Never pour oil or grease into a drain, which can harm wildlife.
- Consider recycling large quantities of cooking oil from deep fryers at one of several Puget Sound area locations.
Workers clean up dumped cooking oil at a stormwater pond in White Center last November.
Get more information about how to safely dispose of FOG, and check out this more extensive list of disposal options for other things you no longer want or need.