There's something in the sewers... silently growing, building up, choking the pipes, waiting to cause an overflow of sewage into a street or a yard or even a home. 

It is grease.  Common cooking grease, washed into the sewer system by the restaurants, cafeterias, and even the homes of Huntsville.

Left unchecked, it will build up in sewer pipes, causing problems for WPC and our customers.

WPC does not wait for the grease to build up, though.  Our FOG Program (Fats-Oil-Grease) helps WPC prevent grease blockages and the resulting sewer overflows. 

Grease in sewers is not just a Huntsville problem.  Across the country, many sewer utilities have found that 50% to 75% of their sewer overflows are caused by grease blockages.  The US EPA takes overflows seriously - and especially so for those caused by grease.  Likewise, most significantly-sized sewer utilities have implemented grease control programs.

WPC's FOG Program is two-pronged.  First, the FOG Program aims to keep grease out of the sewers as much as possible.  Second, routine inspection and cleaning of the sewer pipes removes grease accumulation before it can cause an overflow.

The FOG Program, authorized by City Ordinance, is administered by WPC's Industrial Pretreatment Division.  No specific grease discharge permit is required from food service facilities.  However, building permits issued by the Inspections Department may require installation of a grease control device from plans designed and stamped by a Professional Engineer.

The FOG Program does require that food service facilities - restaurants, cafeterias, etc. - have in place a Grease Control Plan.  Compliance with the plan is monitored through regular FOG User Compliance Reports.

Homeowners should be aware that they too can be a source of grease in sewers, and should take steps to eliminate grease from their wastewater:

• DON'T pour grease, oil, or fat down the drain.

• DO pour liquid waste oil and grease into a metal can (soup, vegetable, etc.). Let the grease cool and solidify, then place it in the garbage can for disposal.

• DON'T use a sink disposal unit to handle fatty waste like meat scraps.

• DO treat fatty waste as solid waste - use the garbage can.

• DON'T use the sink to wash heavy oil or grease out of dishes, pots or pans.

• DO wipe heavy oil or grease out of dishes with paper towels. Throw the used paper towels in the garbage.

Grease Hauling

See the Hauled Waste page.

Additional Resources

• Article: Rogers, AR (03.20.2005)

• Article: "How I Clogged My Sewer Line With Grease"

• New York City's Grease Program

• Cary, NC Grease Program

• Fat Free Sewers

• Photo from Griffin, GA

• Google search: Grease