Clean Drain Information

Clean Drain Information

Fats, Oil, and Grease (FOG)​

Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) are byproducts from cooking and food preparation, commonly found in meat fats, lard, cooking oil, butter, margarine, food scraps, and dairy products. When these substances are washed down the drain, they can accumulate and harden inside pipes, causing significant blockages. This can lead to untreated wastewater backing up into homes and businesses, resulting in expensive cleanup and restoration efforts. Additionally, manholes can overflow, contaminating local water bodies and posing public health hazards.In the Seis Lagos Utility District, like many other communities, FOG can severely impact the wastewater collection system. The accumulation of FOG can clog pipes, damage sewer infrastructure, and cause sanitary sewer overflows. These overflows not only lead to environmental contamination but also require costly emergency responses and repairs.The wastewater treatment process is also affected by FOG. Excessive grease entering treatment plants increases the organic load, complicates treatment processes, and can lead to operational inefficiencies. This necessitates more frequent maintenance and can even shorten the lifespan of treatment equipment. To manage these issues, many districts impose surcharges on businesses that discharge high levels of FOG, which ultimately contributes to increased wastewater treatment costs for the entire community.For more detailed guidelines and resources on managing FOG, you can refer to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) resources on their website​ (TCEQ1)​​ (TCEQ2)​​ (TCEQ3)​​ (TCEQ4)​​ (TCEQ5)​.