Pet Waste a Water Quality Problem

NASCC Wastewater Program

Keeping Fats, Oils, and Grease out of the Sewer System

Fats, oils, and grease—FOG—comes from meat fats in food scraps, cooking oil, shortening, lard, butter and margarine, gravy, and food products such as mayonnaise, salad dressings, and sour cream.

FOG poured down drains accumulates inside sewer pipes. As the FOG builds up, it restricts the flow in the pipe and can cause untreated wastewater to back up into homes and places of business, resulting in high costs for cleanup and restoration.

Manholes can overflow into yards, streets, and storm drains, allowing FOG to contaminate local waters, including drinking water. Exposure to untreated wastewater is a public-health hazard.

FOG discharged into septic systems and drain fields can cause malfunctions, resulting in more frequent tank pump-outs and other expenses.

The station spends thousands of dollars and hundreds of man-hours every year unplugging or replacing grease-blocked pipes, repairing pump stations, and cleaning up costly and illegal wastewater spills.

So, keeping FOG out of the sewer system helps everyone in the community.

TCEQ Preventing FOG Poster