Have you ever had your sewer plug up and back up into your home or business? Hopefully not but if you are not careful, it can happen. A large number of sewer backups are caused by grease. Grease blockages are caused by disposing fats, oils and greases down the drain. Over time they build up inside the pipe that connects your home or building to the public sewer system, eventually plugging it completely. When this happens, the sewer draining from your home or business backs up and overflows onto your property or into your home or business. Below are some things that you can do to avoid grease caused sewer backups in you home or business.

HOMEOWNERS can greatly reduce the chance of a grease blockage by not using the kitchen sink and garbage disposal for food scraps. Instead, always use a paper towel or rubber spatula and thoroughly scrape plates and pans into the garbage can before washing. Let melted oils used for cooking solidify in a container on the counter or in the refrigerator before placing them into the garbage. Vegetable and meat scraps, salad dressing, rice, butter, cooking oils, and many other common items quickly turn to grease that will eventually block your sewer. Also, garbage disposals use a large volume of water, reducing or eliminating the use of your garbage disposal can lower your water bill.

COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS who discharge fats, oils, and greases are required to pre-treat their sewer discharges containing fats, oils, and greases. Operating a good grease abatement program also makes good business sense. A grease blockage can shut a business down for several days and cost thousands of dollars in lost profits and cleanup expenses. A little preventative maintenance will ensure that you meet City Code and avoid this costly problem.

First, keep your "grey" and "black" water drains separate. Grey water lines are drain lines for disposal of grease-laden kitchen waste. Black water lines are drain lines for restrooms. Second, always scrape all plates, pots and pans into the garbage. Third, as required by City Ordinance for commercial food preparation businesses and restaurants, install and maintain a grease pre-treatment system. Pre-treatment systems can include interior grease traps, exterior grease interceptors or bio-treatment, or a combination of these systems.

For more information on how to keep your sewer pipes flowing, call the Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility plant at (435)634-5849.

Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Policy

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE:

PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

2. Except for plugs, backups or blockages in laterals, Washington City shall maintain laterals from the main trunk line to the private property line.

3. Maintenance of plugs, backups or blockages in laterals extending to private property shall be the responsibility of the property owner to whose property the line extends.

4. Property owners have the responsibility to maintain the lateral from the property line to the home or structure. This includes maintenance of broken or plugged lines, root removal, or any other related problems.

5. Property owners shall be solely responsible for operation and maintenance of all private sewer connections or laterals.

SERVICES PROVIDED:

The City will respond to sewer backups or repair requests even if the line to be repaired may be a private sewer lateral. In the event that a private line needs repair, the City will not be responsible to make the needed repairs, but will assist the property owner to the extent reasonably appropriate. This assistance may include locating clean out, locating laterals, providing mapping information, making recommendations for remediation or repairs, and providing emergency services not otherwise available.