Fat, Oils & Grease (FOG)

Fats, Oils and Grease Infographic
Fats, oils, and grease aren’t just bad for your arteries; they’re bad for sewers, too. Sewer overflows and backups can cause health hazards, damage property, and threaten the environment. A growing reason for overflows nationwide is sewer pipes blocked by grease. Grease gets into the sewer from sewer drains as well as from poorly maintained grease traps in restaurants and other businesses and also from improper disposal down the drain in households.

WHERE DOES THE GREASE COME FROM?

Grease in sewers is most commonly produced as a cooking byproduct. Grease has many sources, such as:

FOG

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

FOG
  • Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs): Discharges of sewage in public and private areas
  • Sewage backups in homes and businesses
  • Sewage overflowing into Salem’s waterways and sensitive environmental areas
  • Potential contact with disease-causing organisms
  • Increased sewer operation and maintenance costs leading to higher sewer bills for our customers
  • Expensive and unpleasant cleanup that often must be paid for by you, the customer
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prohibits SSOs. Salem can be penalized by the EPA and other regulatory agencies for occurrences of SSOs
FOG CLOG/SSO

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP?

The easiest way to solve the problem and help prevent overflows of raw sewage is keep grease out of the sewer system in the first place.There are several ways to do this:

FOG DOS &DONTS
  • NEVER pour grease down sink drains or into toilets. Pour used grease into an old jar or can and dispose of in the trash
  • Scrape grease and food scraps from trays, plates, pots, pans, utensils, grills, and cooking services into a can or trash for disposal
  • DO NOT put grease down garbage disposals. Put baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids, and empty the drain baskets strainers into the trash for disposal
  • DO NOT pressure wash exhaust hoods near storm drains

As of January 1, 2023, the new Salem Board of Health Regulation #31 (Grease Management Program) will take effect.