Trash

Disposable items labeled as “flushable” such as “flushable wipes”, wet wipes, sanitary napkins, and/or paper towels cannot be flushed down the toilet safely. When these items are flushed down toilets into the sanitary sewer system, they contribute to many sewer blockages in the wastewater infrastructure. This leads to frequent and expensive repairs, which ultimately raise water bills for district residents.

Branded companies will lead a person to believe numerous items are flushable, particularly stating so on the packaging. Wet wipes or flushable wipes claiming “safe for flushing” can still cause serious damage to your home’s plumbing even before reaching the District facilities. Once beyond your home’s plumbing, wipes and paper towels can get caught in lift stations and solid waste grinders intended to break down large waste and push it to the wastewater treatment plant.

Should the wipes make it to the sewage treatment plant, the facilities could be overworked trying to process solid waste that does not break down in transit or at lift stations. The result of flushing these products could mean major wastewater treatment issues and impacts to the machinery processing inbound waste. The accumulation of these “flushable items” hinders the productivity of the plant result in a cost for removal and machinery repairs ranging into thousands of dollars to the District, cost which is ultimately funded by taxpayers. By flushing any products other than toilet paper, we can not only create inconveniences in services but also incur very costly repairs.

Please avoid flushing wipes and other non-biodegradable items such as tissues, paper towels, or “flushable wipes”. If you do decide to use these products, consider throwing them in the trash or taking them to a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility in your area. By following these recommendations, residents can help minimize the cost and environmental impact of clogged sewer systems.

Below, please review the video produced by the Association of Water Board Directors (AWBD) here in Texas, which addresses this very topic:

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Many Fort Bend MUD 128 residents have been cooking at home far more than they had previously, and this comes with a certain amount of cooking waste. Something we don’t normally think about are the effects of fat, oils, and grease (F.O.G.) clogs in the sanitary sewer system. F.O.G. can solidify in the sanitary sewer pipes, causing clogs, blockages, and backups.

What is F.O.G. (pronounced like “fog”)?

F.O.G. is an acronym for Fat, Oil and Grease.  It is harmful to the internal drainage inside the home, the District drainage infrastructure and the environment.

F.O.G. comes from a variety of food sources, either as an ingredient of OR a byproduct of food preparation.

Examples of F.O.G.:

• Fats found in meats through cooking and food scraps.
• cooking oil, lard or shortening
• butter or margarine
• bacon and sausage grease
• mayonnaise
• salad dressing and gravy
• dairy products, such as but not limited to milk, yogurt and cheese

When these items are poured down the drain, it can accumulate and harden inside sewer pipes causing blockages, backups, and overflows.  When these failures occur, it can release raw sewage into the environment which then enters our drainage channels that lead into the bayous, creeks, lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico. This raw sewage carries a variety of bacteria that has a negative impact on human health, fish and wildlife.

In addition to the health impacts, it has massive financial consequences. The blockages and backups can destroy the pipes in your home as well as the infrastructure of the District water system.  This destruction can cost homeowners in home pipe repair, but also affect taxpayers by costing a district thousands of dollars in infrastructure repair expenses. The expense of continually repairing clogged pipes may ultimately impact customers’ monthly rates or property taxes.

Let F.O.G .cool and DO NOT pour down sinks or drains!

Proper Disposal of F.O.G.:

• Pour into a sealable can or bottle then dispose at a local recycle center or household trash receptacle
  • Fort Bend County Recycle Center
  • Harris County – Houston Public Works FOG Recycle
• Scrape food particles and absorb excess oils with a paper towel from pots and pans prior to placing them into the sink for washing.
• Use strainers in the sink to catch scraps and other solids.
• Solutions like Oil-Dri Absorbent Clay® or cat litter can assist in capturing and drying out oil, fat and grease, thus making it safe to throw in the trash.

Please remember hot water and soap DO NOT eliminate FOG because it will eventually reform in pipes.

Sources:  https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assistance/water/wastewater/fog/home_fog.html