Wastewater — Keeping Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) out of the
Sewer System Use the answers to the following questions to help
prevent wastewater blockages and sewer overflows on campus and
in your home. Why is it important to keep fats, oils, and grease
out of the sewer system? Fats, oils and grease can create
blockages in the sewer system, which can cause sanitary sewer
manholes to overflow onto the campus and enter storm drains.
This allows fats, oils and grease to contaminate local waters,
and exposes people to untreated wastewater, which is a public-
health hazard. What can I do to keep fats, oils, and grease out
of the sewer system? Do not pour fats, oils, and grease down the
drain. This is the most important thing you can do to prevent
them from entering the sewer system, because the fats, oils, and
grease poured down kitchen drains accumulate inside sewer pipes.
As these substances build up, they restrict the flow in the pipe
and can cause untreated wastewater to back up onto campus,
resulting in high co