As the holidays approach, kitchens across the Coachella Valley fill with the comforting sights and smells of traditional family favorites. But before rinsing those dishes, remember, holiday cooking often means extra fats, oils, and grease (FOG), and improper disposal can cause costly damage to your home plumbing and the community sewer system.
When FOG is poured down the drain, it cools, hardens, and sticks to the inside of pipes, creating blockages that can lead to sewer overflows and expensive repairs.
The Cost of FOG
- Approximately 50% of all sewer blockages in the U.S. are caused by fats, oils, and grease buildup.
- Cities spend more than $25 billion annually addressing FOG-related backups and repairs.
- A single home plumbing backup can cost between $3,000 and $10,000 to fix.
(Sources: ScienceDirect, EPA, NORS)
Common FOG Culprits
FOG can be found in everyday foods and ingredients, especially during the holidays:
- Meat drippings and cooking grease
- Butter, lard, shortening, and oil
- Gravy, sauces, salad dressing, and mayonnaise
- Baked goods, peanut butter, and sour cream
Simple Steps to Keep Your Drains Fat-Free
- Never pour fats, oils, or grease down the drain.
- Let FOG cool, then pour it into a disposable container (like an empty can or jar) and toss it in the trash.
- Wipe greasy dishes and pans with a paper towel before washing.
- Scrape food scraps into the trash instead of the garbage disposal.
- Use sink strainers to catch leftover food particles.
Keeping FOG out of your drains protects your home, prevents costly plumbing repairs, and helps your local water agencies maintain a healthy wastewater system. Together, we can keep things flowing smoothly; one meal (and one drain) at a time.
