Agency: Don't Dump Cooking Grease, Fats Down Sinks

PERRIS, CA — Emptying cooking grease and other oils down kitchen sinks can be tough on household plumbing and even damage sewer lines, according to the Perris-based Eastern Municipal Water District, which urged customers to find alternate ways of getting rid of Thanksgiving dinner leftovers.

"As families come together and make large, holiday meals -- including turkey and roast beef -- often times significant amounts of fats, oils and grease are collected at the bottom of cooking dishes," according to a statement issued by the agency. "When those liquids are poured down the drain and enter the sewer system, they begin to harden as they cool and eventually solidify, causing blockages in customers' homes and within EMWD's sewer collection system."

The slop can permanently damage dishwashers and sinks and cause sewage lines to rupture, leading to spills in the street that are expensive to repair.

The water agency recommended that fats, oils and grease be poured into metal containers or cans and tossed into trash bins. Customers are urged to clear the damaging substances from pots, pans and dishes before washing them in the sink, and to deposit food scraps in trash receptacles, not shove them down the sink.

The EMWD also asked customers not to put egg shells, coffee grounds and non-organic materials into drains to prevent damage.

More information on proper disposal is available at www.emwd.org/SewerSmart .

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock