PRESS RELEASES - NOVEMBER 2006

A Holiday Message from the Water Utilities Department
Don’t Allow Fats, Oils, Grease and Food Scraps to Clog Pipes

November 17, 2006

This holiday season, many families will be feasting on turkey dinners with all of the trimmings. The Arlington Water Utilities Department is reminding residents to properly dispose of fats, oils, grease and food scraps to avoid clogged pipes.

Acting Resource Services Manager Joe Gildersleeve says sanitary sewer overflows occur when fats, oils, grease and food scraps accumulate in the sewer system. These materials act like an adhesive and can restrict wastewater flow. The constriction process is similar to the plaque that can develop in the human arteries, which minimizes or stops blood flow, Gildersleeve said. Wastewater begins to back up in the system when the flow is restricted. Raw sewage can back into homes, yards, parks, and streets, creating potential environmental health hazards.

Cleanup can be costly, resulting in possible fines by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. These costs could have an impact on the local water utility rates.

Here are some ways to keep fats, oils, grease and food scraps out of the sewer system:

• A paper towel can be used to soak up small amounts of cooking oil.
   
• Used cooking oil can be poured into a container such as a coffee can along with paper towels or absorbent materials, and placed in the trash.
   
• Large quantities of cooking oil and grease can be taken to the Fort Worth Environmental Collection Center at 6400 Bridge St. in Fort Worth. Call 817-871-5257 for more information or go to www.dfwstormwater.com or www.ci.arlington.tx.us/fog.
   
• Large amounts of cooking oil from fried turkeys can be filtered, frozen and reused for the preparation of another meal. To place large amounts of oil in the trash, kitty litter can be used to absorb the oil, which can then be placed in the garbage.
   
• Table scraps can be placed in the garbage. Smaller food items rinsed from utensils can be caught for disposal in the trash with the use of drain baskets and strainers. Food items such as vegetables and fruit can be placed in a backyard composting pile.
   
• For more information about the proper disposal of fats, oil, grease and food scraps, call the Arlington Water Utilities Department at 817-459-6600.