Grease is a real “pain in the drain” because it’s the major cause of problems we find in sewer lines. Blockages occur when grease (things like oil, butter, margarine, shortening, pan drippings, and sauces) is poured down the drain. Grease can clog sewer lines. Clogged sewer lines can lead to sewer spills, which are messy, bad for the environment, and can be expensive.

GUC does everything it can to prevent sewer spills, but we can’t do it alone. We need your help!

The best way you can prevent sewer spills is to never pour grease down the drain. Instead, let it cool down, collect it in a container -- like a used soup can or mayonnaise jar -- and throw it away in the trash.

And don’t believe your friends who say (1) it’s okay to pour grease down the drain as long as you run the water at the same time, or (2) it’s perfectly fine to dump grease if you use your garbage disposal to break it up. These are myths! It’s never okay to pour any type of grease down the drain.

Here are some more ways to “cease the grease” –

• Wipe or scrape your dishes before washing them.
• Remove excess oil from pots and pans with a paper towel and throw away the towel in a trash can.
• Use strainers in sink drains to collect food scraps and throw away the scraps in the trash.

Thanks for your help, and please spread the word about how important it is to “cease the grease.” Together, we can protect our sewer system and the environment. Click here to see our newspaper ad. For more information, call 551-1551.

Check out these links for more information:

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Agency