Fried foods are a delicious treat, but the fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) that are produced by frying those foods can create serious problems in the sewer system.

FOGs come from foods like cooking oil, meat, butter, dairy products, salad dressings, gravy, mayonnaise, and peanut butter. If these items are poured down kitchen drains, they harden inside household pipes and public sewers, restricting the flow of wastewater. These blockages are a leading cause of sewage backups in buildings, which result in high costs for cleanup and repairs. If FOG buildup gets bad enough, sewage can even overflow into yards, streets, and storm drains, contaminating waterways and causing public health hazards.

Help keep fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) out of the sewer system:

• Cool It: Allow FOGs to cool to a safe handling temperature after cooking.
• Can It: Pour cooled FOGs into a sealable container, like a jar or can. Store the container in the refrigerator until it is full.
• Trash It: Never put FOGs down sink drains or in-sink garbage disposals. Scrape food scraps into the compost or trash. Wipe up FOGs left on pans or dishes with a paper towel then discard in the trash. When your sealed FOG container is full, trash it.

Learn more at pgh2o.com/defend-your-drains.