Protect Your Pipes This Thanksgiving!

Properly dispose of fats, oils, and grease after cooking to avoid a clogged pipe or sewer backup

Thanksgiving is a time for gatherings, games, delicious food, and time with loved ones, but festivities can go awry if you have to deal with a clogged pipe or sewer backup. Take the time to dispose of fats, oils, and grease (FOGs) after cooking so you can fully enjoy your annual feast!

FOGs – the fats, oils, and grease found in food scraps, cooking oil, shortening, lard, butter and margarine, mayonnaise, salad dressings, and so much more - can cause sewage backups at home. When these items are poured down kitchen drains, they build up inside sewer pipes and eventually restrict the flow of wastewater. This can create an unfortunate sewage backup in your home, resulting in high expenses for cleanup and repairs.

Follow these friendly reminders and healthy practices to defend your drains this holiday season. 

  • Can the grease: Never pour grease down sink drains. Instead pour cooled grease into a disposable can, resealable bag, or mason jar and throw it in the trash or store in your refrigerator until full and throw away.
  • Use strainers: Use sink strainers to prevent food scraps from entering the drain.
  • Wipe and Dispose: Wipe dishes and utensils with a paper towel and discard in the trash.
  • Remember the 3 Ps: Only flush the 3 Ps, pee, poop, and toilet paper, down the toilet. Wipes, marked as disposable, do not break down like toilet paper and can also cause a sewage backup in your home.   

Call PWSA Dispatch to report water or sewer emergencies

Throughout the holiday season, our dispatch and field crews remain accessible around the clock. In case of urgent water emergencies, like water main breaks, low or no water pressure, or sewer emergencies, please reach out to our 24-hour dispatch at 412-255-2423 and press 1.

For non-emergency issues (such as billing or general questions), you can call our Customer Service at 412-255-2423 and press 5 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, or simply fill out our Report an Issue webform online.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority!