BRYN MAWR, PA — Aqua, part of Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG), is advising customers to take simple preventative steps during the holiday season to avoid plumbing issues and protect local infrastructure. With gatherings and festive meals on the horizon, the improper disposal of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in household plumbing can lead to costly clogs, backups, and overflows.
FOG can solidify in pipes, creating blockages that disrupt home plumbing and wastewater systems. To help homeowners minimize these risks, Aqua recommends the following practices for FOG disposal and pipe protection.
Tips for Safe Disposal of Fats, Oils, and Grease
- Avoid pouring FOG down drains or toilets. Cooking grease, while liquid when warm, hardens and adheres to pipes, causing stubborn clogs.
- Dispose of grease in the trash. Pour leftover grease into a metal can, allow it to cool completely, and discard it with your household waste.
- Use sink strainers. Strainers can catch food scraps and solids, helping prevent drain blockages.
- Scrape food scraps into the trash. This simple step keeps solid waste out of your plumbing.
Additional Reminders for Pipe Care
- Garbage disposals are not a solution. While disposals may grind food, they don’t prevent grease from entering plumbing systems and eventually solidifying into blockages.
- Flush only what’s safe. Wipes, even those labeled “flushable,” along with tissues and napkins, should always be placed in the trash. These items don’t dissolve like toilet paper and can clog both household and wastewater systems.
By following these tips, customers can avoid unexpected plumbing problems and support their community’s wastewater infrastructure during one of the busiest times of the year. Aqua encourages everyone to help keep the holidays stress-free by keeping drains and pipes clear.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.