Protect Our Pipes - Reminders from Charlotte Water
Holiday meals are great, but keep these tips in mind (and share them with your residents) to ensure freely-flowing pipes throughout the season.
Cooking grease, fats, and oils being poured down drains are a major cause of residential sanitary sewer spills resulting in unsightly, smelly, and costly messes.
Oils and grease are wastes that the city's sewer system cannot handle and should not be discarded down the drain. Grease, fats, and oils will clog sewer lines (the same way bad cholesterol can clog heart arteries), causing sewage back-ups and flooding. Sewage back-ups can damage personal and public property.
Spills also affect your water bill. Charlotte Water responds to more than 200 spills a year caused by grease clogging sewer pipes. Charlotte Water inspects and clears sewer pipes to prevent spills but we can't do this without your help.
Drain excess grease or cooking oil into a can, cool and toss. Wipe any leftover grease from the pan with a paper towel and throw the paper towel away.