Love Your Pipes: Helpful Hints to Prevent Clogs

Irving Water Utilities is alerting residents that in the last quarter of 2021, the department responded to 13 sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) - double the amount from the previous year. The majority of SSOs arefrom homes and apartmentsimproperly disposing of fats, oils and grease (FOG) down pipes and flushing trash in toilets. Items that are disposed of improperly form clogs, causing water from sewer lines to rise and flow into streets, yards and parks, eventually ending up in creeks, streams and rivers - creating an unhealthy environment for humans and animals.

Help prevent costly sewer overflows by following a few simple steps:

Proper Disposal

• Place oil and grease in collection containers.
• Wipe oil and grease residue from kitchen utensils, dishes, pans, equipment, food scrapers and brooms to keep grease out of wash water.
• Use a drain screen to catch food scraps and dispose of in the garbage.
• Flush only toilet paper and human waste down toilet.
• Dispose of paper towels, diapers, all wipes and cleaning cloths, as well as feminine products, in the trash.
• Recycle used oil through the city's Special Waste Collection program. For more information, call (972) 721-8059.

Fog, Trash Disposal Don'ts

• Never pour FOG down the drain.
• Do not use hot water to rinse grease from any surface. Wipe all oil and grease off with paper towels before washing surfaces.
• Avoid using a sink disposal, as ground food scraps contribute to residential and city sewer backups.
• Do not use the toilet as a trashcan. Even ear swabs and dental floss cause clogs.
• There is no such thing as a "flushable" wipe.

Remember, any item that does not naturally break down - garbage, plastic bags, cigarette butts, etc. -
flushed or washed down a drain must be removed to prepare the water for future use, including for human consumption.

For more information, visit CityofIrving.org/FOG or call (972) 721-2281.