Friday, April 5, 2002
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Friday, April 5, 2002 |
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Residents warned about grease in WASA sewer lines By JOHN
MUNFORD Peachtree City sewer officials are reminding local residents to avoid pouring grease down their drains which can clog sewer lines. Though it's in liquid form when poured down the drain, the grease can solidify once it cools, and by that time it has often reached the city's sewer mains, said Water and Sewer Authority General Manager Larry Turner. The solution for homeowners? "Keep an old coffee can under the sink to pour the grease in," Turner said. Once the can is full, it can be disposed of in the household garbage, he added. Grease buildup can also affect the pump stations by preventing them from switching on when necessary Turner said. The pump stations are checked twice weekly to make sure there's no problem. Either way, grease clogs can cause sewer overflows, which are an environmental concern, Turner said. Just Tuesday, crews had to clean a 12-inch sewer main in the Wynnmeade area that were clogged with grease, Turner said. WASA uses a video monitoring system to inspect sewer lines for maintenance issues, but many times the trouble is reported by homeowners themselves, Turner said. There are an estimated 135 miles of sewer pipe running through Peachtree City. The oldest pipes are over 40 years old, and those also tend to have the most grease problems because of tree roots that encroach on the pipes. The grease can attach to the roots inside the pipes and cause clogs, Turner said. "Then, the problem is compounded tenfold, probably," Turner said. Local restaurants have grease traps installed to prevent grease from entering the sewer system. WASA inspects those mechanisms periodically to make sure they're performing adequately, Turner added. WASA also suggests disposing of meat by-products in household garbage instead of through the garbage disposal in a sink, Turner said.
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