The City of San Diego is reminding residents not to turn joyous holidays into a messy disaster with a clogged, overflowing sewer line. 

With many San Diegans cooking at home this holiday season, it’s important to remember that cooking grease can coat sewer pipelines, leading to pipeline blockages, sewage spills and the need for expensive repairs. 

Every year, City crews respond to sewer spills caused by fats, oils and grease that had clogged a pipeline and could have been prevented. Spilled sewage can eventually reach San Diego’s bays, rivers and beaches, causing unsafe conditions and temporary closures. 

“It’s extremely important to keep fats, oils and grease out of your drain and sewer lines to protect not only your home, but the surrounding environment as well,” said Juan Guerreiro, Director of the Public Utilities Department. “We all can save ourselves from expensive plumbing repairs by disposing of these substances safely and properly.” 

Following a few simple steps can help prevent costly sewer spills:

·        Never pour fats, oils or grease down the sink drain or garbage disposal. Home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system.

·        Pour small amounts of cooled cooking oil (this includes salad dressing, frying oil and bacon fat) into a non-recyclable package or container, such as an old milk carton, and dispose of it in the garbage. Grease, oils and other liquids are not allowed in green bins for organic waste recycling.

·        Wipe dishes and pots coated with greasy leftovers with a disposable towel before washing or placing them in the dishwasher.

·        Put strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps such as meat trimmings and other solids and then empty them in your green bin, not the garbage disposal. 

To report a sewer spill, call the Public Utilities emergency hotline at 619-515-3525. For additional information about preventing sewer spills, visit the City’s website.