Sewer System Grease Control: Why It Matters and How to Keep It Effective

Understanding Sewer System Grease Control

Sewer system grease control refers to the strategies, practices, and maintenance efforts used to prevent fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from entering, building up, or solidifying in a city’s sewer collection system.

Without proper sewer system grease control, FOG accumulates on pipe walls, gradually narrowing flow capacity — which can lead to clogs, backups, sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), foul odors, infrastructure damage, and costly repairs.

Effective sewer system grease control — combining prevention, maintenance, and In-Pipe Technology to keep pipes flowing.

FOG — largely from kitchens, food processing, restaurants, and industrial discharges — does not behave like normal wastewater. As hot grease cools in the sewer, it congeals and sticks to the interior of pipes, forming layers that trap debris, build thickness over time, and eventually block flow.

Because of this, maintaining robust sewer system grease control is not optional — it is essential for protecting a municipality’s infrastructure, environment, and public health.

Why Sewer System Grease Control is Critical

⚠️ Public Health & Environmental Protection

When sewer system grease control fails, blockages and overflows can occur. These events risk discharging untreated or partially treated sewage — containing pathogens, contaminants, and grease — into streets, drainage systems, and natural waterways. That’s a serious environmental and public-health hazard.

🏗️ Infrastructure Longevity & System Reliability

Grease buildup promotes corrosion and structural stress in sewer pipes, pump stations, and treatment facilities. A strong sewer system grease control program helps lengthen the lifespan of infrastructure by preventing the persistent chemical and physical damage that FOG causes.

💰 Cost Savings & Operational Efficiency

Removing and repairing grease-related damage or clearing blockages is expensive and disruptive. According to wastewater management studies, a significant percentage of sewer backups and SSOs stem directly from grease buildup.

Effective sewer system grease control reduces the frequency of backups, maintenance, and emergency interventions — which translates to lower long-term costs for municipalities and industrial clients.

⚠️ Odor, Aesthetics, and Community Impact

Accumulated grease and blockages often lead to foul sewer odors and unsightly sewer overflows that affect residents’ quality of life. Good sewer system grease control helps prevent these community complaints and protects public relations.

Best Practices for Maintaining Sewer System Grease Control

To maintain effective sewer system grease control, municipalities, businesses, and industrial clients should adopt a multi-layered strategy:

✅ 1. Prevent Grease from Entering the Sewer System

• Encourage or mandate food-service establishments (restaurants, cafeterias, food processors) and households to avoid pouring fats, oils, and grease down drains or toilets. Instead, grease should be cooled and disposed of in the trash or collected for recycling.

• Use “dry cleanup” methods (scraping, wiping, absorbing) before washing dishes or equipment — minimize use of water to flush grease into drains.

✅ 2. Install and Maintain Grease Control Devices

• Grease traps and grease interceptors — for commercial kitchens and high-FOG-load operations — intercept FOG before it enters the public sewer system.

• Establish regular cleaning and maintenance schedules: when grease occupies a certain percentage (often ~20–25%) of trap volume — or every 1–3 months depending on load — empty and properly dispose.

• Maintain detailed logs of maintenance (dates, volume, disposal method) for compliance and audit.

✅ 3. Combine Practices with System-Wide Management & Monitoring

• Educate businesses, operators, and residents about FOG and sewer system grease control responsibilities. Municipal “FOG programs” — with outreach, inspection, and enforcement — are widely adopted strategies.

• Monitor collection system health via periodic inspections, flow monitoring, and early-warning mechanisms to detect grease buildup before blockages form.

• Incorporate “pre-treatment” steps: reducing FOG load entering the public sewer through upstream treatment, source control, or specialized biological/chemical treatments to supplement grease traps and interceptors.

How In-Pipe Technology Enhances Sewer System Grease Control

In-Pipe Technology adds a next-level dimension to sewer system grease control by offering advanced, proactive treatment solutions — rather than reactive cleanup. Their approach complements the traditional preventive and trap-based strategies described above, delivering long-term benefits that few other methods can match.

🌿 Biological Upstream Treatment

In-Pipe uses specialized non-pathogenic microbes to initiate decomposition of organic matter, including FOG, within the sewer collection system before grease solidifies on pipe walls. By breaking down FOG at its source, In-Pipe reduces accumulation and sharply lowers the risk of grease-related blockages. This proactive microbial approach enhances overall sewer system grease control.

⚙️ System Optimization and Maintenance Relief

Because In-Pipe’s treatment lowers FOG and organic loads upstream, the burden on downstream sewer infrastructure and wastewater treatment plants is reduced. That translates to fewer blockages, less jetting or mechanical cleaning, lower maintenance frequency, and extended life for pipes and pump stations.

✅ Holistic Integration with Existing Grease Control Programs

In-Pipe’s solutions are designed to integrate with traditional grease traps, interceptors, and municipal FOG programs — providing a layered, comprehensive sewer system grease control regime. This multi-tiered approach is often the most effective way to combat grease issues over the long haul.

What Municipalities & Industrial Clients Should Do Next

For cities, counties, or industrial clients looking to protect their wastewater systems — here’s a practical roadmap:

1. Adopt strong policies to prevent FOG discharge at the source (residential & commercial).

2. Require grease traps/interceptors in relevant facilities and enforce regular maintenance.

3. Educate staff, businesses, and the public about grease hazards and sewer system grease control best practices.

4. Partner with experts like In-Pipe Technology to add upstream biological treatment, especially in system-wide or high-risk areas.

5. Implement monitoring, maintenance logs, and inspection programs to catch buildup early — before blockages form.

Final Thoughts on Sewer System Grease Control

Sewer system grease control is not just a maintenance line item — it’s a foundational safeguard for public health, environmental protection, and infrastructure longevity. Without it, municipalities and industries risk recurring backups, costly repairs, sewer overflows, and community health hazards.

By combining prevention (proper disposal, grease traps), maintenance (regular cleaning, logs), and advanced solutions (like those offered by In-Pipe Technology), communities can achieve durable grease control, reduce costs, and protect their sewer infrastructure for years to come.

Investing in robust sewer system grease control — including intelligent upstream treatment — is one of the most effective and responsible decisions a municipality or industrial facility can make.