FlowFree

Did you know 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 backups 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.

The same goes for our toilets. If you flush items down the toilet that don't belong there, you are inviting clogs and overflows. Even products labeled as flushable do not decompose in the sewer system and can contribute to clogging. Don't flush paper towels, wipes, hair, cotton swabs, feminine products, or dental floss. Only put toilet paper down the toilet.

Please call 311 or 704-336-7600 to request free Flow Free collateral including posters, door hangers, can lids, sponges, and grease scrapers.

The Flow Free initiative outlines ways to protect our water system and prevent blockages. The following tables can be an easy-to-digest resource for best practices when disposing of grease, wipes and other items that don’t belong in our pipes.

Best  Practices:

Keep these out of pipes so pipes can Flow Free:

Items To Keep Out of Pipes and Drains Examples
Grease The grease left in a pan after cooking. Canola oil, coconut oil, bacon grease, etc.
Wipes Baby wipes, "flushable wipes", or anything other than toilet paper
Oils Cooking oil, salad dressings, sauces
Debris Hair, toys, food waste, hygiene products
Fats Ice cream, butter, yogurt

 

For restaurant and food industry workers, here are the best practices to protect our pipes, drains, and water system.

Don't Do
DO NOT pour cooking residue down the drain. Wipe pots, pans, and work areas prior to washing.
DO NOT dispose of food waste into the garbage disposal. Dispose of food waste directly into the trash or compost.
DO NOT pour waste oil down the drain. Collect waste oil, allow it to cool, and store it for recycling or disposal.
DO NOT wash floor mats where water will run off directly into the storm drain. Clean mats inside over a utility sink.

 

Flow Free Collateral

Commercial Grease Trap Information

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