The warm weather of the summertime draws people outside for residential activities like grilling. However, while people enjoy burgers and hotdogs in the sun, fatbergs grow beneath them.
Fatbergs are large, solid masses of household items lurking in urban sewer systems. They form when products like cooking oil, wet wipes, and sanitary products entwine. Years of improper disposal of these products make fatbergs a force to be reckoned with as they can obstruct pipes and lead to sewage overflows.
Removal of a destructive fatberg requires specialized machinery like high-pressure water jets from a Vactor truck to break apart the blockages. Operators can then remove the broken-up fatberg through the truck’s vacuum system.
Mitigating the detrimental effects of improper disposal of grease fats and cooking oil is particularly crucial in the summer to prevent fatbergs from taking over. But fatty products are not the only things putting sewers at risk. Here are some of a fatberg's favorite foods:
- Fat, oil and grease. Fatbergs would not be possible without the introduction of fats, oils, and grease into sewer systems. When these products are rinsed from pans and plates, they are fed straight into the mouth of a fatberg. When these products go down drains, they cool and solidify, allowing them to congeal with other waste items. The interaction between the fat in these products and waste materials can lead to saponification — the transformation of fat into a soap-like substance.
- “Flushable” wet wipes. Unlike toilet paper, which disintegrates quickly in water, wet wipes often fail to break down and become stuck in sewer systems. In sewers, they trap grease and other non-biodegradable materials.
- Paper towels and feminine products. Both products are made to be sturdy and absorptive. Because they are not designed to disintegrate in water, they become a stubborn part of blockages when flushed down the toilet.
Immediate effects of improper waste disposal include the clogging of drains and pipes which can cause backups and flooding of wastewater into homes and businesses. This not only leads to potential property damage, but can lead to health concerns.
The dramatic impact of poor disposal practices goes far beyond the home. Damage to municipal sewage resources and infrastructure costs hundreds of thousands of dollars in removal and repairs, creating a financial burden for the residents of that area. Consistent needs for sewer system repairs means increased tax rates for sewer and water services.
Community health is also in danger at the hands of fatbergs. Waste buildup and sewer overflows can cause exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria — a leading cause of infectious disease.
Changing household habits
Reducing municipal contributions to fatbergs must be a community effort. Improper disposal of household items and fatty products sets the stage for fatbergs to form, so it’s important for community members to be vigilant about what enters their drains.
Washing fatty substances down kitchen sinks is the No. 1 contributor to fatbergs. The implementation of fat traps in household kitchen sinks is a practical step individuals can take to reduce their individual contribution.
Additionally, households should use their garbage disposal in moderation to reduce the volume of material being put down the drain to feed fatbergs.
Outside the kitchen, to maintain an obstruction-free sewer system, the only things that should be flushed down the toilet are pee, poop, and toilet paper.
Preventing fatbergs on a municipal level
Public works departments across the country also play a large role in preventing fatbergs. Municipal campaigns have been launched nationwide, emphasizing the importance of proper waste disposal and educating residents on the implications of fatbergs.
Regulating what can and cannot be discarded into the sewer systems is one step cities can take to reduce their impact on the sewer system. They can also enforce size and maintenance requirements for grease traps in local restaurants and food processing businesses.
Don’t let fatbergs win
Through education, regulation, and infrastructure maintenance, sewer systems can be protected. Properly disposing of products allows waste to properly flow through sewers without forming fatbergs and causing costly damage to urban sewers.
For more information on Vactor sewer cleaners, visit Vactor.com.
