How to Prevent Sanitary Sewer Backups
Often during the holiday season, we see an increase in sewer backups caused by non-toilet paper products (e.g., tissue paper, wipes), fats, oils, and grease entering the sanitary sewer system. Improper disposal of fats, oils, and grease, also referred to as FOG, can cause inconvenient, messy, and costly sewer overflows. You can help prevent a sewer emergency by properly disposing of fats, oils, and grease:
- Never pour cooking oils or grease into your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet, or any other household or outdoor drain.
- Collect fats, oils and grease in a container to cool and harden. When the container is full, cover it tightly and place it in a bag to prevent leakage, then dispose of it in the garbage. Alternatively, cooking oil can be recycled by containing it in the original (or similar) bottle/jug. The container must have secure screw-top lid and be clearly labeled.
- Then the homeowner can contact Mission Trails at (650) 473-1400 for curbside pickup or place the clearly labeled container near their recycling on pickup day. Used cooking oil amounts greater than a gallon must be properly contained in a sealed vessel and disposed of by scheduling a free appointment with the Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program at (408) 299-7300.
- Minimize the use of kitchen sink garbage disposals by scraping dishes into the garbage first. Ground food particles and grease may still clog pipes and effect the downstream sewer system, causing sewer backups for your neighbors down the street.
- Scrape or use paper towels to wipe food scraps or grease from pots, pans, and plates into the garbage before washing them in the sink or dishwasher.
Place a wastebasket in the bathroom to dispose of solid waste. Do not use the toilet as a wastebasket for garbage.
- Toilet paper is designed to be flushed. However, other products such as disposable diapers, personal hygiene products, cotton swabs, paper towels, tissues and wipes (even those that claim to be “flushable”) all belong in the garbage as they do not break down and therefore can cause clogs in the sewer systems.
If you experience a sanitary sewer backup, call the City of Los Altos Maintenance Department at (650) 947-2785 between 8AM-5PM, Monday through Friday. For holiday, weekend and after hour calls, contact the Police Department’s business line at (650) 947-2770. Staff is available day and night to check the main sewer line. If it is clear and flowing, but a blockage is in the lateral, the property owner will need to call a plumber to clear the line.
