Some Thanksgiving Day chefs make the mistake of pouring cooking grease down the kitchen sink. It鈥檚 a move that could lead to an icky backup and pricey plumbing bill.
It happens at dozens of local homes on Thanksgiving each year, said WSSC Water spokesperson Lyn Riggins.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a recipe for disaster because it鈥檚 going to harden and form a dam,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd, the next time you go to flush that toilet, the sewage is going to hit that dam and it鈥檚 going to cause a big mess.鈥�
What鈥檚 more, some of the sewage could overflow from a maintenance hole and end up in the Chesapeake Bay.
But, there鈥檚 a simple way to avoid it all.
Riggins said there鈥檚 a simple three-step process to get rid of the grease from a Thanksgiving feast.
First, can it.
鈥淭his is a message that goes all year round, really,鈥� she said. 鈥淭ake the grease and pour it in a can.”
Next, cool it in the fridge or freezer. Finally, toss the can, she said.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want a basement backup in homes,鈥� Riggins said. “We don鈥檛 want sewage impacting the environment. So, can it, cool it, and toss it. It鈥檚 so simple.鈥�
Riggins said WSSC Water workers can track who is dumping grease down the drain. It鈥檚 mostly home chefs frying, grilling and cooking with grease.
鈥淎bout 99% of grease blockages are traced back to homes,鈥� she said. 鈥淩estaurants, in general, do a great job of collecting their grease and properly disposing of it.鈥�
For most of those homes, the grease jam puts a damper on the holiday weekend.
鈥淣obody wants to spend Black Friday dealing with brown Friday,鈥� Riggins said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to be sitting there, waiting for a plumber to clear your line because you dumped grease down your sink.鈥�
