As the holiday season unfolds with its usual fanfare of culinary delights, the conversation around the dinner table might not typically drift to the topic of sewage. Yet, perhaps it should. A rather unglamorous but vital issue is being spotlighted by St. Johns County officials: the proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease (FOG). According to a social media post from the St. Johns County, the festive spike in heavy cooking can escalate into a not-so-pleasant situation for household plumbing and sewer systems.
The advice from St. Johns County might seem straightforward, but it's a timely reminder. They suggest, "Let grease cool," followed by scraping or pouring it into a container, and then advise to "Throw it in the trash" instead of washing it down the drain. Such straightforward guidance is crucial as households gear up for their annual turkey frying and pie baking extravaganzas. In the words of the county's post, "Let's keep the holidays flowing smoothly!"
The problem of FOG isn't trivial—when fats, oils, and grease are washed down the drain, they can cool and solidify, causing blockages that might leaders to backups and overflows. This is much more than a mere nuisance; it's an environmental hazard that can contaminate local waterways and impact wildlife and vegetation. Keeping drains clear is about more than just avoiding a call to the plumber; it's about protecting the community's water resources.
