JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Don’t let your Thanksgiving feast create a fatberg!
JEA warned customers this week that pouring fats, oil, or grease down the drain might seem convenient during holiday cooking, but doing that can lead to fatbergs.
Over time, the grease can solidify, blocking pipes and causing costly repairs to JEA’s sewer system that could increase your utility bill.
Fatbergs (pictured above in photos provided by JEA) are large coagulations of non-biodegradable sewage that cause backups and sewer overflows and contaminate the water supply.
They can also be harmful to the environment.
On Wednesday morning. JEA’s sewer preventative maintenance team was near Myrtle Ave N & W 22nd St checking pipes.
“JEA sewer preventative maintenance team is out here today working to prevent any sanitary sewer overflow so they’re clearing out our pipes in areas where they’re prone to having clogs,” Karen McAllister, JEA public information officer said.
JEA’s Wastewater Treatment System is only designed to dispose of human waste and toilet paper. Many other commonly flushed items can damage pipes in homes and JEA’s Wastewater Collection System.
“Our crews are out at nearly 400 scheduled cleaning routes throughout the year,” McAllister said. “And that helps all of our customers because the more we can prevent sanitary sewer overflow and keep our systems from getting clogged, and backed up, the less it’s going to cost our customers in the end.”
JEA responded to more than 2,400 sanitary sewer backup incidents in the 2024 fiscal year, many of which were caused by fats, oils, and grease.
McAllister said to remove the blockages, a JEA vac truck uses the high-pressure jet hose to break up the grease and other debris.
Then the vacuum system removes it from the pipes.
To properly dispose of fats, oils, and grease this Thanksgiving, JEA recommends customers follow these steps:
- Pour cooking grease into a used can, seal the can in a plastic bag and throw it away.
- Wipe off dishes, pots, pans and cooking utensils with a paper towel before rinsing or washing them. Then put the paper towels in the trash.
- Before you flush, think about Freddy Fatberg and how you can help keep him away. Don’t flush baby wipes (even if the box says you can), paper towels, dental floss, cat litter, or oil-based hand scrubs down the toilet.
Other things that should be avoided include cotton swabs, cotton balls, and medicines. For a list of additional items that should never be flushed, please visit fatberginvasion.com.