Perris, CA (November 10, 2021) — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) encourages customers to help protect their wastewater collection system this holiday season.

With families gathering for large meals – including those such as turkey and roast beef that produce large amounts of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) – EMWD is asking its customers to be Sewer Smart and properly dispose of FOG.

When FOG is poured down the drain, it cools and hardens, and can lead to blockages in either the main sewer system or in customers’ lines that extend from their homes. These blockages are costly to repair and can result in sanitary sewer overflows, that can carry costly fines from regional regulatory agencies.

Here are ways in which customers can properly and safely dispose of FOG without putting it down the drain:

• FOG can be placed in a metal tin or mason jar, where it can cool. It can then be thrown into a trash bin.
• Customers can place a large sheet of aluminum foil over their sink drain and pour the FOG into the foil. When the FOG cools and hardens in the foil pouch, it can be folded up and placed in a trash bin.

“EMWD appreciates the work our customers do to help protect their sewer system,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “By taking these small steps to properly dispose of fats, oils and grease, our customers are making a big difference that benefits the entire community.”

For more information, please visit www.emwd.org/SewerSmart.

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Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater and recycled water service provider to nearly one million people living and working within a 558-square mile service area in western Riverside County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency, and its mission is “To deliver value to our diverse customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.”
More information can be found at www.emwd.org.