Winston Salem Times

As the holiday season approaches, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities is urging residents to "Can the Grease" to prevent sewer overflows in homes and businesses. This initiative highlights the importance of properly disposing of cooking oil by pouring or scraping it into a can, allowing it to cool, and then discarding it in the trash.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality imposes fines on utilities annually for sanitary sewer overflows, making community participation essential. Last year, fats, oils, and grease accounted for nearly 15% of blockages and overflows. To aid in preventing these issues, resources such as flyers and coloring books are available at cityofws.org/grease.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities manages an extensive wastewater system spanning 1,825 miles and water distribution mains covering 2,330 miles. Public cooperation is vital in minimizing the costly effects caused by improper disposal practices.

Additionally, the campaign emphasizes "No Wipes in Pipes," noting that wipes do not disintegrate and were responsible for more than 15% of local sewage backups last year. Residents are advised to dispose of wipes in the trash to prevent damage to wastewater pumps and home plumbing systems.

Further information on avoiding such problems can be found at cityofws.org/nowipes. This includes videos and images demonstrating local blockages from wipes combined with grease. The recommended practice is to only flush "the Four Ps: Pee, Poop, Puke & (toilet) Paper."

In case of a sewer backup occurrence, residents should contact CityLink through options listed on cityofws.org/citylink. Updates on utility services can be subscribed to via Alert Center and News Flash at cityofws.org/notifyme.