What it means
Grease may enter sewers from restaurants, food processing, homes, and other sources. As it cools, it sticks to pipe walls and catches debris. FOG control combines public education, grease interceptors, inspection, cleaning, and enforcement.
What operators watch
- Hot water may move grease downstream without solving the problem.
- Grease interceptors require maintenance to be effective.
- FOG problem areas should be tracked for preventive cleaning.
Common exam traps
- Thinking FOG is only a treatment-plant problem.
- Ignoring source control.
- Assuming one cleaning eliminates a recurring grease source.
Field example
A sewer main downstream of restaurants may need both scheduled cleaning and grease-control inspections.
