Residents asked to keep pipes clear of grease, grit

There are some things that don't belong in a drain. Communities build and maintain thousands of miles of wastewater pipelines that collect sewer from homes, schools, churches and businesses throughout Clark County.

Unfortunately, the pipelines collect a lot more than what's intended to go into a sewer. Fat, oil, grease and grit make their way into the lines, clump together and harden to form blockages. These blockages can occur anywhere from the pipes below sinks and toilets to the lines in residents' front yards or the street.

When clogs occur, they make a mess. Lines must be inspected to locate the blockage, cleaned out or dug up and replaced. All of this is very time-consuming and expensive for homeowners and the county. Everyone can do their part to stop these blockages by putting fat, oil, grease and grit where they belong, in the trash.

If residents experience a sewer blockage that's backing up into a home, county staff recommends calling a licensed plumber to remove it or determine where the line is clogged.

A simple thing to remember to avoid a clogged drain is that fat, oil, grease and grit can really make a mess of pipes and the community's sewer system. Keep the lines clear by disposing of unwanted fat, oil, grease and grit in the garbage can, not the drain.

With super clogging powers, these items slime pipes with thin layers of buildup, gradually choking off the flow of wastewater to the county treatment facilities. The buildup can clog pipes in a home or the connection to the main sewer system out in the street and cause an overflow.

Common sources of oil include anything from salad oil to used cooking oil.

Oil should be put back into its original container and delivered to a waste recycling center.