On a lot just off Highway 101 and Woodside Road, Daniel Ver Linden opened a 100-pound lid that hid a dark, quiet, brick-lined underground vault.
It's not supposed to be silent.
Daniel Ver Linden deals with the consequences of what people pour down drains or flush down toilets. Its not cute.
He clicked on a flashlight. The light revealed a grayish mass that ran the length of the vault and then disappeared down a tube beyond the reach of the light.
"We don't want to see that," Ver Linden said. "Never".
'It' is a layer of solidified fat, oil and grease on top of plain water. Think of a mountain stream running under snow bridges; Only this stream is sewage and the snow bridges are leftovers from fryers and greasy meals.
With Thanksgiving to go, Ver Linden, a veteran member of the County Department of Public Works, gave a detailed tour of the threat posed to sewage systems by grease, grease and oils going down the drain.
โIt's a liquid when poured down the drain,โ Ver Linden said, โbut when it comes into contact with cold water, it hardens and eventually clogs the system and that causes SSO (sanitary sewer overflows).
And that means wastewater returns to the streets, sinks and bathtubs.
To help residents enjoy a clog-free vacation (and avoid costly visits from the plumber), here are some simple tips on how to avoid unsightly messes and keep your pipes clean.
First, what is the problem?
Fats, oils and grease (known as FOG in the waste industry) come from meats, cooking oil, lard, shortening, butter and margarine, dairy products and more. These ingredients cool and adhere to the walls of the pipe. Over time, accumulation causes backups.
(The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that just under half of system overflows are caused by grease from homes and businesses.)
Keep your drain free of grease. Scrape it, bag it, cool it, and throw it in the trash (or compost or recycle it).
Looking down a sewer pipe reveals a layer of solidified grease, oil and grease. Sewage flows beneath the mass... for now.
So what is the solution?
Here are some tips to make cleaning easier and prevent clogged drains:
Never Pour hot oil or grease into the sink.
In addition to oil and fat, FOG includes anything fatty such as meat, lard, shortening, butter, margarine, dairy products, frosting, dressings, or sauce.
Food scraps containing FOG should be placed in the green (or organic) compost collection bin or, in the absence of a compost bin, in the trash.
To scrape Place leftover food from plates, pots, pans, and fryers in a kitchen bucket or other container before washing dishes. Use paper towels to wipe up excess FOG and throw those into the bucket/container as well. Empty what you have collected in the kitchen into your green compost bin. Skip the garbage disposal and use a strainer in the sink to keep food debris out of the drain.
Recycle fog If it is cold and uses large amounts of oil, consult your garbage collection company. land911.com either recyclingstuff.org to learn how to recycle used cooking oil. Keep an empty bottle to catch the grease.
"We always try to cover this topic now," said Teresa Montgomery, sustainability manager for South San Francisco Scavenger Co., which recently published and mailed customers a Newsletter which included the headline, Fry a turkey?
To encourage proper disposal, South San Francisco Scavenger Co. accepts used cooking oil for $2 a gallon at Blue Line Transfer Station. The usual $38 minimum charge for entering the Blue Line is waived.
Check with your local waste hauler or transfer station for specific rates and policies.
Additional Tips: As they say in the waste business, throw away only the three Ps: pee, poop, and toilet paper. Remember: wet wipes clog pipes.
"You can't believe the things we find in our sewers. There are toothbrushes, combs, rubber gloves, basically anything that people can flush down the toilet," along with cell phones, batteries and more, Ver Linden said. "It all ends up clogging the pipe along with all the grease and everything."
Throw away products like expired dairy products, sunscreen, lotions, and cosmetics. Those sanitary wipes that have become popular do not break down in the sewage system like toilet paper does. Instead, they combine with other wipes, hair, dental floss, rags, and anything else someone has thrown away (along with greases and oils) to create super blockages.
And remember: Cold water freezes fog, causing buildup in sewer pipes and laterals. And that translates into higher maintenance and sewer fees.
the county operates 10 sewer districts in unincorporated areas and some areas of incorporated cities. Call 650-363-4100 if you live in the 10 sewer districts and are experiencing or witnessing a sewer backup.
Call your city's public works department or sewer maintenance district if you live outside the unincorporated area.
special thanks to Silicon Valley Clean Water, South San Francisco Scavenger Co. and other agencies that contributed to this article.
