Bartlesville’s wastewater crews say Thanksgiving continues to be the busiest day of the year for sewer backup calls. Water Utilities Director Terry Lauritsen is urging residents to think twice before sending holiday leftovers down the drain.
“We want everyone to enjoy their family gatherings without the headache of a sewer backup,” Lauritsen said. “The biggest problems come from wipes — even the ones labeled ‘flushable’ — and what we call FOG: fats, oils, and grease. Food scraps like potato peels and things like that can be just as damaging.”
Where should it all go?
Straight to the trash. Lauritsen reminds residents that only two things belong in the toilet: human waste and toilet paper.
Hot oils and grease: Pour into a container, let cool and solidify, then toss in the trash.
Food scraps: Scrape plates into the trash instead of the sink or disposal.
Wipes: Never flush them, no matter what the packaging says.
Simple steps to keep FOG out of the system
- Scrape and wipe dishes with a napkin before rinsing.
- Limit what goes into the garbage disposal — trash it instead.
- Heavy grease: Cool it. Can it. Trash it.
For more tips, see cityofbartlesville.org.