In This Issue
• Butter your bird not your drain this holiday season

• Rising water? Clear your stormdrains

Did you know?
Grease is the number one preventable reason for residential sewer blockages and backups.

Who we are
Clean Water Services is a wastewater and stormwater utility committed to protecting water resources in the Tualatin River Watershed.

Butter your bird not your drain this holiday season

With the holidays at our doorstep, we find ourselves spending more time in the kitchen cooking as well as eating. Most of us know grease as the byproduct of cooking. Grease is found in such things as meat fats (gravy!), cooking oil, shortening, sauces and dairy products. When these are washed down your sink, grease sticks to the insides of sewer pipes (both on your property and in the streets). However, these can cause serious damage to your pipes if they are put down the kitchen sink. Over time, it can build up and block the entire pipe. The results can be:

• Raw sewage overflowing in your home or your neighbors home;
• Raw sewage overflowing into parks, yards and streets;
• Potential contact with disease-causing organisms;
• An increase in operation and maintenance costs for Clean Water Services, which causes higher sewer bills for customers.

Home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system. Products, such as detergents, that claim to dissolve grease may pass it down the line and cause problems elsewhere.

What you can do to help:

• Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets.
• Scrape grease and food scraps into a can or the trash for disposal (or recycling where available).
• Put baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids, and empty them into the trash.
• Speak with your friends and neighbors about how to keep grease out of sewers.
• Make a bird feeder: Mix any warm grease or fat with seeds, nuts, oatmeal or dried fruit. Insert a piece of string and allow to cool and solidify.
• Get your free Freeze the Grease, Save the Drain kit at (503) 681-3678. The kit includes a pan scraper and a can lid for your cooling fat.

Rising water? Clear your stormdrains

It is a simple, but important reminder: stormdrains are for rain only, and lead to the nearest stream or wetland. Stormdrains are your ticket to flood prevention near your home. Therefore, we need your help to keep them clear of debris. Bring your leaves, grass clippings and a can of food to our 14th Annual Leaf Disposal and Food Drive on November 18 and December 9 at Sunset and Aloha Highschools from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This program is for Washington County residential use only. No commercial operations. For more information, call our Leaf Line at (503) 547-8116. The Cities of Hillsboro, Tigard, Sherwood and Beaverton also provide free leaf drop-off depots.

With our best efforts, rising water may still occur. Sand and sandbags are available throughout Washington County. Call ahead to confirm hours of operation and supply. Learn more...