Have you ever experienced a sanitary sewer back-up or overflow? Luckily, most sewer back-ups and overflows can be prevented with a progressive preventive maintenance program.  All of us can help to prevent them by wisely using the City of Laurinburg’s sanitary sewer system.

Sewer back-ups and overflows are frequently caused by improper materials such as fats, oils, and grease being placed into the sewer system.  Since fats, oils, and grease are lighter than water, they tend to accumulate at the top and sides of sewer pipes and can build up until a blockage occurs.  If a blockage happens, the sewer backs up or overflows resulting in interior home damage, environmental damage, and health hazards.

The City of Laurinburg’s Fats, Oils, and Grease Ordinance requires that food service facilities should install and maintain grease traps and/or interceptors to prevent grease from entering the sewer system.  However, there are many more residential kitchens than there are restaurants in Laurinburg.  By reducing the amount of fats, oils, and grease that enter the sewer system from homes, you can help to protect the environment by preventing sewer back-ups and overflows.

Sanitary sewer systems are designed to handle three things: used water, human body waste, and toilet paper.  Here are some simple actions that you can take that will help the City protect water quality and maintain the sewer system in Laurinburg.

DO NOT:

• Pour grease, fats, and oils from cooking down the drain.
• Use the toilet as a wastebasket.
• Use the sewer as a means to dispose of food scraps.

DO:

• Collect grease in a container and dispose of it in the garbage.
• Place food scraps in waste containers or garbage bags for disposal with solid waste, or start a compost pile.
• Place a wastebasket in the bathroom to dispose of solid waste.  Disposable diapers, condoms, and personal hygiene products do not belong in the sewer system.

These suggestions can save you money too!
Most sewer back-ups occur between the house and the City’s sewer main, where the property owner is responsible for correcting the problem.  Avoiding blockages means avoiding plumbing bills.  When the blockage occurs in the City’s sewer main, the City will correct the problem.  Please call the Public Works Division at (910)276-2364, 24 hours a day, to report a sewer back-up or overflow.