Don’t PAN-ic about FOG this Pancake Tuesday

13 February 2024 13:23

Pancake Tuesday is just around the corner and NI Water is calling on all pancake lovers to ensure that after they flip and toss their pancakes, they don’t pour the remaining Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG) down the sink.

Everyone enjoys Pancake Tuesday whether you choose sweet or savoury maybe the great debate of the day but one thing that isn’t up for debate is where to dispose of the remaining FOG. 

It is easy to simply pour the excess FOG down the sink, and think what harm will it do, when in actual fact, it is causing chaos for NI Water with major blockages in the sewer line that could end up in your street!

NI Water’s Head of Wastewater David McCullough says: “As fat, oil and grease cools, it solidifies; creating blockages in the sewerage system, which often result in raw sewage flooding gardens and homes.  The effects of this can be devastating for you and your neighbours and costs NI Water thousands of pounds per year to clear the blockages that occur. We are appealing to our customers not to pour their FOG from their pancake pans down the sink.”

One way to dispose of FOG is to let it cool and solidify, and then scrape it into the rubbish bin. 

The wastewater drains which run from each house is just 4 inches wide and only designed for human waste and toilet roll.

You can view first-hand the damage FOG can cause to our sewers by viewing the following video https://www.niwater.com/FOG

ENDS

Media enquiries to the NI Water Press Office via email to press.office@niwater.com