Keeping Fats, Oils, Grease, and Chemicals out of the Drain

1. Keeping Fats, Oils, Grease, and Chemicals out of the Drain Ande Remington LaRC Water Program HSG, LLC Standard Practice and Environmental Engineering Branch (SPEEB) Center Operations Directorate (COD)

2. There is a FOG in the sewers… But not this kind!

3. Fats, Oils, and Grease FOG can harden in our pipes and cause costly repairs

4. A Maze of Pipes • Hampton Roads uses around 135 million gallons of water a day • Our infrastructure has more than 12,000 miles of pipes • 6,500 miles for water distribution; 5,800 miles for sanitary sewer • Over 1.6 million people in Hampton Roads depend on this infrastructure • Support for the system creates many jobs in our region • The cost of having water flow in and out of your home is cheaper than most smart phone bills • Most households pay $1 a day for all their water needs

5. It hasn’t always been so amazing… • Plumbing in Hampton Roads used to lead directly to waterways • Mid 1920s – estimated that 25 million gallons of raw sewage poured into local waters daily • More than 10,000 acres of oyster beds were condemned • Typhoid and cholera outbreaks November 5, 1940 – Citizens voted for the creation of HRSD Today – 13 treatment plants for 17 cities and counties in Coastal VA Raw sewage ran in open ditches as children played in Portsmouth’s Simonsdale neighborhood in 1944. http://askhrgreen.org/happy-anniversary-sewage-treatment/

6. So how do we go from clean pipes to clogged pipes?

7. The Human Example • FOG flows through the sanitary sewer system much like bad cholesterol and fatty acids in the human body • “Hardening of arteries” • FOG can accumulate and restrict flow and potentially cause blockages, similar to plaque build up in blood vessels

8. Small amounts can add up quick

9. Sanitary sewage overflows that result from FOG discharge are violations of State and Federal Laws (Clean Water Act) Hefty civil fines $$$

10. Understanding FOG Sources: The Kitchen • Fatty foods • Cooking oils • Residual food debris • Kitchen utensils • Dinnerware • Deep fryers • Leftovers

11. FOG Sources

12. Prevention - The Human Example • Just like your body, the best way to prevent FOG buildup is to avoid introducing FOG into the system • Kitchen “BMPs” you can use everyday to significantly reduce FOG buildup • BMPs are like diet and exercise for the sanitary sewer system, replacing bad habits with good

13. True or False? Running hot water through the pipes will clear FOG blockages

14. Trick Question! When you run hot water into your piping, it temporarily liquefies the FOG materials. Once the water cools, the FOG solidifies again, just a little further down the pipes.

15. FOG Prevention - BMPs Instead… • Can the grease • Pour used grease into an empty, heat-safe container. Toss into garbage when solid. • Scrape your plate • Scrape with utensils or a paper towel prior to washing • Catch the scraps • Avoid using the garbage disposal. Catch scraps in the sink with a basket or strainer. Your dishwasher counts as a drain, too!

16. Large Quantities can Sometimes be Recycled Residentially-generated fryer oil • Return the used oil to the original container and drop off at your local recycling/household haz-waste center • Many locations require a minimum of 5 gallons collected. Smaller? Bag and dispose of with regular garbage. Local household hazardous waste collection programs - http://askhrgreen.org/gtk-gtd/household-hazardous-waste-disposal/

17. Fighting FOG at LaRC Cafeteria • 1,000 gallon grease interceptor • 317-gallon fry grease collection system (oil from fryers are piped directly to tank) • Valley Proteins removes when full • Fire station kitchen collects FOG in container for disposal • Used oil and oily debris collection containers • Oil-water separators at stormwater outfalls • General LaRC public – awareness through outreach and training • Janitorial training – floor washing, utility sinks, etc. • New employee brochure • Spill plan and annual spill response training

18. 2015 Violation …14 years of perfect compliance down the drain • LaRC received a Notice of Violation (NOV) from HRSD on 11/4/2015 • HRSD technician observed visible free oil while doing routine water sampling • Potential cause unknown • Steps taken to ensure future compliance include increasing education and outreach to LaRC personnel, especially FECs.

19. Chemicals Including… • Paints • Cleaners • Solvents • Automotive fluids • Pesticides • Pool chemicals No chemicals down ANY drain at LaRC “If you wouldn’t dump it in your yard, it probably shouldn’t go down the drain” Atlantic Treatment Plant, Virginia Beach Army Base Treatment Plant, Norfolk York River Treatment Plant, Seaford

20. Chemical Disposal Local household hazardous waste collection programs - http://askhrgreen.org/gtk-gtd/household-hazardous-waste-disposal/ • Unwanted chemicals? Submit LF163 for waste pickup • Leftover material? Pour into facility’s haz-waste collection container (call 5-DRUM to request container) • Unsure? NASA Waste Management – • Dave Steigerwald (4-8058) or Ryan Boone (4-4164)

21. Medications AskHRgreen guidelines: • Obtain a drug disposal bag from your local health department, or crush and mix the medication with kitty litter or sawdust • Seal in the original container and remove your personal information • Deposit in the trash Or… just drop off at a drug take-back event! http://askhrgreen.org/gtk-gtd/medication-disposal/ …so they can end up in our environment

22. Suspect water pollution? Not sure about something in your facility? Tell us! Let’s work together to keep our water clean Email*: peter.vandyke@nasa.govorande.remington@nasa.gov *If you choose to report via email, please include as much information as possible. Call: Peter Van Dyke (757) 864-7517 or Ande Remington (757) 864-2451 Danger to human health, or release to the environment? Call 911 (land line) or 864-2222 (cell)

23. Water Quality at LaRC - Resources • LaRC Environmental and Energy Management website at http://environmental.larc.nasa.gov/water/education-and-outreach • This presentation will be available online • Look for quarterly @Larc articles on a variety of water quality topics and advertisements for local events • LPR 8500.1 Environmental and Energy Program Manual • Standard Practice and Environmental Engineering Branch staff • If you have any questions, please contact Peter Van Dyke or Ande Remington

24. London’s “Fatberg” 130 tons! • Twice as long as Wembley Stadium • Removal took nine weeks • Only 1 of several in London’s sewer - Costs $1.3 million a month for city to remove them • Fragments were turned into biofuel as a facility in Scotland • Estimates-10,000 liters of fuel were yielded • Powered some London busses • Other pieces in display at London Museum https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/18/world/museum-of-london-fatberg-exhibit/index.html

25. http://environmental.larc.nasa.gov