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Sewer Department
The City of Buckley Sewer service area serves over X,XXX homes and businesses. The City maintains 3 wells, and approximately XX miles of sewer mains. The City also maintains and operates our Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) for the treatment of wastewater.
Responsibilities include:
- Water Utility
- Sanitary Sewer Collection Utility
- Sanitary Sewer Treatment
- Storm Drainage Utility
- Streets/Sidewalks
Sewer Information
Sewer Clog Information - These Items Can Damage Your Sewer Lines (PDF)
Sewer Comprehensive Plan
View the City's Sewer Comprehensive Plan (PDF) Adopted 2019
Fats, Oils & Grease (F.O.G.) Program
- Fats, Oils & Grease (F.O.G.) Program
- How is the City involved?
- Inspections
- What can I do as a resident to prevent F.O.G.?
Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) come from meats, butters, lard, food scraps, sauces, salad dressings, dairy products and cooking oil. When FOG goes down the drain, it hardens and causes sewer pipes to clog. This can lead to a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) where raw sewage actually backs up into your home, lawn, neighborhood and streets. Not only does this nasty mess cause health issues, it also can run into a nearby stream or river.
If your pipes become clogged from putting FOG down the drain, it can be a very expensive problem to fix. To avoid household or environmental damage, as well as a costly bill, NEVER put FOG down the drain.
The City of Buckley FOG program is referenced in our Municipal Code title Chapter 14.06 SEWER USE REGULATIONS referencing to reduce blockages and maintenance in the sewer system. Any commercial establishment that serves or prepares food, within the city limits, where FOG may be introduced to the sanitary sewer system, shall abide by Municipal Code FOG Prevention Requirements.
In conjunction with the ordinance, the establishments also are urged to implement and maintain best management practices (BMPs), as well as the need to submit and adhere to a FOG control program. The purpose of this program is to reduce SSO's and obstructions caused by FOG entering the sewer system, and also to educate the public and food service establishments on how to reduce FOG to maintain compliance with the ordinance.
The City of Buckley conducts inspections of grease interceptors and grease traps on both a scheduled and unscheduled basis to determine whether the requirements set forth are being met. These inspections may happen anytime during business hours. A typical inspection includes:
- If an interceptor is present and in a public area, cone off to ensure employee and public safety.
- Removal of interceptor lids, checking influent and effluent baffles and recording findings. This is done using a Sludge Judge (SJ), a device which measures the amounts of scum (grease), clear layer and sludge (solid) levels.
- This measuring process is completed three times in different locations within the compartment to establish an average.
- To be in compliance with the BMC14.06 , the combination of sludge and scum must be less than 25% of the volume of the last compartment in the interceptor or grease trap.
Fats, oil and grease don't belong in your home's plumbing either. These products can cause bigger problems if they get into the City system. FOG gets into sewer pipes from dishwashers, garbage disposals, washing pots and pans and from being poured directly down the sink.
Rinsing fats down the drain with hot water and detergent doesn't really work. The grease just moves a little farther down the pipe where it cools and coats the inside of your plumbing resulting in clogged sinks or blockage of your line to the main.
You can avoid expensive plumbing mistakes by disposing of FOG the proper way:
- Remove fats, oils and grease from dishes and pans by wiping with a paper towel into the garbage before washing with water.
- Let grease and cooking oil cool, then pour into a sealable container and place in the garbage. (Hint: freezing will make it mostly solid).
- Use the garbage disposal as little as possible. Instead, place a strainer over the sink drain to catch solids and empty into the trash as needed.
- Avoid flushing wipes, wrappers and other garbage items into toilets. These products do not dissolve and combine with grease in the sewers to clog pipes.
- If your plans include using a hot oil poultry fryer, the grease needs to be disposed of after cooking.
Pierce County residents can dispose of used cooking oil, free of charge. Click here for information.