Residential/Homeowner User Responsibility

The City of Hobart Sanitary & Stormwater District (HSD) provides wastewater collection throughout the City of Hobart via the sanitary sewer system. Sanitary sewer lines collect wastewater and transport it to the Gary Sanitary District for treatment. HSD is responsible for the proper operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer mains. Residential homes and businesses are connected to the HSD-owned sanitary sewer main via an underground pipe known as a sanitary sewer lateral or service line. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain the sanitary sewer lateral, including the tap which is the connection between your home's sewer lateral and the sanitary sewer main.

a. Service Line Responsibilities

The property owner is responsible for the sewer service from the house to the sewer main, including the tap. If the sanitary sewer lateral requires maintenance due to clogs or damage, a sewer permit is required. Additionally, if the customer’s house is across the street from the sewer main and the sanitary sewer lateral runs under the roadway, the customer is also responsible for obtaining a road cut permit to be cut open the roadway to perform maintenance on the lateral. The customer is responsible for replacing any sidewalks or roadway surface that is removed in order to perform maintenance on the sanitary sewer lateral. The sewer permit and road cut permit are both available at the Building Department at 414 Main Street, second floor, Hobart, IN 46342.

b. What causes problems in the sanitary sewer system?

The sanitary sewer system is designed to convey wastewater only. When items are flushed down the toilet or poured down the drain that are not meant to be, the sanitary sewer lines and equipment can get clogged which can lead to backups of wastewater, infrastructure damage, and environmental pollution.

Common items that end up in the sanitary sewer system that can cause blockages, backups and infrastructure damage include, but are not limited to:

Fats, oils and grease from cooking oils, dairy products, butter/margarine, sauces, lard and meat fat byproducts, general food waste, etc.
Disposable diapers and baby wipes
Facial wipes
Disinfectant wipes
Rags
Cleaning or polishing wipes
Kitty litter
Paper towels
“Flushable” wipes
Feminine hygiene products

Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) commonly find their way into the sewer system through drains, toilets, and dishwashers. When FOG gets into the sewer lines, it solidifies and builds up, reducing the amount of flow through the pipes. FOG often gets poured down drains due to the ease with which the liquid can be poured while it is warm. This negatively impacts the home's drainage and the sanitary sewer system when the liquid cools and hardens, sticking to the pipes and building up over time. The buildup in the pipes results in restricted flow, leading to clogs that can cause a backup of sewage into the homes and businesses.

FOG in households and businesses come from a variety of sources, such as:

Baked goods
Butter & margarine
Cooking oil
Dairy products
Foods cooked in deep fryers
Lard
Mayonnaise
Meats
Pastries
Salad dressings
Sauces & gravy
Shortening

Cleaning wipes, baby wipes, and other wipes that are sometimes described as “disposable” or “flushable” generally do not dissolve when flushed. This is because wipes, facial tissue, cotton products, and other paper products are designed to remain in-tact when wet. Instead, they accumulate in sewer systems causing clogs and backups in pipes, pump stations, and treatment plants. Typically, these never actually dissolve, but get caught in pumps at lift stations and then cause backups.

c. How can you help?

Following these dos and don’ts will help you and your neighbors avoid expensive sewer backups, plumbing emergencies, and rate increases to cover sewer maintenance and repairs, while helping protect water quality in your community.

DO:

• Let oils cool and pour excess cooking oil into a heat-proof, sealable container and throw the container in the trash. Ensure that the container is sealed tightly before throwing it away.

o TIP: Continue adding grease and oil until the container is full, and the oil is solidified before throwing it away.

o TIP: Mix oil with an absorbent material such as coffee grounds, place in a tightly sealed container and dispose of in the trash.

• Scrape food scraps into the trash. Wipe excess oil and grease left on pans and dishes into the trash with a paper towel before washing.

• Use a mesh sink strainer to catch food items and dispose of scraps in the trash.

• Rinse dishes and pans with cold water before putting them in the dishwasher. Hot water melts the FOG off the dishes and into the sewer pipes. Later on in the sewer, the hot water cools and the FOG may clog the pipes.

• Minimize the use of garbage disposals or food grinders. These systems allow FOG to enter the sanitary sewer system from food scraps that should be placed in the trash.

• Use paper towels to clean up any spills of oils, grease, or food items containing FOG and throw the paper towels in the trash.

• Throw away items such as diapers, wipes, “flushable” wipes, feminine hygiene products, paper towels, rags or any solid waste that does not naturally break down, including garbage, plastic bags, and cigarette butts.

DON’T

• Don’t pour cooking oil, pan drippings, bacon grease, salad dressings, or sauces down the sink or toilet, or into street gutters or storm drains.

• Don’t use cloth towels or rags to scrape plates or clean greasy or oily dishware. When you wash them, the grease will end up in the sewer.

• Don’t run water over dishes, pans, fryers, and griddles to wash oil and grease down the drain.

• Don't flush any type of wipe down the commode. Even flushable wipes only break down into smaller pieces. This gives FOG something to cling to and build up more quickly.

Educational Information:

Let's Tackle the Grease in This Kitchen! (texas.gov)

¡Ataquemos a la Grasa en Esta Cocina! (GI-290) (texas.gov)

Toilets are Not Trashcans. Only Flush the 3 P’s

Educational Videos:

Fats, Oils and Grease Explainer Video - YouTube Provided by the North Texas Council of Governments Environment & Development

Why Your Sink Disposal Isn’t a Garbage Can Provided by the North Texas Council of Governments Environment & Development

FOG (Fats, Oil and Grease) - YouTube Provided by Columbia County, Georgia

FOG - Fats, Oils and Greases - YouTube Provided by Regional District of Central Okanagan

Are Flushable Wipes Really Flushable? Provided by Chemical and Engineering News (c&en)

Do Flushable Wipes Actually Dissolve? Provided by The Fit RV

Wipes Clog Pipes Demonstration Provided by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency