The Latest in FOG News It’s long been known that the place to dispose of fats, oil, and grease for private individuals or small businesses is not down the kitchen sink or other plumbing, whether that plumbing is connected to a sewer system or a septic system. And yet, the issue of FOG (fats, oil, and grease) clogging up wastewater systems remains a worldwide issue. For those involved in the wastewater field, the unpleasant reality of FOG buildup and the massive fatbergs it can lead to is part of day-to-day life, and it probably isn’t something anyone wants to spend more time thinking about than necessary. But widely sharing the stories of why FOG pollution is such an issue might be one of the best things we can do to help homeowners and industries to reverse the tide of inappropriate substances flushing into wastewater systems. And, as technology advances, more and more technological solutions for FOG management are being explored! In this post, we’ve collected links to recent news stories covering FOG challenges in municipal sewer systems, both domestically and internationally. Consider sharing them with people you meet who might not know why they shouldn’t put bacon grease down the drain or flush their wet wipes, and find some hope in the pursuit of technological fixes! What are fatbergs and why are they a problem? Beneath the surface: the rise of fatbergs and the cost of what we flush away | Smart Water Magazine, 3/20/2026 Burger King worker caught red-handed pouring gallons of grease into storm sewer. How fatbergs cost U.S. taxpayers millions | MoneyWise, 4/28/2026 Recent FOG stories in the United States Tyler targets fats, oils, grease as leading cause of sewer backups (video) | KLTV, 5/25/2026 The price of grease disposal going up for Evansville restaurants | 14 News, 5/4/2026 Guam Waterworks Authority seeks changes to fat, oil and grease disposal program | Guam Daily Post, 3/6/2026 “Supersized” 2026 fatberg in Sydney Supersized fatberg clogging Sydney sewer blamed for mysterious debris balls on beach | Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2/10/2026 Sydney Water blames food outlets for illegally adding to fatberg. But restaurants say ‘if it’s a problem, it’s their problem’ | The Guardian, 1/26/2026 Behind this door is the huge fatberg that can’t stop depositing poo balls on Sydney’s beaches | The Guardian, 4/9/2026 Engineering a solution to Sydney’s fatberg crisis | Engineers Australia, 3/5/2026 Fatbergs in London How oil collection keeps London’s kitchens running smoothly | London Post, 6/19/2026 Alan Carr plunged into crisis as workmen make shocking discovery under his multi-million pound home | The Sun, 4/10/2026 Heathrow Airport sewer produces 500-metre fatberg | London Now, 3/20/2026 New 100 tonne fatberg uncovered in Whitechapel, dubbed ‘the grandchild’ of the 2017 fatberg | Water Magazine, 12/23/2025 The world’s largest city museum is opening in London this year with more than seven million objects on display — featuring Banksy, Roman treasures and the Whitechapel Fatberg | Secret London, 6/18/2026 Solutions on the rise ‘Fatbergs’ are taking over city sewers — scientists are fighting back | BBC, 5/12/2026 Yorkshire Water completes trials of ‘fatberg’ buster | The Press, 6/3/2026 Southern Water uses AI to prevent pollution in Hampshire | Hampshire Chronicle, 4/29/2026 Miami-Dade launches $300,000 search for water tech solutions | Smart Water Magazine, 5/25/2026 Prior coverage of FOG at the WaterOperator.org blog FOG in Sewer Systems vs. Septic Systems Flushable Wipes: The Bane of the Wastewater Industry Fatbergs, the Icebergs of a Wastewater Collection System June 23, 2026 By Laura Schultz Public Education, Sanitary Sewers, Wastewater, Water News fatbergs, fats, fats oil grease, FOG, FOG management, grease, oil, sewer systems, wastewater, wastewater management, wastewater news, wastewater systems 0 0 Comment Read More »
Featured Video: Lift Station 2 Pump Cleaning By Jill Wallitschek Lift stations are designed to move sewage from a lower to higher elevation through pumps and pipes. Once pumped to a higher elevation, sewage continues to move through the collection system via gravity to reach the wastewater treatment plant. Utilities typically install one of two types of lift stations. Submersible pump lift stations, also called wet well lift stations, contain the pumps, sewage, and floats all in one vault. Dry well lift stations use two vaults to separate the pump system and wastewater. To learn more about lift station operations, components, sizing calculations, inspections, maintenance, emergency response, and pump selection for both types, check out the U.S. EPA’s Wastewater Utility Operation and Management for Small Communities – Lift Station Overview webcast recording. Learning the theory behind lift station operations, maintenance, and emergency response is an essential component to any wastewater operator’s training, however hands-on experience is also important. While we can’t give you hands on experience in a blog post, the following video offers a real world example of lift station maintenance. In this video, a Minnesota operator demonstrates how to remove debris from a clogged pump at his facility’s lift station. He also overviews the various components on the lift station control panel. Please note that when troubleshooting lift stations you should first be trained in operator safety. Safety topics to review before working with lift stations include lock out tag out, confined space, electrical safety, fall protection, crane safety, and tail gate safety. November 23, 2020 By Jennifer Wilson Operations and Maintenance, Sanitary Sewers collection systems, lift stations, pump stations, sewer systems 0 0 Comment Read More »