Are there FROGs in your sewer line?
Fats, Roots, Oils and Grease

Why FROGs are bad and what you can do.

Property owners know that there are always a million and one things to do to protect their investment‚ but there is one very important activity that can be easily overlooked – and that is maintenance of the private sewer lines that connects their homes or businesses to the District’s sanitary sewer system‚ usually located underneath the street.

Every home and business owns a private sewer line, also known as a “private sewer lateral” or a “private service lateral.” That line carries sewage or wastewater from indoor plumbing fixtures‚ like toilets‚ tubs‚ sinks‚ showers‚ dishwashers and laundry machines to the public sewer system. Each day‚ South Coast Water District collects approximately 4 million gallons of wastewater and transports it through the public sewer system to regional plants for treatment before discharge miles offshore in accordance with federal and state standards.

The District has coined the term “FROG.” as an easy way to remember four things that can block your private sewer lines and must be avoided‚ namely: Fats‚ Roots‚ Oils‚ and Grease.

• Roots from trees and shrubs are the leading cause of obstructions in private sewer lines in our service area. Root obstructions can cause sewage to back up into homes and businesses‚ flow onto private property and/or overflow from manholes into the street.
• Fats‚ Oils and Grease are close behind as the second biggest cause of blockages in private sewer lines and can cause similar blockage.

What you can do to keep your private sewer line FROG-free?

Why is private sewer line maintenance important?
Private sewer lines can clog up with roots and grease and cause wastewater and sewage to back up into homes and businesses or to spill from a line. A sewage spill can cause damage to your property that is expensive to repair and highly inconvenient to everyone. In addition‚ a spill may cause public health concerns and beach closings.

Who is responsible for maintaining private sewer lines?
Each homeowner and business owner is responsible for the upkeep of their private sewer line. South Coast Water District is responsible for inspecting‚ assessing‚ cleaning‚ repairing and rehabilitating the public sewer system‚ which consists of 140 miles of sewer lines‚ 14 lift stations‚ 3 miles of force mains and 3‚711 manholes.

Can the District tell me if my private sewer line needs cleaning or repair?
There are approximately 17‚000 private sewer lines that connect to the District’s sewer system. When the District conducts video inspection of its sewer main lines‚ crews may observe a problem with a private sewer line right at the point of connection to the public system. When this occurs‚ the District sends a courtesy notification to the property owner along with a photo of the deficiency or obstruction. However‚ many problems associated with private sewer lines cannot be detected from the main line‚ so it is important for homeowners and businesses to conduct proper inspections of their own lines.

How can I tell if there’s a problem with my private sewer line?
The best initial indicator for a problem in your private sewer line is a drain in a sink‚ tub or shower operating more slowly than usual and continuing to slow over time. The next indicator would be the drain or drains actually backing up into the sink‚ tub or shower.

What’s the best way to keep my private sewer line working properly?

• Talk to a licensed plumber or plumbers about inspecting‚ assessing‚ cleaning and repairing the private sewer line that connects you to the District’s sewer system. Together‚ you can determine the optimal maintenance schedule for your particular line‚ factoring in line condition and typical indoor water use.
• Call the District at 949 499 4555 before your private sewer line is cleaned. The District will send a crew the day it’s cleaned and remove any roots or debris that may be pushed into the public system.
• Repair or replace a deteriorated or damaged private sewer line as soon as possible. Check with your plumber to be sure that required work permit(s) are secured from the city in which you live and that all work meets the current city codes.
• Do not plant trees or large shrubs on your property above your private sewer line or within approximately 10 feet of the line. Also‚ opt for trees or shrubs without aggressive root systems in that area.
• Scrape food off dishes directly into the trash‚ before rinsing them in the sink.
• Use a mesh sink strainer to catch food scraps before they go down the drain.
• Never pour fats‚ oils or grease down the kitchen sink. Collect them in an empty jar or can and discard it in the trash. Or‚ soak up grease with an absorbent material‚ like kitty litter‚ and throw that in the trash. Household grease goes in the regular trash‚ not the recyclable bin‚ or it will foul the other recyclables.

With adequate inspection‚ assessment‚ cleaning and repair of private sewer lines – and by preventing fats‚ roots‚ oils and grease from entering pipelines in the first place – property owners can avoid messy and costly sewage back ups and spills.

More Information