Opinion

Editorial: Fog in the pipes

Opinion

JACKSON HAS A FOG PROBLEM. NO, NOT THE BEAUTIFUL KIND THAT ROLLS ACROSS THE SPILLWAY. THIS FOG IS IN OUR PIPES, AND IT'S CAUSING MAJOR ISSUES. JACKSON WATER RECENTLY RELEASED THE SEWAGE REPORT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER, AND DESPITE THEIR PROGRESS IN REPAIRING LEAKS AND OTHER PROBLEMS, OVER A BILLION GALLONS OF UNTREATED WASTEWATER FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE PEARL RIVER IN JUST THREE MONTHS. PART OF THE BLAME FALLS ON PIPES COLLAPSING DUE TO AGE AND OTHER FACTORS. BUT A MAJOR PART OF THE BLAME FALLS ON US AND WHAT WE'RE PUTTING INTO OUR DRAINS. AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OUR SEWAGE LEAKS AND BLOCKAGES COME FROM FOG, A TERM THAT DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN COOKING GREASE COOLS AND CONGEALS IN SEWAGE PIPES. IT BLOCKS THE FLOW, FORCING THAT SEWAGE TO COME OUT IN OTHER PLACES. THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN START ADDRESSING RIGHT AWAY. IF YOU HAVE LEFTOVER GREASE, DON'T POUR IT DOWN THE DRAIN. LET IT HARDEN THEN THROW IT IN THE TRASH. OR SAVE IT FOR FUTURE RECIPES. BUT POURING GREASE INTO DRAINS CAN DAMAGE YOUR HOME'S PLUMBING, THE CITY PIPES

Opinion

Editorial: Fog in the pipes

Jackson has a fog problem. No, not the beautiful kind that rolls across the spillway. This fog is in our pipes, and it’s causing major issues.JXN Water recently released a sewage report for the first quarter, and despite their progress in repairing leaks and other problems, over 1 billion gallons of untreated wastewater found its way into the Pearl River in just three months.Part of the blame falls on pipes collapsing due to age and other factors. But a major part of the blame falls on us and what we’re putting into our drains.An enormous amount of our sewage leaks and blockages come from fog, a term that describes what happens when cooking grease cools and congeals in sewage pipes. It blocks the flow, forcing that sewage to come out in other places.This is something we can start addressing right away. If you have leftover grease, don’t pour it down the drain. Let it harden, then throw it in the trash. Or save it for future recipes. But pouring grease into drains can damage your home’s plumbing, the city pipes, and creates a disgusting problem for Mississippians downstream.

JACKSON, Miss. —

Jackson has a fog problem. No, not the beautiful kind that rolls across the spillway. This fog is in our pipes, and it’s causing major issues.

JXN Water recently released a sewage report for the first quarter, and despite their progress in repairing leaks and other problems, over 1 billion gallons of untreated wastewater found its way into the Pearl River in just three months.

Part of the blame falls on pipes collapsing due to age and other factors. But a major part of the blame falls on us and what we’re putting into our drains.

An enormous amount of our sewage leaks and blockages come from fog, a term that describes what happens when cooking grease cools and congeals in sewage pipes. It blocks the flow, forcing that sewage to come out in other places.

This is something we can start addressing right away. If you have leftover grease, don’t pour it down the drain. Let it harden, then throw it in the trash. Or save it for future recipes. But pouring grease into drains can damage your home’s plumbing, the city pipes, and creates a disgusting problem for Mississippians downstream.