City launches campaign featuring FOGzie

(October 5, 2009) - The City’s Wastewater Quality Division has launched a new campaign – No FOG Down the Drain – featuring FOGzie, a 1950s era cartoon character.  He instructs citizens of proper FOG (fats, oils and grease) disposal and warns them of the dangers it poses to private and city pipelines.  FOG is the number one cause of sewer backups and overflows.

FOG is caused when people pour grease, cooking oil and other fatty products down the kitchen sink. Somewhere down the line, the FOG cools and solidifies in the pipelines and causes wastewater and raw sewage to backup into homes or businesses.  

Instead of pouring FOG down the drain, FOGzie tells how to “put a lid on it.”  Go to www.fogzie.com for information on proper FOG disposal. 

Nearly half of all sewer stoppages are caused by FOG that has hardened in private lateral lines. When the backups are caused by stoppages in private lines, property owners pay for the cleanup and repairs. 

The campaign is designed to help the City and citizens reduce the number of sewer backups and overflows or prevent them altogether.

FOGzie’s message can be found at www.okc.gov, www.fogzie.com, City Channel 20, Twitter, Facebook and You Tube.  FOGzie’s green can lids will be distributed in neighborhoods where crews are cleaning sewer lines and in areas that experience frequent stoppages.  Also, lids will be distributed at public venues, including Mistletoe Market and Affair of the Heart, Utility Customer Service, and through neighborhood associations.