The FOG prevention program at Johnson County Wastewater goes all the way back to 2008.
It was created to help prevent the collection system maintenance problems and sanitary sewer overflows that can happen when fats, oils and grease accumulate in the sewer pipes.
Johnson County lies southwest of Kansas City; its county seat is Olathe, Kansas. The county operates six treatment facilities that serve more than 500,000 residents.
The FOG program combines regular inspection and enforcement at commercial establishments (mostly food service establishments) and educational outreach to residential customers.
Schooling citizens
Wastewater team members take their message about FOG to residents in presentations tailored for audiences that include homeowner associations, designers, contractors, service clubs and trade organizations. They also make presentations at libraries and community events.
The program is promoted through videos, flyers, the county’s website and social media.
Staffers work closely with schoolteachers to make sure they are knowledgeable about FOG. They pass out gift items for the kids to remind them not to put FOG items down their drains such as food scrapers and stickers. JCW also passes out brochures at the presentations. The kids in turn take the messages to their parents.
“Teachers have been very happy with the program and have started working it into their curriculums,” says Manny Cabral, environmental compliance manager. The FOG team has been asked to speak at national industry conferences.
To the streets
On the commercial front, wastewater team members started by visiting restaurants that were generating the most FOG and reviewed with the owners the permitting requirements to comply with the county’s wastewater regulations.
Team members inspect restaurant kitchen equipment and plumbing and review menu items. They help owners and employees understand how to pass inspections and help cut down on the FOG in the sewer system.
Problematic items include meat fats, shortening, baked goods, butter, margarine, sauces, cooking oil and dairy products. Each restaurant is required to have a grease interceptor that is pumped out regularly by a private contractor.
In addition to Cabral, the FOG team includes David Streiler, project manager; and Chris Smelser, environmental compliance manager. Team members visit about 1,600 restaurants in the county and ensure that their grease interceptors are up to code.
For its efforts, Johnson County Wastewater received a 2025 National Environmental Achievement Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies in the category of Public Information and Education: Educational Program.
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