The Water Reclamation District maintains a collection (pipeline) system of more than 2,000 miles of pipes underneath the streets in unincorporated Clark County , to deliver the wastewater from the homes, businesses and schools to the treatment facilities in the southeast part of the Las Vegas Valley.  In order to clean the water to very high standards, the District must keep the wastewater flowing through the pipelines to reach the plants. 

When cooking oils or condiments such as salad dressings and sandwich spreads, meat juices and fat are disposed of down the kitchen drains and garbage disposers, these items can cause blockages in sewer pipes.   Grease-related blockages can cause the sewer to back up into your home or business through sinks, drains and toilets. Cleaning and plumbing repairs associated with these back ups can be very expensive and disruptive to our team but, more important, to you the customer.

The District has encountered an increase in the amount of grease in the sewer system, and has had to respond to numerous incidents where a sewer line is clogged in the street, causing raw sewage to back into homes and businesses or on to the street.  Therefore, we are asking each resident to do your part to help by keeping fats, oil and grease out of the community’s sewer system, by properly disposing of them in the trash. 

One appropriate disposal method is to Just Can It! by pouring the used cooking grease into a can, letting it cool, and throwing the can in the garbage.  Using crumpled newspaper or paper towels to absorb the grease allows the can to be reused many times.

The District is starting a new campaign to help make you and all customers more aware of the impacts your actions have on the collection system.  By making you aware of things that have a negative impact on the system, your homes and pocketbooks, we're sure you'll help the District keep the wastewater flowing smoothly through the pipelines.  Watch for informational items coming soon.