Grease clogs town's arteries

The town of Saratoga discovered grease was clogging sewage lines after sending video cameras through the system.

“It’s not uncommon, but it’s one of those things you just do not want to find out about,” said Public Works Director Chuck Bartlett.

The question is who put the grease there?

Bartlett showed video of several grease-clogged areas In a Water and Sewer Joint Powers Board Meeting on March 13. Town officials used rented specialized video equipment to survey the pipes, and covered about 2,500 feet of sewage line in one day. The town will continue surveying the sewage lines for about two weeks, Bartlett said. Before some lines can be taped, some of the grease needs to be cleaned out.

In the meeting, Bartlett said he thought the Saratoga Junior/Senior High School may have contributed to the grease problem.

Bartlett thought it was the school because most of the grease was found in a sewer line running under Sixth Street, a line used by the school, Bartlett said in the meeting.

Larry Hepner, District Facility Manager for Carbon County School District No. 2 said he inspected the grease trap at the school and determined it was working fine. The school cleans the trap once a year, but because of concerns, the school will now clean it twice a year, Hepner said.

“The school has been proactive,” Bartlett said, “They have had their grease trap pumped, and they will start inspecting it every year.”

The town of Saratoga, using the camera equipment, may be able to narrow down who is dumping grease by looking at sewage access points, Bartlett said.

In other business:

Dave Johnson and Sue Davidson addressed the Joint Powers Board requesting an extension of water lines from the town to the Forest Service. The Forest Service was previously using well water, but the quality and quantity of the well water is decreasing, said District Ranger Melanie Fullmer. The Joint Powers Board passed a motion to move forward with a plan to extend town water lines.