FAQs • Owasso, OK • CivicEngage

How does cooking grease affect wastewater treatment?: Cooking fats, oil and grease are some of the primary causes of sewer systems backups and overflows. Grease and oil congeal when mixed with water, sticking to the walls of the pipe and building up over time. Eventually, the solidified oil and grease will clog the pipe, causing problems in your residence and/or at the treatment plant.
Additionally, cooking fats, oil and grease are some of the most difficult substances to break down, which can slow down the treatment process. This prevents us from meeting our goal of making all public waters suitable for wildlife and public use, so please help us to help you by keeping cooking fats, oil and grease out of the collection system.

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Waste Water Treatment

1. What is wastewater?: Wastewater is used (polluted) water, which includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps and chemicals. Go to (http://www.enviro-news.com/article/what is waste water and why treat it.html).

2. What is wastewater treatment?: Sewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage. It includes physical, chemical and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants. Its objects is to produce an environmentally-safe fluid waste stream (also known as treated effluent) and a solid waste (also known as treated sludge) suitable for disposal or reuse.

4. How much wastewater does the Wastewater Treatment Plant treat?: The Owasso Wastewater Treatment Plant treats nearly 2.8 million gallons of wastewater daily (2.8 MGD).

5. Can I tour the Wastewater Treatment Plant?: Yes, the plant is open for tours (by appointment only) from 10am - 2pm, Tuesday through Thursday. To make an appointment, call the Plant Supervisor at 918-272-4338.

6. How does cooking grease affect wastewater treatment?: Cooking fats, oil and grease are some of the primary causes of sewer systems backups and overflows. Grease and oil congeal when mixed with water, sticking to the walls of the pipe and building up over time. Eventually, the solidified oil and grease will clog the pipe, causing problems in your residence and/or at the treatment plant.
Additionally, cooking fats, oil and grease are some of the most difficult substances to break down, which can slow down the treatment process. This prevents us from meeting our goal of making all public waters suitable for wildlife and public use, so please help us to help you by keeping cooking fats, oil and grease out of the collection system.

7. Can I flush disposable wipes?: We ask that Owasso citizens do not flush disposable wipes. Disposable wipes do not break down as easily as toilet paper or similar substances, which can create major problems in the collection system. Removing them from the wastewater treatment process is labor intensive and requires specific mechanical methods, all of which creates additional expenses for the citizens of Owasso.

8. If I have a question about wastewater treatment, who should I contact?: You can call the Wastewater Treatment Plant at 918-272-4338 or call the Public Works Department at 918-272-4959.