Keep Fats, Grease and Other Items Out of Your Drains
The 1927 invention of the garbage disposal has made life easier for many, but Irvine Ranch Water District reminds customers at this time of the year that this important appliance can also cause many headaches if used improperly. In addition, fats, oils and grease, or FOG, poured down the drain is the leading cause of sewer spills.
Despite what you might hear, not everything can go into a garbage disposal. And fats, oils and grease should never be poured down the drain.
Over time, the grease sticks to sewer pipes and when it builds up, blocks the entire pipe, resulting in costly repairs and cleanups.
To prevent problems, here are tips for getting rid of left over cooking grease and more tips on what not to put into a garbage disposal:
- Place left over grease into containers with lids, such as jars, and place into a trash receptacle for pick up on trash day.
- Mix oils with absorbent materials, such as coffee grounds, put in a lidded container and dispose with the trash.
- If cleaning a greasy pan, pour grease into a container and wipe excess grease from the pan with paper towels. Place the towels into the trash.
- If using a deep fat fryer, mix oils with absorbent material, such as cat litter, or soak up excess oil with newspaper and put into the trash.
- Do not put rice or pasta down the garbage disposal. No matter how long the appliance runs or how much water is run down the drain, rice and pasta will never break down small enough.
- Do not put any animal bones, skin or fat down the disposal.
- Do not put egg shells down the disposal. Contrary to some information out there, egg shells do not sharpen the blades of the disposal.
- Do not put any kind of stringy vegetables, such as asparagus or celery down the disposal.
- Peelings or rinds of any kind, such as from potatoes, carrots or those from fruit, should never be put down the disposal.
- In addition, when using the disposal, put in only small amounts of table scraps at a time.
- When in doubt, play it safe and put scraps into the trash can.
For more information about the FOG program, please visit our website.
It’s Time to Fall Back!
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 7, so remember to set your clock back one hour before going to bed Saturday night.
The semi-annual time changes coincide with seasonal changes in weather, when irrigation controllers and sprinkler times should change. Water use lowers as the weather cools, so it’s a good idea to check your controller at the same time you change your clocks.
To ensure that your service is not interrupted, change the batteries in your controllers, as well. It’s also a good time to change the batteries in your home smoke detectors.
Students Get Advice from the Experts
Three Irvine Ranch Water District engineers and the retired director of water quality were more than happy to step up and offer their expertise to Irvine Unified School District students working on their science fair projects at the annual Ask-A-Scientist Night.
IRWD professionals have participated in this event since its inception more than 20 years ago. Students filed through the room dedicated to Water and Earth Earth Science at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School October 13 to sit down with the professionals and hopefully, come away with ideas on how to accomplish their projects.
Joining other science and engineering professionals in talking to students were Jacob Moeder, Engineer/Planner, Toni Lynch, Assistant Engineer, and Mark Marcacci, Engineer, and retired IRWD Director of Water Quality John Hills.
The science fair is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2016 at Portola High School. IRWD professionals will also help judge water-related projects that day.
For more information on our educational programs, please visit our website.
More Landscape Training Classes Offered
Have you been wondering how to landscape your yard with California friendly plants? Attend one of our classes and learn six ways to make your garden California Friendly.
There are classes planned through February with one class taught in Mandarin.
In these classes, you will learn:
- How to use a holistic approach to gardening
- How to build a living soil sponge
- Rethinking elements of your site
- The right plant in the right place
- How to use rainwater as a resource
- How to manage your irrigation
All classes will be held at the Irvine Ranch Water District headquarters building, 15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine.
Dates are:
- Wednesday, November 16 – 6-9 p.m. (taught in Mandarin)
- Wednesday, January 18 – 6-9 p.m.
- Saturday, February 4 – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 22 – 6-9 p.m.
Sign-ups are required, so visit rightscapenow.com/events and sign up now.
Annual Pancake Breakfast in the Marsh on Tap
There is nothing like feasting on freshly made pancakes in the setting of the Irvine Ranch Water District’s San Joaquin Marsh on a cool autumn morning.
It’s once again time for the Sea and Sage Audubon Society’s 24th annual pancake breakfast. The event is scheduled for October 29 from 7:30-10:30 a.m.
Come enjoy flapjacks and sausage hot off the griddle, fresh fruit, orange juice, coffee and milk. After filling your tummies, take a guided walk around the ponds to view the bird life and browse through the collection of used books for sale. Bring your binoculars. There will be spotting scopes set up for maximum bird viewing.
Reservations are required by calling the Audubon House at (949) 261-7963 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. The cost of the breakfast is $10 for adults and $6 for children age six or under. Children under age three are free.
There is something for everyone at the pancake breakfast. Bird walks are scheduled during the morning, before and after breakfast. The book sale begins at 7 a.m.
Stop by the Education table for a great exhibit showcasing some of the art projects the kids made at camp this past summer. Learn about opportunities for adult volunteers to help share a love of nature with school children. Find out about the new education program which combines art with science, plus a host of other exciting education activities to investigate.
On the Duck Club back porch, Optics4Birding will be displaying some of their optics equipment for birders. This is a good opportunity for you to check out the latest in binoculars or scopes and ask questions.
Inside the Duck Club, there will be ample information about the Sea and Sage chapter and many ways to become involved. Raffle cards may be stamped for entry into the drawing for special prizes.
Near the welcome take by the Audubon House, Wild Birds Unlimited will have a have a table with bird seed, feeders, and other bird feeding items. Representatives will be happy to answer questions about how or what to feed your birds, where to place your bird bath, what plants attract birds and more.
Don't forget to stop by Audubon House to see the taxidermy birds on display, browse through the gift shop and book store, and check out the newly reorganized reference library. Volunteers inside Audubon House will be available to answer questions about Sea and Sage, birds, conservation issues, and education.
Check out the Sea and Sage website for more information.
