Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Fats, oils, and grease don't just clog kitchen drains. They clog cities.
When FOG builds up inside a sanitary sewer system, it works like cholesterol in the human body — slowly, silently, until something gives. The result can be a sewer overflow that sends raw sewage into storm drains, rivers, and the communities that depend on them.
In San Jose, Ricardo Fernandez and his team work directly with restaurants — the largest source of grease in any city — to prevent that from happening. The team collectively speaks English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, conducting joint inspections when a business owner needs support in a different language. For small restaurants that can't afford professional grease trap cleaning, inspectors sit with owners and show them how to do it themselves — saving $130 to $140 a month while keeping them compliant and the city's sewer system clear.
When you don't hear about sewer overflows, Ricardo says, it's because people like him are doing their jobs.
Content in collaboration with SwiftComply: swiftcomply.com
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Visit waterloop.org
Subscribe to catch every video: youtube.com/@waterloop
Never miss an episode! Subscribe to waterloop:
🎧 Spotify:bit.ly/waterloopSpotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts:bit.ly/waterloopApple
🎧 YouTube Podcasts:bit.ly/waterloopYouTubePod
Follow waterloop for more stories on water sustainability:
🔹 Instagram:instagram.com/the_waterloop
🔹 LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/thewaterloop
#Wastewater #FOG #SanJose #CleanWater #SewerSystem #WaterQuality #EnvironmentalJustice #CommunityOutreach #WaterInfrastructure #Waterloop
Fats, oils, and grease don't just clog kitchen drains. They clog cities.
When FOG builds up inside a sanitary sewer system, it works like cholesterol in the human body — slowly, silently, until something gives. The result can be a sewer overflow that sends raw sewage into storm drains, rivers, and the communities that depend on them.
In San Jose, Ricardo Fernandez and his team work directly with restaurants — the largest source of grease in any city — to prevent that from happening. The team collectively speaks English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, conducting joint inspections when a business owner needs support in a different language. For small restaurants that can't afford professional grease trap cleaning, inspectors sit with owners and show them how to do it themselves — saving $130 to $140 a month while keeping them compliant and the city's sewer system clear.
When you don't hear about sewer overflows, Ricardo says, it's because people like him are doing their jobs.
Content in collaboration with SwiftComply: swiftcomply.com
waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.
Visit waterloop.org
Subscribe to catch every video: youtube.com/@waterloop
Never miss an episode! Subscribe to waterloop:
🎧 Spotify:bit.ly/waterloopSpotify
🎧 Apple Podcasts:bit.ly/waterloopApple
🎧 YouTube Podcasts:bit.ly/waterloopYouTubePod
Follow waterloop for more stories on water sustainability:
🔹 Instagram:instagram.com/the_waterloop
🔹 LinkedIn:linkedin.com/company/thewaterloop
#Wastewater #FOG #SanJose #CleanWater #SewerSystem #WaterQuality #EnvironmentalJustice #CommunityOutreach #WaterInfrastructure #Waterloop
