By John Howell
Grease poured into sewer lines last month damaged pumps in Como’s sanitary sewer system, forcing repairs that cost the town over $14,000, Mayor Everette Hill said last week following aldermen’s approval of the docket of claims.

”We had an extra $14,000 that went to the docket because we had a main pump that went down,” Hill said. “We had to bring A-1 in to pump all this grease out … . We’re getting a lot of grease from somewhere,” Hill said.

Grease introduced into the sewer system had accumulated in the central lift station that collects sewage and pumps it into the wastewater treatment lagoon. Hill said that grease settled in the bottom of the lift station and burned out two pumps.

A-1 ( a private sewer service) pumped grease from the lift station for over eight hours before new pumps could be installed and the station restored to service, Hill said.

The repair effort lasted several days and was prolonged by an initial delivery of the wrong pumps for replacement, he said.

The damaged lift station caused a backup of sewage in its flow to the treatment lagoon.
“Thank God it was just getting loud at night,” the mayor said.

Problems from grease poured into Como’s sewer system has been a recurring theme. Last December maintenance supervisor Darrick Ellis urged Como residents to refrain from pouring cooking oil down kitchen drains.

The town will have to wait another year before it can begin major treatment to its sewage lagoon, the mayor said. Como’s competitive application for a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was turned down, Hill said.

Como city officials had been working with the North Delta Planning and Development District to apply for the grant.