Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/521442
2 JUNE 3-9, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Operate Your Thermostat Efficiently Have a Plan for Hurricane Season Hi, I'm Kevin and I work in the Water Rescources Construc- tion Department at the Public Works Commission. Did you know that smart food disposal can help protect our environment and source of drinking water as well as your own property? It's a bad idea to put grease, fats, and oil down the drain because those things can clog sewer lines which can lead to sewage back-ups and flooding. Not to mention, it's agains the law - Fayetteville's Sewer Use Ordinance prohibits it. When customers don't properly dispose of their household cooking grease and a sewer overflow does occur, PWC Water Resources Construction crews are called to remove the blockage from underground sewer lines and clean up the mess. You can help prevent such accidents by following these guidelines for proper food disposal: DON'T dump cooking oil, fat and grease into the kitchen sink or the toilet bowl. DON'T depend on heavy-duty drain cleaners to fix a grease clog. These cleaners do not melt the grease. Grease re-solidifies inside sewer lines and causes blockages. DO dispose of fats, grease, and oils properly. Pour cooled fat, grease, and used cooking oil into a disposable container (empty plastic food contain- ers work well) and put it in the garbage. You can also pick up a free Fat Trapper, a reusable plastic container with foil bags to collect grease, anytime at the PWC Customer Service Center, 955 Old Wilmington Road. DO use paper towels to wipe residual grease or oil off of dishes, pots and pans prior to washing them. If you're already properly disposing of your grease, fats, and oil - keep up the great work! You're doing your part to protect our environment and reducing the chance of a sewer overflow in your area. Hurricane Tracking Map Available Pick up your free copy of "Hurricane Watch 2015" – a useful storm tracking map at Fayetteville PWC (955 Old Wilmington Road) and remember to visit us at www.faypwc.com for even more information to prepare you and your family for severe weather. You'll find helpful tips including how to safely operate a portable generator, storing water for emergencies and surviving flash floods. Inside PWC: Proper Grease Disposal Fayetteville PWC has a pro-active plan of operations in the event of severe weather and we encourage you to be prepared too. It's a good idea to have an emergency plan in place for your family, which includes know- ing where to meet if you get separated. Become familiar with safety tips and emergency preparation information on our website by clicking the Outage Central link on the home page or scanning the QR code to the right. Make sure PWC has your current phone number so our emergency system can identify you if you call. Create a family emergency kit if you haven't done so already with the following items: • A three-day supply of water • Non-perishable foods • Change of clothing • A first aid kit that includes your family's prescription medications • Battery-operated radio • Flashlight • Extra batteries • Cash (ATMs and card readers may not work) To report a power outage or an emergency, like a tree limb on a power line or water main break, call 1-877-OUR-PWC1. PWC's Medical Priority Program Power can be more than a convenience, for some people it is a medical necessity. PWC provides a Medical Priority Program to customers who require life-sustaining equipment which is dependent on electric and/or water service. Sign up to receive early advisement and priority restoration consideration in the event of a scheduled emergency interruption of service. PWC requires the customer and customer's physician to complete a Medical Priority application which can be found on the Residential Programs page on the PWC website. faypwc.com Public Works Commission of the City of Fayetteville The Public Works Commission of the City of Fayetteville reminds you to be alert and beware of bill payment scams and potential home intruders. • PWC employees will never call you and claim that your service will be disconnected if you don't immediately pay a past-due bill over the phone. If you receive such a call, hang up and call us at 910-483-1382. • Never provide personal or financial information to someone claiming to be from PWC over the phone - or in person! • We will never ask you to purchase a money card, such as a Green Dot ® money card, as a way to pay your bill. • If someone comes to your home claiming to be from PWC, do not let them in, and call law enforcement. We won't come to your home unless you make a request or an appointment has been arranged in advance. www.faypwc.com BE AWARE & BE WARY! Kevin P., Fayetteville PWC Water Resources Construction * Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temps, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. * Try to keep your house warmer than normal when you're away and lower the thermostat setting to 78 degrees only when you're home and need to cool off. * Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your AC. It won't cool your home any faster and could result in an unnecessary expense.