Few things are as disgusting as an overflow of raw sewage —except, perhaps, the thing that causes most overflows: grease balls.

WASHINGTON — Few things are as disgusting as an overflow of raw sewage —except, perhaps, the thing that causes most overflows: grease balls.

Howard County spokeswoman Lisa de Hernandez says a spill of between 1.5 million and 2 million gallons of raw sewage into the Patuxent River in North Laurel, Maryland appears to stem from grease that collected in a 14-inch sewer pipeline, blocking the normal flow of the sewage.

Nearly 50 percent of the sewage spills nationwide are the direct result of a build-up of fats, oils and grease that are dumped into sewer lines by homeowners, Howard County officials said.

As a result, the Howard County Bureau of Utilities has urged homeowners to collect grease, fats and oils in containers (they recommend frozen juice containers since they won’t melt when warm grease is poured into them). The containers can be stored in the freezer until full, and then properly disposed of in the trash.