LATHAM, N.Y. (WRGB) — A McDonald’s crew member was caught on camera dumping cooking oil and grease down Latham’s stormwater system. There’s a possibility of certain drinking systems being affected if not fixed.

A customer captured the photos while eating in the Route 9 McDonald’s parking lot on Thursday evening. Colonie Town Supervisor Peter Crummey confirmed the crew member dumped grease where it didn’t belong.

“It’s deleterious to the environment and it is not an appropriate substance to put into our stormwater system. They’re going to have to clean it. And it goes into not only that, it started in a town system where they put it, but it also then runs into the state system along Route 9,” stated Crummey.

The customer said they notified DEC. CBS6’s Anthony Krolikowski spoke to the McDonald’s area supervisor who said a DEC agent came and said the water system needed to be cleaned up by Monday. The supervisor added that the container was full of grease and instead of calling the 1-800 number for pick-up, the crew member dumped it.

Colonie Commissioner of Public Works Chretien Voerg said contaminated liquid waste, including grease, should be dumped through the sanitary sewer system, which processes at a wastewater treatment plant prior to discharge. The McDonald’s has sanitary fixtures, including its toilets and sinks, that are connected this way. Verge explained that the property owner has to remedy all that was dumped and demonstrate that to the town through an inspection.

The unlawful disposal of cooking oil down storm drains can impact nearby water bodies, in this case the Hudson River, and is a violation of DEC’s Environmental Conservation Law. There is no immediate threat to public health and minimal environmental impacts currently. The DEC’s investigation is ongoing.

Colonie town officials are focused on remediation. Judicial action can be taken if the waste isn’t cleaned up but the area supervisor said someone has been hired to do the job on Monday. To report a spill, call DEC’s 24/7 dispatch at 1-844-DEC-ECOS (1-844-332-3267).