Cary, N.C. — Collected grease from a local business caused a 13,000-gallon wastewater spill Monday that reached a tributary of Lake Johnson in Cary, town officials said Wednesday.

Town workers learned of the spill about 10 a.m. and cleared the blockage within an hour. More than 250,000 gallons of dechlorinated water was used in the cleanup process, and no sewage was discharged into the lake. The dechlorinated water was pumped into Raleigh’s sewer collection system.

“Thanks to a quick and precise cleanup effort involving multiple agencies, we were able to contain the discharge and ensure nothing reached Lake Johnson,” said Donald Smith, a utilities manager with the town.

Officials did not name the business responsible for the grease clog.

Smith reminded residents and restaurant owners to participate in the town’s free curbside recycling program for cooking oil. The town has collected more than 5,000 gallons of oils, fats and grease through the program since it began in 2009. The program is aimed at discouraging drain disposal of these substances, which can cause clogs, backups, overflows and spills.

The town released the information about the sewer spill two days after the incident, which is within the 48-hour reporting period required by law.