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LEGO IDEAS:
SEWER HEROES: FIGHTING THE FATBERG By MOCingbird
Unblocking the Fatberg and FOG sewer challenge
By Natasha Wiseman
The many challenges of fats, oils and grease (FOG) in sewers have circulated for decades, says Natasha Wiseman, chief executive, WiseOnWater. At last standards and guidelines are coming together through close collaboration across multiple sectors.
The complexity of the issue of fats oils and grease (FOG) in sewers means any initiatives aimed at tackling the issue have to involve multiple parties, which while they share a goal of cleaning up sewers and protecting the environment, may have different ideas of how that can be done most effectively. Therefore it is impressive that a flurry of new guidelines and standards is emerging as a result of persistent and dedicated collaborative efforts from a wide range of stakeholders.
FOG is a common by-product of food processing sites, food service establishments (FSEs) such as restaurants and takeaways, as well as domestic properties. Once disposed of via sinks and drains, it is usually considered a waste, and can be highly problematic for sewage network operators.
In the UK, it is illegal to pour large quantities of FOG down drains without proper kitchen grease capture equipment in place, such as grease traps, to screen it out before it meets the sewerage network. Despite this, considerable amounts of FOG make their way into the sewers through the ordinary kitchen activities, like washing crockery, cutlery and cooking
4 equipment.
If left to accumulate, this waste can block drains and sewers, risking sewer overflows and the flooding of properties, where wastewater backs up; along with pollution of the water environment. According to a 2022 report from bioeconomy consultancy NNFCC, approximately 370,000 sewer blockages are reported annually in the UK, and up to 75% of these are understood to be directly caused by FOG.
Fatbergs and flooding
It is believed that sewer blockages account for around 80% of all sewer flooding incidents in the UK each year, which results in more than 5,000 properties flooding as a result, the report says.
If they do not experience flooding themselves, FOG-related blockages tend to reach the public’s attention when they become fatbergs – large masses of solid waste, comprising congealed fat, oil and grease combined with items that should not be flushed into the sewer at all, such as wet wipes and sanitary products.
In commercial food premises and industrial sites that commonly generate FOG, it is a legal requirement, according to Building Regulations, for businesses to install grease traps or grease recovery units (GRUs) in commercial hot foot premises that comply with the BS EN 1825-1:2004 standard, and are designed
| December 2023 |
www.draintraderltd.com
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