SPECIAL FEATURE
drain TRADER
Recommissioning advice for greasemanagement systems T
he Grease Contractors Association (GCA) has published simple steps that food service
establishments (FSEs) can take to ensure grease management systems can immediately operate effectively and safely after a period of closure. As increasing numbers of premises reopen to offer a takeaway service, andwith others planning ahead to move quickly once current lockdown restrictions are eased, taking thesemeasures can help prevent setbacks caused by greasemanagement equipment failures. TheUK government has provisionally set 4 July for the reopening of some restaurants and pubs, following closure inMarch in response to theCovid-19 pandemic. TheGCAis a non-profit organisation of specifiers, installers,maintainers andmanufacturers of grease management systems, administered by trade association BritishWater. Its equipment preservation guidance has been sent to industry trade associations and is also available on theGCAwebsite. It highlights the importance of stafftraining before reopening and runningwater to fill your grease trap before starting operation again. Thiswill fill the unit back up to the normal operating level,making sure any mechanical parts or heating elements are fully operational before switching back on. Itwill also highlight any odour issues or restrictions if the system drains slowly. TheGCAalso advises greasemanagement systems are serviced every threemonths – so a service by an
approved contractor is likely to be due if premises have been closed sincemidMarch. LilaThompson, chair of theGCAand chief executive of BritishWater, said:“We knowmany FSEs are forward-planning so they can start serving customers safely once lockdown restrictions for the industry are eased. Greasemanagement systems are a vital part of any kitchen and after a prolonged period of closure are likely to need some attention before powering back up.Taking these stepswill ensure a smooth recommissioning process.” In addition to its greasemanagement guidance notes, theGCAhas a partnershipwith the Foodservice EquipmentAssociation (FEA),which has produced a guide to recommissioning all kitchen equipment. It has also teamed upwith Southern Water, to share advice to FSEs. SouthernWater network protection officer Steve Williams said:“Many premises had to close in a hurry and the length of closuremeans equipment, such as greasemanagement systems,may not have been used in awhile. “It is really important this equipment can do its job of protecting sewers by dealingwith kitchen fat, oil and grease safely – a sewer blockagewould be disastrous for any business as this point.Ourwebsite hasmore advice for food businesses andwe also advise contacting yourmanufacturer or installer prior to reopening.”
Lila Thompson and SteveWilliams
Exeter joins new European initiative to turn wastewater into valuable resource E
xperts fromthe University of Exeterwill play a crucial role in a newpan-European initiative to
develop newtechniques to turnwastewater into a valuable resource. Ateamfromboth Exeter’s engineering department and the Business Schoolwill collaboratewith researchers fromacross Europe for the newULTIMATE (indUstry water-utiLiTy symbIosis for a sMarterwATer society; ) project. The initiative, funded the EuropeanCommission, and which starts thismonth (June 2020), aims to create economic value and increase sustainability by utilising resourceswithin thewater cycle. Wastewater is not only a reusable resource but also a carrier for energy and components that can be extracted,
treated, stored and reused. In the ambitious concept called “Water Smart Industrial Symbiosis (WSIS)”the consortium promotes recycling in various industrial settings. As a pilot the consortiumhas selected nine business cases fromthe international agro-food, petrochemical and biotech sector. DrAlbertChen, Senior Lecturer at theUniversity of Exeter and part of the research teamsaid:“ULTIMATEwill explore opportunities to bridge the gap between technology optimisation and business development that will co-produce shared visions for amore circular,
48 drain TRADER | July 2020 |
www.draintraderltd.com
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