Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/786885
6 | MARCH 2017 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk Comment T his issue we take a close look at the murky problem of fats, oil and grease (FOG) in drains and sewers: and what a thorny and multi-faceted issue it is. Listening to the plight of the workers whose job it is to dislodge and dig out fat blockages in large sewers – where teams of people have the task of working several consecutive days armed with shovels as well as jetting and suction equipment – brings home the colossal effort and expense involved in clearing up a€er the careless disposal of fats and oily substances down our drains. But while this might be enough to give most of us pangs of guilt about what we did with that last can of tuna, or to think twice when we are washing up our frying pans, it's clear that the kebab house and the Chinese restaurant A foggy issue down the road ought to have more of a focus placed on them. Sensibly, as we hear in our Close-up feature on page 24, that's exactly what water companies have been doing in the last year or two. With the co-ordinating help of Water UK, the water utilities have recently stepped up markedly the number of visits they make to businesses which block the sewer, and there has been a notable change of tone, with the big stick of the threat of prosecution hovering alongside the friendly advice being dished out. It's not an empty threat, either, with Severn Trent and Southern Water recently becoming the first two water companies to take food service establishments to court and enforce significant fines. As we find out in our feature, there are a host of solutions available to be installed in such kitchens, from humble grease traps to more advanced grease removal units and chemical dosing, so there is no excuse for food business not to get with the programme. Of course, the water companies' willingness to play the bad guy when it comes to enforcing kitchen standards comes at an interesting time, considering that the introduction of non-domestic James brockett eDItor JamesBrockett@fav-house.com Twitter: @wwtmag Naturally effective waste water treatment Biological Preparations has developed a comprehensive, technologically advanced range of powerfully effective waste degrading products for water treatment systems. Stricter regulations, lower consent levels and rising costs are forcing municipal, industrial and other wastewater producers to look for the best solutions to improve treatment efciency. Biological Preparations products can help you: Stricter regulations, lower consent levels and rising costs are forcing municipal, industrial and other wastewater producers to look for the best solutions to improve treatment efficiency. The water quality of industrial effluent is directly linked to the costs charged by Water Companies using the Mogden formula. Being able to reduce Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Suspended Solids (SS) offers significant direct cost savings and is a primary reason for introducing biotechnology. Many producers face difficult to achieve consent levels resulting in significant tankering costs or fines. Bioprep technical wastewater experts work with customers to assess the issues facing the plant. After a complete analysis of the waste using advanced laboratory techniques and evaluation of the operating conditions, recommendations are made to provide the best solution for that specific site. T: +44 (0)29 2067 4090 www.biologicalpreparations.com ● The water quality of industrial effluent is directly linked to the costs charged by Water Companies using the Mogden formula. Being able to reduce Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Suspended Solids (SS) offers significant direct cost savings and is a primary reason for introducing biotechnology. ● Many producers face difficult to achieve consent levels resulting in significant tankering costs or fines. ● Bioprep technical wastewater experts work with customers to assess the issues facing the plant. ● After a complete analysis of the waste using advanced laboratory techniques and evaluation of the operating conditions, recommendations are made to provide the best solution for that specific site. Why use Biological Preparations? L E T B I O L O G I C A L P R E P A R A T I O N S W A S T E W A T E R E X P E R T S H E L P Y O U T O D A Y Using the latest advances in biotechnology Biological Preparations Ltd have developed a comprehensive range of powerfully effective waste degrading products for water treatment systems Reduce waste water costs Achieve consent levels Improve plant efficiency 1 2 3 retail competition is coming in April. Will a food business which is getting a hard time from its wastewater supplier over FOG be tempted to switch its retail custom elsewhere in retribution? At first glance, it might seem this is an unwelcome side-effect of competition and a perverse incentive to be so€ on poor business customer behaviour. However, the reverse is true. Looking a€er the health of its sewer assets is exactly what the wholesale part of the water industry should be doing – whether or not that means ruffling the feathers of businesses large or small. Separating off the retail part of the water sector means that wholesale water companies can fully focus on addressing such issues, which in the case of FOG in sewers, costs them millions of pounds a year. Water companies should not only be applauded for their enforcement of better grease management, but one has to wonder if they could be given more assistance – perhaps through the licensing regime for commercial kitchens - to make sure that such businesses are required to have at least a basic awareness of the importance of grease management before going into business in the first place.