Fat controllers blow the whistle on oil and grease

Jul 25, 2007

Teams of Southern Water “fat detectives” are cracking down on culprits who pour fat and oil down drains causing blockages in the sewers.

The company has employed a team of enforcement officers who will prosecute restaurants that are found guilty of a greasy offence.

There is no set fine but in the case of a successful prosecution the defendant would be liable for paying the clean-up costs as well as Southern Water’s legal and administration fees.

There is no set fine but in the case of a successful prosecution the defendant would be liable for paying the clean-up costs as well as Southern Water’s legal and administration fees.

The figure is likely to be several thousand pounds but in the case of a major incident it could run into millions.

Every day thousands of litres of fat, oil and grease are poured down sinks but over time it solidifies and blocks sewers preventing wastewater from flowing through. If a sewer is blocked there is a risk wastewater will be forced out of the sewers and into gardens, streets and homes.

There are 10,500 sewer blockages across the whole Southern Water region each year. Fats, oil and grease is found in 75 per cent of these blockages, although may not be the only cause in all these cases.

Tim Bagnall, Southern Water’s Trade and Water Manager, said: “We have cautioned a large number of businesses with a view to prosecuting should they re-offend. We have not needed to prosecute as yet but won’t have any hesitation in doing so.”

When fat, oil and grease is discovered to be the cause of a blockage, the company has to blast it from sewer walls using jet sprays or it is sucked out, depending on the extent of the problem. It is then put in skips and taken to licensed tips, at a large cost.

Fat in drains can also cause bad smells, rat problems and pollution to rivers and streams.

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Southern Water

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tanja.herzberg@stein.de

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