Have you got a big fat problem?
Even though the focus of this newsletter is on water and waste water solutions for businesses we know that a huge majority of you will also be domestic Yorkshire Water customers so we thought we would share with you the essence of our new Bin It. Don't Flush It sewer flooding campaign.
Using an animated character called Numptee we have created a series of short videos that aim to encourage customers to play their part in helping to prevent flooding by not disposing of unwanted items like fats, oils and grease down the sinks or baby wipes or nappies down the toilet. In the series of videos Numptee disposes of his unwanted items down the sewer and watches his home flood with sewage.
Last year we cleared 20,000 blockages from sewers right across Yorkshire and 50 per cent of these were caused by people putting the wrong things down the drain.
Take a look at Numptee in action
Why is this important to businesses?
Well, firstly, it would be great if you could help us spread these important messages to your employees either by providing a link to our website on your website/intranet.
Secondly, businesses often have their own in-house catering facilities so checking that they dispose of their waste fats, oils and grease correctly is something that we would recommend (see check list below) as this could cause your pipes to become blocked meaning you have to pay for them to be cleared or worse still it could cause flooding on your site.
What can you tell employees?
The solutions are simple if it isn't waste water don't flush it down the toilet or sink - Bin It. Don't Flush It.
Download our latest sewer flooding leaflet
(668kb)
If you are a catering establishment make sure that your sink has a strainer to stop large bits of food going down the plug hole - then remove any waste collected and put it in the bin.
On another level if your business has any by-products such as fats, oils or grease as part of the normal production process then you need to check that the following steps are in place:
Staff Training
Ensure that all employees are aware that disposing of any waste fat, oil or grease down the drains can cause all sorts of knock on problems.
Overtime fat and liquid oil solidify into what is best described as a block of lard causing pipes to become blocked meaning waste water cannot naturally flow down the sewers, causing it to come back up through things like sinks and toilets on your premises.
Clearing blockages and cleaning up the affected area can be expensive and may also lead to prosecution if a business is found to be illegally disposing of waste.
Trapping that fat!
Install grease traps or grease interceptors
These are specially designed units that are attached to your drain pipes to separate fat, oil and grease from the rest of the waste water that goes down the plug hole.
They work by trapping the grease in the unit preventing it from going down the drains with the rest of your waste water. You can have this waste grease and fat collected free of charge by a licensed waste oil collector who will recycle it, sometimes into bio-fuel. By installing one of these not only will you be preventing blockages but you will also be helping to improve your green credentials.
The following companies may be able to provide a grease trap that meets your needs:
Grease Sheild -
http://www.watlinghopedirect.co.uk/
Fatstrippa -
http://www.fatstrippa.co.uk/
(You are able to rent grease traps from this company if purchasing is not an option for you and they also offer a discount on the purchasing price for all Yorkshire Water customers).
Enzyme dosing systems
Keeping fats, oils and grease out of your drainage system in the first place is the best possible way to keep your drains clear, however businesses can install an enzyme dosing system. Enzymes are produced by special bacteria designed to treat fat and grease in the drainage system - there are specialist companies that supply and install these:
Grease Pak -
http://www.mechline.com/
Grease Goblin -
http://www.watlinghopedirect.co.uk/
Grease Beta -
http://www.clevebio.com/
Bio Tech -
http://www.advetec.net/
Food macerators
Our advice is if you haven't already got a macerator (food waste disposal unit) in your kitchen don't get one. Drains and sewers should not be used for the disposal of waste food and macerators encourage bad practice and may even be illegal. Waste food and oil should be disposed of in the bin and collected by a commercial waste contractor. There are companies available who will provide special food waste collection bins and collect these from you on a weekly basis. This waste is then taken for use in environmentally friendly composters or anaerobic digesters.
What can I do with waste fat, oil or grease?
There are a number of reputable bio-fuel companies who will come and collect any of your waste oil, some will even provide you with an oil drum to fill up for free.
Take a look at the attached list of waste oil collectors licensed and recommended by the Environment Agency.
Waste Oil Collectors
(22KB)
