Water UK

Grease is the word: a new initiative for fat disposal

31/10/07

Water UK, the association that represents all the country’s water and sewerage companies, is launching a Best Practice Campaign to help catering establishments properly dispose of Fats, Oils and Greases (FOG), with the official launch taking place today in the House of Commons.

In some parts of the country three out of every four sewerage blockages occur due to a build up of FOG that have been placed down the sink in catering establishments, such as restaurants, pubs and canteens, as well as homes and industrial outlets.

Approximately £15 million is spent on clearing drain blockages every year. This doesn't include the additional costs for cleaning up the damage caused by blocked drains such as flooding and other spoilage to the premises.

Water UK Chief Executive Pamela Taylor, said:

"We need a Best Practice approach for catering outlets to tackle the high levels of sewer blockages. It’s well-established that the number of blockages is greater in areas with a high density of catering outlets.

"Correct disposal of FOG saves time and money. Water companies can cut spending on removing blockages and ultimately water customers won't need to foot the bill."

Every outlet disposing of FOG into sinks and drains is at risk of experiencing damaging and costly drainage problems. On behalf of the industry, Water UK has produced a booklet, Disposal of fats, oils, grease and food waste: best management practice for catering outlets, to show how the risk can be minimised.

The booklet has been produced in coordination with Defra, the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Consumer Council for Water and Ofwat. Water and sewerage companies are working with their regional environmental health officers to promote best practice amongst catering outlets.

For more information

The WRc is conducting research on FOG and sewerage systems.
Find out more

Phill Mills, Director of Water Services, Water UK, 020 7344 1833 or
Barrie Clarke, Director of Communication

The fat facts
1) Blockages account for 55% of sewer flooding incidents in the UK accounting for more than 3,000 property flooding incidents (WRc research).
2) There are approximately 200,000 sewer blockages throughout the UK every year of which up to 75% are caused by fat, oil and grease.
3) Approximately £15 million is spent annually on reactive blockage clearance nationwide, with further costs for clean-up after flooding incidents.
4) Through sewer flooding, FOG build-up is indirectly responsible for many cases of property damage and pollution incidents.
5) Even when FOG compounds cause few problems in sewers they can result in serious difficulties at sewage pumping stations including problems with build-up.