Putting Drains on a Diet

Scottish Water is to step up its fight against fatbergs which can cause major flooding and pollution with the launch of a new project.

A new pilot being trialled in St Andrews aims to substantially reduce the number of blockages in the sewer system caused by fat, oil and grease – referred to as FOG – being incorrectly disposed of by businesses which serve food. Across Scotland the utility attends an average 95 blockages in the sewer systems every day – at a cost of £6.5 million a year. More than half of all blockages in Scotland’s sewer are caused by FOGs being disposed of incorrectly down drains and sinks. Over time it is the build-up of these substances which cause fatbergs which block the sewers and cause flooding and pollution.

The Fat Free Sewer project – the first of its kind in Scotland – will see every food service establishment including take-aways, cafes, restaurants and hotels visited by food waste management experts. Businesses will be advised on the best ways to dispose of FOG and told if the grease management systems they have – if they have one at all – is sufficient for their needs. It is estimated that Scotland-wide around eight in ten establishments have inadequate or no system in place at all.

A team of Network Protection Officers from Environmental Compliance & Services (ECAS) will visit food service establishments on behalf of Scottish Water in the busiest part of central St Andrews. Where they find a grease management system in a kitchen which is inefficient they will offer advice what improvements should be made this and return at a later date to see if the necessary action has been taken.

Mike Will, Waste Water Operations General Manager at Scottish Water, said:

“Many blockages in our sewer network occur as a result of the incorrect disposal of fats and oils into the sewer system. The consequences on the environment can be huge – it can cause flooding to properties and roads and pollute rivers, as well as impacting valuable assets such as bathing waters.

“Currently Scottish Water visits food service establishments on a reactive basis, once blockages have occurred. In some cases these are a one off events, but sometimes we do get called to the same locations. This pilot project, for the first time, will see us proactively visiting food serving premises, giving them advice and guidance on what they can do to protect and preserve our valuable sewer network. We are effectively attempting to put St Andrews’ drains on a diet.”

St Andrews was picked for the six-month pilot project as it has more than 100 establishments which serve food, all within close proximity, and is a busy university town popular with tourists. If the project succeeds in cutting blockages due to FOG it is set to be rolled out to other parts of Scotland.

It is an offence under the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968 to interfere with the free flow of the sewers – fat, oil and grease do this when they congeal.

Under the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, urban food businesses – such as cafés, restaurants or food takeaways –  which produce over 5 kg of food waste per week also have to present food waste separately for collection unless excluded by a rural location.