How to Prevent Fatbergs: Simple Steps to Keep Your Drains Clear

In recent years, the unpleasant underground phenomena of fatbergs have made headlines around the world for their sheer size, unfathomable weight and the myriad problems they cause. Formed in sewers from congealed fat and other non-biodegradable solids, they amalgamate largely unseen until drains overflow, sewers stop running and human and environmental health is at risk.

Our experts have over 25 years of experience in waste management systems, so in this blog post, we’re taking a closer look at how to prevent fatbergs, as well as their causes, consequences and how you could potentially spot that one is forming in your local sewer. Let’s get started.

A fatberg is defined as being a congealed mass of fats, oils and grease (FOG) mixed with flushed items – largely common bathroom items – that shouldn’t ever be in the sewer, like wet wipes, cotton buds, nappies and even razor blades. Far from being soft and easy to remove, they form into hard, almost concrete-like masses that are difficult and costly to break down and neutralise.

Removing fatbergs, not to mention repairing any damage done by overflowing and blocked sewers, is a costly exercise. A giant fatberg found under Whitehall in London in 2017 was reported to have cost £1 million a month to remove, even with 7-day working. It took nine weeks to fully remove.

When sewage has nowhere else to go because its path is blocked, it will overflow wherever it can, almost always causing serious issues for human and environmental wellbeing. Cleanups can be expensive, and the contamination can cause long-lasting negative effects on watercourses and the aquatic life within.

By their ‘out of sight, out of mind’ nature, fatbergs are nigh impossible to spot until it’s almost too late. But there are a few signs that you can look for to help identify a developing fatberg before serious damage and inconvenience begin to occur.

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to fatbergs. There are steps that can be taken to mitigate the causes of fatbergs and here are five of the most effective.

This is a legal requirement for commercial hot food kitchens, regardless of whether the meals are consumed on site or not. Far from a modern invention, grease traps have existed for over 140 years, and use the natural separation of oil and water to trap FOG and food sediment without stopping wastewater flowing onwards to the sewer.

Awareness and education are major factors in ensuring people understand the causes of fatbergs. In a commercial setting, this means ensuring all kitchen staff understand the legal obligations of correctly disposing of FOG waste and understanding how to clean and empty a commercial kitchen grease trap.

For a grease trap to work efficiently and effectively, it’s vital for the entire grease management system to be in full working order. Whether you opt to self-maintain or would rather partner with an experienced company to install, clean and maintain your grease traps and dispose of your FOG, staying on top of functionality is key.

Employees and the public in general both need to be aware of what can be flushed down the toilet and what can’t. It’s really simple – human waste and toilet paper can be flushed. Nothing else. Ignore “flushable” boasts on packaging, too – there are no official guidelines or standards to define a flushable product.

Food waste and sediment can contribute to the growth of fatbergs too, and while grease traps will also capture much of this, a sink strainer will further protect your pipes and the sewer system from blockages and build-ups. You can also install specific food waste and coffee grounds catchers.

There are many different types of grease trap available for commercial kitchens, and finding the right one for your establishment isn’t always straightforward. On top of this, cleaning and maintenance can be a chore for many businesses, but legal compliance must be upheld.

That’s where Aqua Mundus can help. Not only do we stock and install a large range of grease traps, but we also offer services to keep them clean and maintained. We can even collect your waste FOG and dispose of it. It all starts with a free on-site survey, so get in touch with us today.