Environmental Biotech drain clearing solution best and most comprehensive says Anglian Water following successful national FOG trial run by Water Research Centre
Millions of pounds spent clearing sewers blocked by cooking fat could be saved if UK water utilities adopt the bacteria cleaning system developed by Environmental Biotech and tested in a recent successful trial carried out in Essex by Anglian Water and the Water Research Centre.
FOG, the fat, oil and grease sluiced down the sink from the burgeoning number of food outlets across the UK, combine to form solids that block pipe-work and clog up pumping stations. The Environmental Biotech system introduces live bacteria into the drainage network that simply eat the fat and are carried away as the water flows. Eventually the micro-organisms die and are dissolved, eliminating the fat from the system.
Making kitchen staff aware of the potential problems and educating the catering outlets to use better kitchen practices such as scraping plates into bins and then recycling used cooking oil for biodiesel is an essential part of the process designed to reduce blocked sewers. Integrating the innovative Environmental Biotech system adds a radical technical advantage.
“We fully endorse this integrated approach where improved practices help and the Environmental Biotech bacteria completes the clearing and protection process. The results of this successful national trial show the substantial improvements available for our national sewer network,” says Aziz Tejpar, Managing Director, Environmental Biotech.
The recent national trial, supervised by WRc, monitored the performance of the Environmental Biotech process and other systems at an Anglian Water sewer that serves the busy restaurant area of Baddow Road, Chelmsford in Essex. Chelmsford Borough Council’s Environmental Health Officers were additional partners in this education and remedial campaign. Since the trial began in April last year, no instances of blocked pipe-work have been recorded.
Reporting the results of the trial, Gary Collins of Anglian Water said of the Environmental Biotech solution: “This was the best and most comprehensive. Not only did the system deal with site specific issues, but it also dealt with fugitive FOG discharge in the sewer from other food outlets.”
The Environmental Biotech system clears and maintains FOG remedial action and provides additional benefits. Odour is removed, the risk of overspill pollution is reduced and the rodent population decreases. Alternative chemical cleaning products can leave residual elements, which may affect the pipe-work materials and pumping machinery. The Environmental Biotech bacteria are totally harmless.
“Rolling out the successes of the Chelmsford trial, which included the use of the Environmental Biotech system, offers us major saving opportunities,” says Collette Nicholls of Anglian Water. “We could save the £5million spent annually on blockages and cut the energy used by our pumps, reducing water consumption used in cleaning and less jetting lorries on the road. We are the biggest energy user in the region and aim to reduce consumption by 9% by 2010. Making our pumps run correctly lowers our power consumption. Importantly removing the risk of pollution from failed systems protects our water courses, homes and wildlife.”
The Environmental Biotech system is the preferred solution selected by the Asda Supermarket network in the UK whilst McDonald’s and Whitbread pub/restaurant chain also choose Environmental Biotech as their preferred drain hygiene system supplier.
