Pretreatment

Preventative Treatment

Pre-Treatment/Treatment for FOG is a multi-step process. The most effective solution is to ensure that FOG is stopped at source and does not enter the wastewater system. Many Food and Beverage establishments install grease interceptor unit, in the kitchen that separates the FOG from the restaurants’ wastewater. The grease is collected in the trap and then must be disposed of appropriately. To maintain their efficacy, grease interceptors must be regularly emptied and cleaned. Find out more about maintaining grease traps, click our Grease Trap info.

Fat, Oil and Grease in Wastewater

Fat, oil and grease (FOG) is a by-product of cooking foods such as vegetable oils, meats and dairy products. Food Service Establishments such as restaurants, fast food and bar/grills FOG entering the wastewater system causes several problems, both in the drains and wastewater collection system, and in wastewater treatment plants themselves. When fats, oils and grease enter the drainage system they mix with food and other sanitary waste, congeal and harden in the pipe. In addition to unpleasant odors, FOG-related blockages can result in sewer overflows due to reduced capacity or burst drain and sewer pipes. This can have significant environmental consequences including land contamination and risk to public health. To avoid blockages, problematic sewer lines require frequent jetting and vacuuming to disperse/remove FOG. Unfortunately, this can cause problems with our pump stations and other infrastructures

Removal from the sewer system

Once FOG has entered in the sewer system, it may be necessary to manually remove it, particularly from the manholes in densely populated areas. These locations will be more prone to FOG blockages due to the proximity to residential, commercial, or industrial areas; the characteristics of the sewer pipe, such as its diameter or condition; and the characteristics of the sewer network, such as the number of inflows and effluent volume. Where pipe repairs, or changes to cleaning and maintenance remain ineffective, the only solution may be manual collection, which carries a high man-power requirement and associated health and safety risks.

Removal from the treatment plant

Our methods focus on the stimulation of existing bacteria to break down FOG, rather than introducing foreign enzymes and bacteria. This approach utilizes optimized fermentation-based yeast proteins, micro-nutrients and specialized surfactant chemistry, dosed at only a few parts per million, to stimulate the indigenous bacteria population and accelerate natural biodegradation. This biocatalytic effect can provide various operational benefits at the wastewater treatment plant, including reduced sludge production, increased nutrient uptake and improved settlement.

Fat, oil and grease present a serious challenge for our wastewater treatment networks. Ideally FOG should not enter the network, but when it does the appropriate treatment must be selected to control the problem. WMSSSA is working with its local restaurants, commercial business and other industrial entities in maintaining and treating these issues with our pretreatment process.