Water Services Training Group

1
Water Services Training Group

• WRc FOG Project
• Legislation and Licensing

2
WRc FOG ProjectLegislation and Licensing

• Andy Drinkwater
• FOG Programme Manager
• WRc

3
WRc FOG Project

• A co-ordinated three year investigation,
  involving sewer system operators in the Republic
  of Ireland and the UK.
• Look at ALL aspects of FOG in the sewer system
  AND related issues
• Previously there had been various short term and
  very specific studies by various organisations
  (very limited success)

4
WRc FOG Project

• Work Package 1 Legal legislation /
  regulations/ licensing case files/customer
  letters (FOG letters)
• Work Package 2 Sociological dealing with
  dischargers/ customer
• Work Package 3 Biological/chemical FOG
  compound, dosing methods etc
• Work Package 4a Engineering designing FOG out
  (sewers/ pumping stations, grease separators)
• Work Package 4b Operations cleaning techniques
  etc (sewers/ pumping stations)

5
WRc FOG Project Aims (1)

• Identify potential sources of FOG
• Investigate the effect of FOG in
• Private and public drains/sewers
• Pumping stations
• Wastewater Treatment Works as far as the
  primary settlement tanks
• Better understand the FOG compound(s)
• Consider disposal options for FOG

6
WRc FOG Project Aims (2)

• Better understand how the design and operation of
  the sewer system affects the accumulation of FOG
• Review legislation/licensing issues
• Evaluate a range of methods to minimise the FOG
  problem stopping FOG being discharged to sewer
• Change peoples habits to reduce FOG being
  disposed of into the drainage system

7
Reducing FOG problem

• Need to understand FOG problems within a
  catchment need sufficient information to
  identify cause, not just the symptom
• Need to consider solutions to FOG problems
• Always include reducing FOG load at source.
• May include improvements in the sewer system

8
WRc FOG Project Outputs

• Methods and procedures enabling sewer system
  operators to better deal with the FOG problem
• Focus on commercial premises, especially
  food/catering establishments
• Incorporate
• Legal and social aspects
• FOG management products (through trials)
• Operational procedures
• Design concepts

9
WRc FOG Project

• Work Package 1 Legal legislation /
  regulations/ licensing case files/customer
  letters (FOG letters)
• Work Package 2 Sociological
• Work Package 3 Biological/chemical
• Work Package 4a Engineering
• Work Package 4b Operations

10
FOG Work Package 1 - Deliverables

• FOG strategy method to record information in a
  case file, suitable should prosecution become
  necessary
• Reviews of relevant legislation (Report P7540)
• Customer letters (FOG letters)

11
Legislation and licensing reducing FOG load

• Change peoples habits to reduce volume of FOG
  disposed of to sewer, mainly through education
  and persuasion
• Better kitchen practice
• FOG removal grease separators and/or dosing
  systems where appropriate, give advice
• Need to take legal action if all else fails
  (threat usually sufficient)

12
Legislation and licensing persuading the
customer

• Leaflets better kitchen practice, FOG handling
  and disposal
• Guides e.g. grease separators
• Licensing, to include method based consents
• Used in Sydney, Australia
• Use of consents - Grease separator location,
  size, maintenance, disposal routes
• Alternatively, biological dosing requirements/
  methodology

13
(No Transcript)
14
Legislation and licensing Available legislation

• Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977
  section 16
• Circular L8/03 (WSP)
• Water Services Act 2007 Section 63

15
Legislation and licensing legal action (1)

• In most cases persuasion and repeated visits will
  work. Need to be able to threaten legal action,
  if all else fails
• Historically, been a problem to
• Identify who caused the problem many food
  outlets (potential offenders) close together
• Specify a discharge standard
• Police sampling not practical
• Need to gain evidence

16
Legislation and licensing legal action (2)

• Identify who caused the problem
• Gain access to premises
• Use of look see cameras
• Gather and record information
• Discharge standard
• Where appropriate, use of method based consents
• Policing
• Spot checking for license compliance

17
FOG Work Package 1 - Deliverables

• FOG strategy method to record information in a
  case file, suitable should prosecution become
  necessary
• Reviews of relevant legislation (Report P7540)
• Customer letters (FOG letters)