South West Water has helped over 2,200 food establishments in Devon and Cornwall manage fats, oils and grease (FOG) more responsibly, reducing blockages and protecting local rivers and seas.
With Unblocktober drawing to a close and the busy festive season approaching, the utility is reminding both businesses and households to follow its Bin It, Don’t Block It guidance to keep drains clear and prevent flooding.
Tackling the FOG problem
In the past year alone, South West Water has cleared more than 7,000 avoidable blockages — three-quarters of which were caused by just two things: wet wipes and fats. When FOG combines with wipes, sanitary products or food waste, it can form solid “fatbergs” that damage sewer networks, cause flooding and pollute local waterways.
Through its partnership with Environmental Compliance and Services (ECAS), South West Water has supported 2,203 food service establishments to prevent FOG from entering the sewer system. ECAS teams visit businesses in blockage hotspots, as well as those linked to specific incidents, providing advice on best practice and compliance.
Marc Downes, Operational Performance Manager at ECAS, said:
“Sometimes we’ll speak to food businesses about a blockage that’s not necessarily affecting their premises but has been caused by FOG escaping from their kitchen. If everyone does their bit, we protect communities and the environment.”
Helping businesses reduce FOG
Businesses handling food can take simple daily steps to prevent blockages, including:
- Installing and maintaining grease-trapping equipment.
- Storing and recycling used oil through licensed waste carriers, many of whom convert it into biofuel.
- Training kitchen staff to adopt good habits — such as wiping pans into bins before washing, using sink strainers, and never putting FOG down drains.
Households have a vital role too
South West Water is encouraging residents to take small actions at home that make a big difference:
- Only flush the 3Ps – pee, poo and paper.
- Never pour fats, oils or grease down the sink. Cool and collect them in a jar or tub before binning.
- Put food scraps and coffee grounds in the bin or a food waste caddy.
- Dry wipe dishes before washing to reduce grease entering drains.
Richard Price, Managing Director for Wastewater Services at South West Water, said:
“Preventing blockages benefits the whole community. It keeps our rivers and seas clean and prevents flooding and disruption for homes and businesses.
Whether you’re washing up at home or disposing of grease from a restaurant, simple good habits can make a huge difference.”
For more information on how to prevent blockages, visit South West Water’s Bin It, Don’t Block It campaign.
