Scottish Water has just released details of its current yearly spend on removing solidified cooking fats from the regions drains – £2 million pounds.
In response to the worsening problems, the water company has stated that it will start to impose fines for regular offenders of up to £40,000 to help clean up the problem.
Most blocked drainage caused by solidified cooking fats seem to stem from takeaways, hotels and restaurants and Scottish water has compiled a list of the top 10 areas where problems occur. Included in the list are tourist hotspots Edinburgh, St Andrews and Thurso.
To try to combat the problem Scottish Water is advocating the use of grease traps in all commercial establishments that use cooking fats. And in some countries it has now become part of the government’s legislation to make such commercial establishments use traps like these. With no such legislation yet in place in Scotland, the water board has to rely on Section 48 of the Sewerage Act 1968, which states it is an offence to discharge any material into the sewer which could interfere with the free flow of water. And, it is using this act to fine repeat offenders.
