Doing More With Less: Inspecting Grease Interceptors with Barry Orr

Overview

Prior to the introduction of their FOG program, the City of London was experiencing significant blockages and overflows which were polluting local water sources, and 80% of the city’s food businesses were non-compliant. Over ten years on, the city has implemented a successful program working with businesses, haulers, and across departments to save their sewers and over $100,000 per year.

Key Takeaways:

  • London started their program in 2008 because they found 40% of blockages and overflows were related to FOG
    • Annual cleaning of wet wells was costing $20,000 a year
  • Discovered a lot of illegal dumping into drains eg. food vendors at festivals using storm drains to dispose of greywater
    • Fryer oil being dumped into drains which flow into creeks and rivers – $9000 clean up
  • The city of London enforces a by-law – allows 100mg/liter to be discharged and has CSA standard on how to maintain GCD (every 4 weeks or more often); the site is liable and can be fined; have prosecuted offenders – not necessarily what they want to do, they’d prefer to work with FSEs
  • When the program started, 80% were non-compliant, mostly because they didn’t have a GCD