Septic tank maintenance

June, 2013:

Food processing plant grease trap cleaner

This article will cover food processing plant grease trap cleaner. To maintain a facility’s ideal structure, it has to be cleaned. But the cleaner has to be right for the areas of that particular facility. There are places such as offices and lounges that just need the normal amount of intensive cleansers because they aren’t sterile environments in the sense that people come and go. Other parts of a certain facility may need stronger cleaners because of the required asepsis. Areas like this include the production and quality control and assurance departments. In food processing plants, asepsis is a mandatory practice in almost all areas and departments. This is apparently because of what products are being manufactured—food.

Processed foods need to undergo very strict conditions. The overall safety of the consumers is very much considered when they purchase and consume the food products. These types of food items are pretty much the same as the organic ones. They are only modified more to meet the demands of the consumers.  A perfect example is the typical diabetic. They cannot eat regular ice cream because their blood sugar is going to spike. So there are processed ice cream products that only have natural sweeteners so that diabetic could also enjoy eating ice cream. Hypertensive patients cannot have fried foods all the time because of the cholesterol levels. But because of cholesterol free formulations in canola oils, palm oils, and even corn oils, they could already enjoy fried food even on occasion.

Food processing plants are vital in any society. When they function well, they could really produce quality processed foods that could alleviate the malnutrition problem in the country or anywhere in the world. But because the raw materials in food processing plants come from animals and plants, are rich in FOG (fats, oils, grease), they are included in the biggest contributors to the FOG crisis in the United States. To control the environmental dilemma, the government has passed a grease or pretreatment ordinance that mandates all food processing plants to have grease traps installed in their vicinity to handle the buy products of their processes—the FOG and solid wastes.

According to the pretreatment ordinance, the grease traps should have permits from the City Sewer Department. It should be regularly inspected and maintained. The discharge from the wash area should not exceed the temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit because any higher than this would emulsify or melt the FOG.

To help the food processing plant grease trap, there has to be an effective food processing plant grease trap cleaner. Almost immediately, chemicals and enzymes take the floor because of the fact that the grease trap does need heavy duty cleaning. Certain enzymes and chemicals may be very harsh that’s why they are thought of easily stripping away the FOG and solid wastes. This may be true at first glance but the truth is that these substances just emulsify the FOG. As a result, the FOG easily combines with the wastewater. It flows through the pipes and when it cools down, it accumulates and blocks the normal pathway of the effluent directed towards the wastewater treatment facility. The untreated effluent then backs up into the food processing plant and onto the surrounding environment as well. It’s apparent that chemicals and enzymes only aggravate the FOG crisis instead of putting a stop to it.

Bacterial are the best food processing plant grease trap cleaners that could ever be used. This is because bacteria are organic and naturally-occurring. They do not have chemical discharges to pollute the environment. They even eliminate the disarming smells in the grease trap. In bioaugmentation, a selected strain of bacteria is used to digest the solid wastes and the FOG in the grease trap. In bioremediation, non-pathogenic bacteria are used in converting the FOG and solid wastes into less destructive substances.

If a potent and environmentally safe food processing plant grease trap cleaner is an order, bacteria are the best. Just remember to make use of Mother Nature’s best plumbing tools—the primitive yet reliable bacteria.

Government housing grease trap maintenance

This article will cover government housing grease trap maintenance. There is an increasing demand for respect toward the environment these days. This is evident in the various products and facilities that are being manufactured and built. Everywhere you look; there are vehicles, detergents, clothing, shopping malls, offices, and homes that are practicing the “green” way. People make a lot of effort to bring environmental awareness because this is the only known Earth to which they owe their lives.

There a still some structures and components that are poorly rated when it comes to performing for the environment even with the surge of technological innovations. One such type of structure is the typical government housing facilities that are in the apartment building format. In this structure, hundreds of families and individuals rent their apartment units at a much lower price because it is subsidized by the government. Low-income earners resort to living in uniformly designed units that have a bathroom, a sleeping area, and a kitchen.

Just like restaurants, resorts, hotels, and food processing plants, government housings are mandated to have grease traps installed outside the building, underground. The reason behind this is that every unit has a kitchen. This is the part of the unit that delivers a substantial deposit of FOG (fats, oils, grease) into the grease trap. If the grease trap is not well-maintained (whish happens most of the time), the grease trap overflows with FOG (fats, oils, grease). The FOG then spills into the wastewater that passes through the sewer lines. The FOG solidifies and sticks to the walls of the pipes and completely blocks the flow of the untreated wastewater. Pathogen- and chemical-filled wastewater laced with FOG back up into the government housing facilities and even run off into the waterways.

It is undeniable that the health of the population and the surrounding environment are extremely affected by the FOG crisis. This is why a Grease Ordinance is implemented in every state. But even if there is such an ordinance, cooperation and coordination among the government agencies that manage the government housing facilities should be given much more attention.

Government housing grease trap maintenance should be done diligently and vigilantly. Any equipment or component that goes unsupervised is bound to malfunction or fail. Since there are so many kitchen installations in the government housing units, the grease trap in each apartment building should be regularly monitored so that the management will know the right time to pump it out. It is mandatory to have the grease trap or grease interceptor cleaned four times within a year. But if the FOG and solid wastes accumulate too fast, it’s already be a given that the pump out should be done more often.

Everyone in each apartment building should participate in regular government housing grease trap maintenance specially the residents. The government agency that oversees them all should constantly put up reminders in making sure that the solid wastes and FOG that they produce every day should be properly disposed of in trash bins and not into the drains of the kitchen sinks. The residents should collect all the grease materials in a sealed container and dump it in the trash bin. The food scraps should be placed in a trash can and sealed up before it’s thrown in the bin as well. Food filters or food meshes should be installed in the kitchen sink drains to catch any small particle of food and grease during washing.

Another method to incorporate into government housing grease trap maintenance is the use of bioremediation or bioaugmentation. Bioremediation uses non-pathogenic bacteria in consuming the accumulated FOG and solid wastes and then converting them into less harmful substances. Bioaugmentation uses a selected strain of bacteria that thoroughly consumes the solid waste materials and FOG in the grease trap. These two processes are highly recommended to make government housing grease trap maintenance so much easier and faster. Through bacteria, the health and safety of everyone and the environment are assured.

Shopping mall grease trap reduction

This article will cover shopping mall grease trap reduction and the options. The onset of progress and technological developments has brought about many improved facilities and structures that aim to provide comfort and convenience to everyone. In the United States, this is already a regular part of life. In every corner, you will find businesses that aim to give products and services to their clients with as much superlatives that they could give. As much as possible, they have everything in their store so that their clients won’t have to go to another establishment. This business attitude has grown bigger and broader in the form of shopping malls.

Shopping malls are one-stop establishments that have everything that you could possibly want or need. Every floor is lined with stores that cater to every client. There are even pet-friendly shopping malls that allow your pets to stroll around with you. The shopping mall is truly the answer to every busy customer’s prayer. Who would want to drive to another city just to have freshly ground coffee or new tires? No one would spend that much money on gas just to purchase something miles away from his or her home. The shopping mall does have it all including every imaginable form of food that you could think of. And because of the food attraction, there is really a need for shopping mall grease trap reduction.

Every state has a Grease Ordinance that has to be followed by every establishment that produces food. Since a shopping mall has numerous of food establishments, an appropriately sized grease trap is built outside the mall, underground, to accommodate the FOG and solid wastes that they all produce. In shopping mall grease trap reduction, the kitchens of these food establishments are the ones that should make the primary move. They should start a better method of FOG(fats, oils, grease) disposal so that the entire shopping mall could be saved from large fines and environmental lawsuits that concentrate of FOG overflow.

When there is FOG overflow, the untreated wastewater gets laced with FOG. The FOG solidifies in the pipelines and blocks the wastewater flow directed towards the wastewater treatment facility. The wastewater backs up into the shopping mall facilities and onto the surrounding waterways. Health and environmental problems arise and everyone loses. If the kitchens in the shopping mall work together in improving the way they control their solid waste and FOG disposal, there would be less problems or even non-existent problems.

The kitchen staff could improve their disposal methods by manually collecting the FOG and the solid waste particles from food preparation and from used dishes, utensils, and kitchen equipment. They should contain them in sealed vessels and dispose of them with the regular trash. Their sinks should also have food meshes or strainers so that the minute food particles and grease will not enter the grease trap anymore. Reminders should also be posted in kitchen workstations to maintain this regular practice.

In shopping mall grease trap reduction, the management should be vigilant. They could even add more trash bins and distribute them all over the shopping mall with labels like “Grease materials” or “FOG bin” so that even those who frequent the mall will be able to participate in shopping mall grease trap reduction. It could really be a huge campaign throughout the mall or the entire state if everyone participates in the task.

Another effective method in shopping mall grease trap reduction is the use of bacteria. When non-pathogenic bacteria are used to convert FOG and contaminants into less harmful forms, the process is bioremediation. When a selected strain of bacteria is used to consume the contaminants and FOG, the process is bioaugmentation. These bacteria break down the FOG and the solid waste particulates. They also eliminate the bad smells. Most states highly recommend the use of bacteria in shopping mall grease trap reduction. With their help, the shopping mall management doesn’t have to deal with environmental lawsuits or large fines due to FOG overflow.

Municipal grease removal

This article will cover municipal grease removal. There is always an establishment or a facility that manufactures food anywhere you end up in the United States. These companies are the number one producers of FOG (fats, oils, grease) in the country. With this, every municipality is governed by a grease or pretreatment ordinance that helps in preventing or lessening the amount of FOG being discharged into wastewater. As you may know, food establishments and food processing plants are considered huge contributors to the ongoing FOG crisis in America. If the FOG overflow isn’t controlled, so much damage to health, property, and the environment will persist.

Industries and institutions like food processing plants, meat processing plants, cafeterias, hospitals, and prisons are the largest producers of FOG and are considered the major causes of the FOG crisis in the United States. It’s common for these institutions to maintain the practice of pouring their grease materials down the drain as their method of disposal. This is why the grease trap is very important because normally, it regulates the amount of FOG that enters the wastewater system. If the grease trap is well-maintained, then it will be efficient enough to separate the grease materials and solid waste materials from the untreated effluent. But because of poor monitoring, inspection, and care, FOG overflow happens. In FOG overflow, the FOG combines with the wastewater and travels through the pipelines. They cool down as they travel and eventually solidify. The FOG then sticks to the walls of the pipes and causes blockage. Backing up of the untreated wastewater happens, resulting to major health, environmental, and property problems.

Municipal grease removal has to be performed efficiently so that the FOG won’t affect the smooth flow of the wastewater treatment system. The pipelines are supposed to be blockage-free because the wastewater needs to get to the treatment facility as fast as possible. If FOG gets into the pipes, the holding capacity of the pipe is cut down. There are times when the blockage is so severe that the pipes need to be replaced much sooner than the municipality administrators expected. This severely affects budget and even causes excavations that obstruct normal daily activities.

The grease trap or pretreatment ordinance is a regulation that aims to protect the wastewater treatment facility and the pipelines that lead to it. If the pipelines are protected from FOG accumulation, then wastewater back up is prevented. The ordinance indicates that the food manufacturer or establishment owner should have a grease trap that’s appropriately sized within the premises. This should have a permit and should always be properly maintained. The grease trap or grease interceptor will be inspected regularly by the municipality’s representative. With this ordinance, municipal grease removal has more attention now than ever before. This is a very strict ordinance to implement and follow because of the amount of FOG in the wastewater exceeds the accepted level, large fines will be paid, contamination will occur, and lawsuits will be faced.

Effective municipal grease removal needs the cooperation of the people involved in the food industry. They should make sure that their methods of maintaining their grease traps are indeed effective. There are some who clean up their grease traps once every week. Some do it more than this because they feel that their grease traps are filled too fast. If the establishment or facility owner finds it too taxing or costly to have the grease trap cleaned much too often, it would be more practical to have larger grease trap installed.

If municipal grease removal needs to be performed safely and quickly, then bacteria should be used. Bioremediation and bioaugmentation are the two processes that involve the use of these useful microorganisms. Bioremediation uses non-pathogenic bacteria to convert the FOG and solid wastes into less harmful forms. Bioaugmentation uses a selected strain of bacteria to break down the contaminants and the FOG. Using bacteria will remove the odors and will keep the environment safe from contamination. Bacteria are true helpers since even before the dawn of time.

What is the cost to pump out a grease trap?

This article will answer the age old question of what is the cost to pump out a grease trap? Feeding people is a serious business. So much is expected from every food establishment in the country. Each should be able to deliver the best and the freshest foods available. Many businesses these days have food as the main attraction. Food businesses have flourished through the years because of creativity and because of the increasing interest of career people in food.

As the food business grows, the same goes for the amount of FOG (fats, oils, grease) that’s disposed in kitchen drains. The raw materials in making food are animal and vegetable fats. It is only expected that the same will be the by-products. The FOG crisis is overpowering the water systems and the health of the United States. FOG overflow is taking the most out of everyone’s patience, effort, and money because of its undeniable effects. This is why the pretreatment ordinance or the grease ordinance was made.

The United States deems it vital for its environment to be saved from utter destruction. If FOG continues to spill into the wastewater, everything will be compromised. Through the strict implementation of the grease ordinance, all food-based companies and facilities are mandated to have grease traps installed in their premises. The grease traps or grease interceptors are designed and built according to the use of the particular establishment or facility.  The traps should have permits issued by the City Sewer department so that it may also be easy for them to inspect it on a regular basis. The ordinance also mandates the owner of the facility or establishment to regularly pump out and clean the grease trap.

Installed grease traps should be regularly inspected and monitored so that grease and solid materials could be kept at normal levels. There is a set amount of FOG that is permitted to spill over into the wastewater. Once the food establishment goes beyond that level, hefty fines and even lawsuits will come up. When the monitoring brings out a steady schedule of grease trap pump out, it would be easier to set a certain budget for it.

What is the cost to pump out a grease trap? According to grease trap professionals, a small indoor grease trap could set you back between 75 to 150 USD to pump out. A larger grease trap that is 100 gallons and above, installed underground, outside the building, would cost 300 USD or more. The amount really depends on several factors such as size, frequency of use, location, accessibility, and manner of use. It’s already a rule of thumb that a small grease trap should be pumped out on a monthly basis while a much larger grease trap should be pumped out on a quarterly basis.

It isn’t a secret that pumping out needs money. Food businesses aim to cut down on their grease trap maintenance costs because of the present economic condition. Many chemicals and enzymes for grease traps are released in the market. They promise customers that the FOG will surely be eliminated when these substances are applied to the grease trap. Sadly, these are only empty promises because the truth is that the chemicals and enzymes merely emulsify the FOG, making it mix with the wastewater a lot easier. Once the FOG gets into the sewers, the FOG cools down and solidifies. It sticks to the walls of the pipes and blocks the normal flow of the wastewater towards the treatment plant. Sewage backup happens and this results to health and environmental problems that the food establishment has to account for.

The best way to save on pumping out costs and large fines is by using bacteria. These organisms may be primitive but they are indispensable when it comes to getting rid of FOG. They are living entities that consume the FOG and solid wastes. They even get rid of the bad odors and keep the environment pollution-free. The next time bacteria are used to clean up the grease trap and you are asked, “What is the cost to pump out a grease trap?” you can simply say, “Not as expensive as it used to be.”

Correctional facility grease trap chemicals

Correctional facility grease trap chemicals help to provide every kind of service to inmates and staff so that their stay within the premises remains pleasant. As much as possible, everyone’s needs are addressed and every crisis is resolved. Food provision and clean living spaces are two of the most basic needs given by correctional facilities. Large kitchens are within correctional facilities. They have to be huge because of the number of people they have to cook dishes for. Imagine the massive number of meals that are served, perhaps three to five times in a day. Continuous washing takes place in the kitchen and this is the most common source of FOG problems in correctional facilities.

With the FOG crisis dramatically worsening, other facilities and establishments are already being affected. There are cases wherein lifts in municipalities stop working because the pumps are saturated with FOG that comes from correctional facilities. The surrounding environment also suffers from the FOG and wastewater overflow. When the FOG completely blocks the sewer pipes, the wastewater backs up into the correctional facility and overflows into the lakes, streams, ponds, and rivers. As a result, the aquatic life dies off and pathogens spread diseases.

Inside the correctional facilities, the inmates and staff experience the foul experience when they use the bathrooms, drains, sinks, and toilets. Disarming smells overwhelm the facilities and this is not ideal for such a huge population of people living in confined spaces. There is a high probability that the inmates or staff will suffer from hygiene issues and health issues if the FOG and wastewater overflow are not immediately resolved.

To help correctional facilities manage the FOG output from their kitchens, passive grease traps are installed outside underground. Passive grease traps that use gravity are the ones used so that there would be no extra electricity consumption. A passive grease interceptor collects the grey water that contains all the FOG and solid materials from the kitchen during the washing process. When the grease materials go down the drain, they are liquefied. Because of the distance between the drains and the grease interceptor, the grease slowly cool and solidify. When the FOG solidifies, it floats on the grey water. The solid wastes sink to the bottom of the trap. The resulting effluent is then free to run through the wastewater pipes that lead to the wastewater treatment facility.

The maintenance of these grease traps is very important because correctional facilities are one of the largest contributors of FOG overflows in the US. They usually have their grease traps pumped out and cleaned every 6 to 8 weeks. Even if they practice this regularly, they still end up with a hefty annual fine of 30,000 USD. This only means that the care being given to the grease traps is not enough. The management of FOG should be completely modified to lessen the incidence of FOG overflow. Kitchens in correctional facilities are now scraping the grease materials and solid food particles before the utensils, dishes, and equipment are actually washed. This makes the level of FOG decrease dramatically inside the grease traps.

In maintaining the grease traps, correctional facility grease trap chemicals should not be used at all because of the following reasons:

  • They corrode the grease trap’s physical components
  • They pollute the environment once they run off into the surrounding water systems
  • They only emulsify and suspend the FOG in the wastewater, enabling it to travel through the wastewater pipelines. They solidify in these pipelines and cause blockages.
  • They contribute to the formation of sludge that block the pipe lines even more

Instead of correctional facility grease trap chemicals, non-pathogenic or good bacteria are used to breakdown the solid wastes and FOG in the grease traps. This method is called bioremediation. It’s highly recommended by the Plumbing & Drainage Institute because bacteria do not pollute the environment and bacteria eliminate the foul odors as well. Bacteria are very safe to use and would save the correctional facility a lot of expenses in pumping out and cleaning bills.

Apartment complex building grease trap prevention

This article will cover apartment complex building grease trap prevention. Environmental awareness is given much more attention these days. It seems that people are becoming increasingly considerate with Mother Nature because they know that if she is gone, everything will die off eventually. No one wants that to happen. So, even in the midst of progress, companies and governments are exerting much effort in making sure that their products and services are clean and green. Stricter environmental laws are being passed so as to help various states maintain the integrity of their natural resources and their health.

One product of technology and advancement is the apartment complex. This infrastructure is designed and built in areas that need to provide decent housing facilities. It is very convenient and practical for most people to live in an apartment complex. When the apartment building is full, it’s pretty much like a small vertical community. But even with such progress in residential accommodations, a price is paid. The environment and the health of everyone within an apartment complex area are negatively affected by the FOG (fats, oils, grease) crisis.

As you may already know, a grease trap is a mandatory component that’s installed in facilities that prepare and serve food. Every unit in an apartment complex has a kitchen and is all the residents prepare their meals several times a day simultaneously, then the grease trap will definitely be filled up way before its time to have it cleaned and pumped out. FOG overflow happens especially when the residents just dump everything into their kitchen sink and let the garbage disposal take care of it. What most resident aren’t aware of is that the garbage disposal unit merely grinds up solid wastes. It doesn’t change the chemical composition of the grease that passes through it. This should definitely change. There should be an effective apartment complex building grease trap prevention wherein every resident has to participate.

It’s hard to accept the fact that there is FOG overflow because of the wrong practices in the kitchen. When the grease trap overflows with FOG, the grease material incorporates itself into the wastewater. The FOG cools down and solidifies as it flows with the wastewater through the sewage pipes. Eventually, the FOG sticks to the pipe walls and blocks the wastewater from moving towards the wastewater treatment facility. The wastewater and FOG back up into the apartment complex and onto the surrounding environment. Health problems arise as pathogens infect the residents and animals in the area. Environmental problems such as pollution and eutrophication become too uncontrollable to manage. When this happens, the apartment complex managers and owners face lawsuits and pay up large amounts as fines for violating the set limit for FOG overflow.

Apartment complex building grease trap prevention should be implemented. This should involve the residents in every apartment complex. Fine filters should be installed in kitchen sinks so that any solid wastes or FOG may be caught during washing. Before washing even takes place, the grease materials and solid food particles should be scraped off the utensils and dishes, placed in a jar, sealed up, and thrown with the rest of the garbage. This would prevent a large amount of FOG from entering the grease trap.

The most important element in apartment complex building grease trap prevention is using friendly bacteria in cleaning and treating the grease trap. This process is known as bioremediation. Through this process, the FOG and the solid wastes are controlled because the bacteria aggressively degrade the solid wastes and the FOG that has accumulated in the trap. Offensive odors are also eliminated.

Various forms of bacteria can be used according to the budget and preference. Bacteria pumps deliver bacteria by the dose at different time intervals. Bacteria blocks are suspended in the grease trap until they completely dissolve. Liquid bacteria are poured into the drain and treat the grease trap directly. Powdered bacteria are preferred because they are easy to store and ship out. With the use of bacteria, apartment complex managers and owners don’t have to pay large fines or face lawsuits anymore. We hope this article helped the reader better understand apartment complex building grease trap prevention.

Apartment complex building grease trap cleaner

This article will cover the aspect of apartment complex building grease trap cleaners. Everything needs to be cleaned. Cleaning is the best form of respect that anyone could ever give a particular place, item, or living thing. A place of residence should be the ultimate hub of cleanliness for anyone. When the place you live in is clean, then you are assured of a healthy body and a safe environment.

The most common and most affordable living space in any part of the United Stated is the apartment complex. The apartment complex provides people with decent living spaces with kitchens and bathrooms. But this life saving structure is already considered as one of the biggest causes of FOG (fats, oils, grease) overflow in the country. The fact that every single unit in the apartment complex has a kitchen is the major factor to consider. Meal preparation and dishwashing are the usual activities in the kitchen. The apartment complex grease trap takes care of separating the solid wastes and the FOG from the grey water and wastewater that exits from each kitchen sink. Normally, the grease materials solidify and float on top of the untreated effluent while the solid wastes sink to the bottom of the grease trap.

As the FOG and solid wastes accumulate over time, there has to be an efficient apartment complex building grease trap cleaner available to do the job. There may be some who might think that chemicals and enzymes are the most effective ones for grease trap maintenance. But there is no truth to this. Chemicals and enzymes only make things worse by emulsifying the FOG, enabling it to mix in with the wastewater. As the Fog reaches the pipelines, it solidifies and sticks onto the wall pipes until it blocks the flow of wastewater. The wastewater and emulsified FOG then back up into the apartment complex and even invade the surrounding water systems in the vicinity.

Environmental issues such as pollution and eutrophication are brought about when FOG and wastewater spill over the lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. This leads to the elimination of all aquatic life in the area. The backing up of wastewater into the apartment complex makes it dangerous for the residents to drink the water from the tap. Bottles water is recommended until the situation is corrected. Many apartment complexes in the country pay up large sums of money because the FOG they produce go beyond the set limit. Lawsuits are even served to them because of this.

The safest and most recommended apartment complex building grease trap cleaner is the preparation that has non-pathogenic bacteria in it. These are specialized bacteria that aggressively target the solid wastes and the FOG that has accumulated in the grease trap over time. The process of using this type of bacteria is called bioremediation. As the FOG and solid wastes get eliminated, so do the offensive odors. The environment even remains intact and in good condition when the bacteria reach the water systems because they don’t have chemicals to pose as hazards to the surrounding ecosystems.

Aside from using bacteria as the best possible apartment complex building grease trap cleaner, the residents themselves should cooperate in keeping their grease trap free of too much solid wastes and fog. Instead of throwing everything into the kitchen sink, they should collect all the FOG and solid waste materials into a container, seal it well, and throw it with their regular` trash. They could even install fine filters that could help catch the smaller solid particles and FOG when they wash everything after food preparation and mealtime.

Even as the non-pathogenic bacteria take action and eliminate the grease and solid materials from the grease trap, the responsibility of keeping the pump out schedules and clean up treatments remains in the hands of the apartment complex management. When they have bacteria on their side, they could very well say goodbye to lawsuits and fines that cost them dearly. Indeed, bacteria are Nature’s most efficient plumbing equipment. We hope this article covered the aspect of apartment complex building grease trap cleaners.