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.”