School grease trap flooding

Hurricane Sandy has brought so much destruction in many parts of the United States. Lives and properties were lost just like that. For many Americans, it would seem that they were punished because of the amount of destruction that the natural calamity has brought upon them. Flooding is one of the unfortunate consequences of  hurricanes. Low-lying areas become basins or receptacles of  rain outflows from higher places. Flooding could last for weeks after such a hurricane, especially with poorly maintained drainages or canals. The flooding after a hurricane is composed of rainwater, sediments, and perhaps some pathogens that may infect people or animals.. Technically, it’s just caused by faulty drainages and leaking pipes. In excessive amounts, floods like this could take lives.

When there is wastewater flooding, it’s more hazardous to the environment and to the health of the people in that particular area. One event that may cause this is the malfunctioning of a school grease trap. School grease trap flooding is one crisis that should be attended to immediately. It’s brought about excessive amounts of FOG (fats, oils, grease) that enter the wastewater treatment system. The FOG solidifies in the pipe lines and sticks to the inner walls. When more FOG enters the wastewater treatment system, the hardened FOG blockage gets thicker. The raw effluent then backs up into the school cafeteria through the drains and grease trap, resulting to school grease trap flooding.

The US government has mandated school administrations to strictly abide by the grease ordinance to help alleviate the FOG crisis. When the grease trap is installed, the next thing to focus on is its proper maintenance. Pump out schedules for the grease trap should be set with the help of the grease trap expert. The schedules should be regularly kept to as to keep the FOG levels very low and prevent FOG overflow. Another means to care for the grease trap is to treat it with the right additive. It was usually either chemicals or enzymes that were applied to grease traps. These substances should not be considered anymore because they just mimic the events in a regular FOG overflow. It would often mislead the school administration into thinking that what they have invested on is helping their grease trap. In effect, they end up spending a lot to make things right for the grease trap and the school property.

School grease trap flooding could be prevented with the help of those working in the school cafeteria kitchens. They encounter grease every single day because food is basically made of plant and animal fats. They could manually gather all the grease and then collect then in a sealable, leak-proof vessel for proper disposal. The drains should also be fitted with food meshes so that every small bit of grease could be kept from entering the grease trap. With consistency in these practices, school grease trap flooding can be prevented.

Grease trap flooding could be very dangerous especially if it occurs unnoticed. Professional kitchens have electrical sources close to the floor and if school grease trap flooding happens, kitchen personnel might end up suffering from severe and even fatal injuries from electrocution.  This will be a very difficult problem to deal with aside from the health and sanitation issues that have to be faced.

The best additives that should be used in treating or preventing school grease trap flooding are those that are bacteria-based. They are microorganisms that are very efficient in breaking down the FOG in the grease trap. Survival is their motivation that is why they consume as much as they can. When they voraciously eat the FOG, they keep the grease trap odorless. As long as they are regularly introduced in the grease trap the FOG levels will not increase to the point of overflowing into the wastewater. It would be a very beneficial investment for the school administration if bacteria are to be the staple additives for the grease trap. This way, there will be no more lawsuits and no more large fines to pay.