Global environmental crisis, when we think about it really carefully, starts in the home. Our local actions can definitely impact our surroundings on a global scale. When actions – both the good and the bad ones – are once accumulated and summated, can definitely make an impact. The impact that we want to experience and feel is directly proportional to our actions and behaviors. A good example to illustrate this is the local and global issue of sanitary drain usage.

Admit it. We all have those moments when we just really had to stuff all the hair from our hairbrushes down the drain because it is very unruly to find strands of hair laying lifelessly on the sink. Instead of picking up the strands one by one, flushing it all down the drain with volumes of water does the trick. However, that very activity is reason enough for drain-related issues that 2 out of 5 Singaporean households face. Human hair is non-soluble. It cannot transform itself into tiny little harmless particles, nor does it change its form once it is eliminated from the physical world and down to the drain. Human hair once stuffed down the drain remains as is, and once it gets accumulated, it can create a web that prohibits other liquid deposits from travelling down the pipes. Aside from hair, grease deposits can create an even bigger problem in terms of sanitary drain usage.

Grease deposits, when not kept in a grease trap once it goes down the drain, can render the drain in question useless.  It can halt business operations for commercial kitchens that have non-functioning drains. However, the impact of grease going down the drain is bigger than its immediate effects. Grease, when not separated properly from the average liquid deposit, can cause a significant problem in the land fill. Landfills are not exclusive for one person alone. A whole state, a whole city and an accumulation of different neighborhoods use only one landfill. Ignoring safety and sanitary measures to deposit grease and other fatty and oily substances properly can also create a malodorous environment especially for residents who live near these facilities. Moreover, with greasy, fatty and oily substances, it cannot go anywhere but up, thus causing a stressful backflow. If you see a layer or spots of opaque liquid on water surfaces, you know those are oil and those cannot be extracted from the seas by simply using a grease trap. It can damage marine life and other sea life forms that thrive solely on clean, safe water.

Also, when grease is not separated from the ordinary liquid deposits, water filtration systems that are applied to make these clean and useful again as possible may render itself useless as well. If people cannot take advantage of having clean recycled water for watering plants in their garden, cleaning cars in the garage and for other household activities that does not necessarily require a steady stream of filtered water, then what would our future be? If the greasy enemy that makes life a living nightmare is not addressed today, what would the world be like in the months and years to come?

The Different Types of Grease Traps

Grease traps are essential elements in households and more importantly in commercial kitchens. It goes without saying that grease traps are basic requirements for any unit that has a kitchen or a plumbing system, and the requirement is basically anchored on the premise that grease traps function for sanitary and health purposes.

Grease traps function as an internal waste water segregation system wherein the FOG or fats, oil and grease are separated from ordinary waste water. When FOGs are not separated from ordinary waste water, it can create clogs and spillages. In here, the different types of grease traps are outlined:

1. Large, underground grease traps. These kinds of grease traps are required for large commercial kitchens such as cafes, restaurants and hotels. Of course, since a lot of work and food preparations are done in these kinds of settings, it therefore requires grease traps that are large enough to commensurate to the amount of fats, oil and grease that comes from these kitchens. A small grease trap that looks like a tray will definitely not work in these kinds of kitchen settings.

 2. Small, above-ground grease traps. Compared to the large, underground grease traps, these kinds of grease traps are cheaper and are relatively easier to install. These grease traps look like barrels and are used in high-production areas as well. These kinds of grease traps have the capacity to collect at least 85% of oil, fat and grease.

3. Automatic grease removal units or ARGUs. Expensive but less bulk, these automatic grease removal units or ARGUs are used in very few and particular commercial settings because of its price. Although it is smaller and cost quite more than large, underground grease traps and small, above-ground grease traps, these are more efficient forms of grease traps because it can remove built-up grease aside from containing and storing fat, oil and grease. It also generates cleaner water and in that vein, prevents blockages and buildups as it performs its functions.
Depending on the kind of environment you are working in, there will be different grease trap requirements that you need to comply with. Remember, the use of grease traps is not required for shallow purposes; it is a non-negotiable to ensure a clean and safe environment for everyone.

The Role of Grease Traps

Not known to everyone and to a lot of people but grease traps are very essential elements in a household or in a commercial business that operates with rather busy kitchens. Just imagining a world without grease traps is like envisioning a world where everything is so untidy, stinky and unruly. Every plumbing system should have a grease trap in place for sanitary purposes. The role of a grease trap whether in the house or in a restaurant can be summarized into the following:

1. Grease traps function as an internal waste segregation system within the pipes. Of course, when households and commercial kitchens operate, it involves a lot of waste water going down the pipes and into the community waste collection system. It is important that oily and fatty substances are not mixed in with the non-oil waste since it can create clogged up pipes. Grease traps take on the role of the internal waste segregation system that separates oil from ordinary waste water. Grease traps look like trays that gather all oily and fatty substances so that ordinary waste water can pass by the pipes smoothly and freely and go directly into the waste collection system. If oil and ordinary waste water are not separated, not only will it clog up the individual pipes in the household or in the commercial kitchen, but the entire waste system as a whole. Also, it renders the internal filtration and recycling of waste water useless if oily substances are mixed up with it.

2.  Grease traps combat and prevent health hazards caused by oil, fat and grease spillages. Oil, fat and grease are heavy substances compared to water, and when these are mixed up with ordinary waste water, it can clog up sewer lines and pipes and may then eventually lead to overflows and spillages. When this happens, water wastes can flow up to the streets, and this is not a pleasant experience at all for citizens who travel by foot on their way to school, to work or on their way back home. Not only is it unsightly and malodorous, it presents a health hazard since wastes carry germs and possible infections when people get into contact with it. Simply smelling wastage backflow is unpleasant, and all these can be contained and prevented by simply using grease traps. Aside from the health hazards the non-use of grease traps present, overflows and spillages can create and require costly sewage repairs. Grease traps cost significantly less than having a complete overhaul of the sewage system and pipes.

3. The use of grease taps form part of city and state ordinances.  Especially for restaurants, hotels and other commercial food establishments, the use and installation of grease traps in their plumbing systems are a basic requirement before they are granted the licensed to operate. With grease traps in their pipes, the community can expect that these commercial food establishments are not putting them at risk during the conduct of their business. Not only is it a state and city requirement, but grease traps function as a precursor for proper sanitation and proper water waste collection.