To avoid sewerage blockage…
GUYANA Water Inc. (GWI) announced on Thursday that all restaurants must install traps to rid the sewer system of grease, fat, oil, wax and other debris.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) Rawle Aaron indicated, during a demonstration of the mechanism, that the utility is trying to protect the integrity of an already deteriorating sewerage network.

He explained that it is clogged with sanitary napkins, pampers and more materials that it was not designed to accommodate.

Mr. Aaron pleaded with the public to desist from disposing of waste in such a manner and said, with the installation of the trap at eating houses, oil, grease and other sediments would be removed and only water will be allowed to flow into the sewer system.
The PRO said the grease traps can be installed under sinks and he exhorted restaurant owners to do so as soon as possible because GWI has embarked on a massive campaign to curb the practice of improper disposal.

He said the device costs between $15,000 and $20,000 and could last about five years, depending on what is used to make it.

“Restaurants have been given a grace period to install grease traps in their business place and failure to do so will result in penalties,” Aaron warned.

Grease traps or interceptors are passive devices stipulated by the municipality to prevent the wrong discards entering the municipal sanitary system.

Such materials cause blockages and result in back-ups and overflows and the traps are designed to separate greasy stuff from waste water so that it can be removed before it enters the system.

All restaurants, caterers, school cafeterias and other commercial cooking facilities must avoid those discharges, Aaron said, adding that the traps are made to receive waste water from all contributory sources, such as pot sinks, dishwashers, floor drains and mat washing area drains before draining into the sewer system.