Govt Measures For Fats, Oils, Sewage, Water
Over the past six months, the Government has put in place several interim measures to reduce the amount of Fats, Oils, Grease [FOG] and other unacceptable material in the island’s sewage waste stream.
This FOG in the wastewater can solidify to create the so-called “greaseballs” that sometimes wash ashore from the Seabright outfall on South Shore from time to time under certain weather conditions.
A spokesperson said, “The newly-formed Bermuda Seawater Quality Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee [STAC] meets monthly to discuss short-term, medium-term and long-term plans in this regard and includes representatives from the City of Hamilton, Town of St. George, Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment, Ministry of Public Works, Department of Communication and Information, Department of Sustainable Development, Bermuda Tourism Authority, WEDCo and BLDC.
“The STAC is coordinating the following measures that improve the wastewater quality. The Ministry of Public Works is actively improving the operations at the Tynes Bay Septage Facility with more control on the types of wastes being received.
Lumps, which the Government said were “greaseballs”, found on Grape Bay beach earlier this year:
“The hours of operation are now ‘matched’ for the Tynes Bay Septage Facility with the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Plant, which are 7.30am to 4.00pm on weekdays and 7.30am to 2.00pm on Saturdays. There will be no access on Sundays or on Public Holidays.
“These new operational hours will help to ensure that staff can be there to monitor and have greater control on the waste being received. However, if there is an emergency, hauliers can call Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Plant Control Room at 296-0673.
“Additionally, co-mingled loads [i.e. a mix of sewage and grease] will no longer be allowed. The interior of the transporting tanker must be washed out between the transport of acceptable and unacceptable loads going into any Ministry of Public Works receiving site.
“Also, if a hauler is removing grease from a domestic or restaurant grease trap, that waste is to go directly into the Tynes Bay Waste to Energy Plant tipping hall bunker, which will ensure that it does not end up being pumped out to sea via the outfall.
“Additionally, all trucks that bring waste to the Tynes Bay Septage Facility will be required to be weighed. This will assist in the monitoring of volumes of materials coming into the site as well as where it is coming from.
“Waste transfer receipt books are to be used to record details of waste being dumped including the origin of the collected waste, the type and the amount [including FOG]. These receipt books will be available from the Water and Sewage Section office at the Tynes Bay industrial complex.
“The City of Hamilton has established a FOG Control Policy which defines the requirements of all food service establishments [FSE] to remove FOG from their wastewater prior to disposing it in the City sewer system. By removing the FOG at the source it ensures that it does not end up on South Shore.
“Jointly with the adoption of the FOG Control Policy the City of Hamilton has recently appointed Mr. Roger Mello, a former Senior Health Inspector for 30 years, to the role ‘Corporation Inspector’, as defined in the Hamilton Sewerage Act 1917.
“Mr. Mello’s remit is to determine which Food Service Establishments [FSE] are compliant with the Corporation’s FOG Control Policy, work with non- compliant FSE to become compliant, educate FSE on ways to reduce FOG’s in their wastewater, test wastewater from FSE to determine compliance, check FSE cleaning logs and proper disposal of FOG, issue non- compliance letters, and work with the Department of Health on enforcement regarding repeat non- compliance.
“Brochures are currently being created for both residences and restaurants and will be distributed later this year to advise the public as to proper FOG disposal methods.
“Households are reminded that they should dispose of their used fats and grease in an empty, disposable container and when that container is full they should put it in the garbage.
“For more information on FOG disposal within the City of Hamilton email pcooper@cityhall.bm or ihind@cityhall.bm or call 292-1234. For all other areas, email water@gov.bm or call 278-0570.”
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But what about the poo?