Public sewers and drains in Kinloch Rannoch have been so badly chocked with an unsavoury mix of fat, oil, and grease that Scottish Water has made an example of the residents’ disposal misdemeanours.
The dreaded ‘fatberg’ problem has raised its ugly head even in the most picturesque of locations.
In the Highland Perthshire village of Kinloch Rannoch Scottish Water says it is “working with customers and hospitality businesses to keep our water cycle running smoothly”.
The problem which can cause blockages, flooding and environmental damage, is due to an increase in fat, oil, and grease as well as other inappropriate items causing challenges in the public sewer network and septic tanks which serve Kinloch Rannoch.
Scottish Water has issued postcards to customers in the Rannoch area, reminding them to make sure they are disposing of fats, oils and grease (known as FOG) correctly.
Hospitality businesses in the area are also being contacted and given further advice on how they should dispose of FOG in a way that is safe for drains and the environment.
In the last year, Scottish Water has dealt with over 37,000 sewer chokes across the country, costing more than £7 million to clear.
Over 50 per cent of these ‘chokes’ could have been avoided if people disposed of FOG correctly and remembered the bathroom rule that only the 3P’s (pee, poo, and toilet paper) should be flushed away.
Now it’s kitchen habits that the water company wishes to educate people about.
Christmas time is typically when the largest amount of FOG enters the sewer network with families and friends gathering to enjoy cooked meals, making it as important as ever this festive season that customers are aware of best ways of disposing of the waste.
Scottish Water gives the following advice to people everywhere: Leave fat, oil and grease to cool/harden in a container and then scrape into your food waste recycling or put them in the bin.
Give plates, pots, utensils and containers a quick scrape or wipe with some kitchen towel before washing and use a sink strainer in the plughole to catch any bits of leftover food going down the sink.
Believe it or not soup, stocks, sauces and milk products all contain fat, which can also congeal and harden in your drains - leave these to cool/harden, scrape into a container and then scrape into your food waste recycling or put them in the bin.
Finally, put any waste food and peelings into your food waste recycling or put them in the bin.
