Trial prevents fatbergs by turning oil into fuel

Oil poured down drains can cause fatbergs to block sewers

A water firm is trialling a scheme to remove fats from the sewage system and turn them into fuel.

Yorkshire Water's James Gudgeon said blockages by fats, oils and grease (FOG) caused "thousands of preventable blockages each year".

The technology has been installed at the firm's treatment works in Hull.

EcoClarity, the company behind the system, said it could recover up to 98% of the oil, which is turned into biodiesel to power vehicles.

Yorkshire Water said the blockages, often called fatbergs, "cost us millions each year to remove".

In 2020, a 1.5-tonne fatberg was removed in Leeds city centre.

"Water companies can spend a significant amount of money on staff and equipment costs to remove FOG from our sewers and send it to landfill – which also has an environmental impact, " Mr Gudgeon said.

"Additionally, network failures caused by FOG blockages carry the risk of costly environmental performance fines.”

The process will be used to treat FOG wastewater generated onsite during cleaning and maintenance procedures, as well as loads from waste management companies.

Liquid waste from tankers is run through the system which removes the oil allowing the treated water to be recycled.

Yorkshire Water removed a 1.5 tonne fatberg from a Leeds sewer

Mr Gudgeon said Yorkshire Water was marketing the service to the food industry which is a major producers of waste oils.

"It reduces the amount FOG going into sewers at source, preventing sewer blockages and protecting the environment," he said.

"Ultimately resulting in protecting our people not having to do high risk jobs.

“It also enables us to bring in new waste streams and new revenue streams into Yorkshire Water and ultimately that money is reinvested into the business and goes towards helping keep customer bills low, it is a true circular economy in action."

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