CommunityNEWS

Food premises failing to maintain grease traps risk clogged drains

By Zaki Salleh
Photo social media

IPOH: The flash flood that hit the Arena Kepayang Putra residential area in Fair Park in early December last year is still fresh in the minds of Ipoh residents.

Images from the scene showed floodwaters mixed with oil, dirt, and debris, a rare sight during flash floods. Since the flood occurred in the heart of Ipoh city, many have speculated that the oil contamination came from food premises and restaurants.

The most likely cause of this oil contamination is the lack of maintenance of grease traps at food establishments.

Ahmad Ikhsan Muliadi, a hygiene consultant, explained that restaurant owners are responsible not just for installing grease traps but also for maintaining them.

He said, the grease trap needs to be regularly cleaned, with oil, grease, and dirt removed on a scheduled basis.

“Local authorities require all food premises to install grease traps for licensing, but many businesses neglect maintenance,” he said in an interview with Ipoh/Echo Peraktastic.

He explained that the function of a grease trap is to filter out oil and grease from dishwashing water.

“This helps separate the oil from water, preventing blockages in drainage pipes.

“Oil and grease should be disposed of in black plastic bags and not poured down the drain,” he said.

Ahmad explained, when grease traps are not maintained, they can contribute to flash floods, as clogged drains and drainage systems are unable to function properly.

Furthermore, clogged sewer lines also cause unpleasant odors.

“Referring to the flash flood in Fair Park, I’m not sure if the authorities took any follow-up action such as inspecting the premises, but I believe the dirty water was a mix of oil contamination,” he said.

He also noted that a simple inspection of the back areas of food premises can reveal whether their grease traps are well-maintained.

“Grease traps should be cleaned every day, not just once a week or once a month. This is why sometimes the drains around food premises smell foul — due to the dirt in the grease traps and drains,” he said.

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