This article will cover correctional facility grease trap flooding. Flooding is a very common consequence of a calamity or a continuous and strong rainfall. It shows man how his meddling with Mother Nature through the art of land development could cause his own demise. Lowlands of denuded mountains severely suffer from all the erosion, landslide, and flooding because there are no more roots to absorb all that water. Many lives have already been lost because of floods. The United States still experiences floods especially after heavy rainfall in some states like Tennessee. Great harm and destruction befall areas that are flooded and this is rainfall or flood water pertained to here.
Aside from the regular flooding, the US government is also aware of another type of flooding that’s perhaps more dangerous—correctional facility grease trap flooding. This is only one of the results of FOG (fats, oils, grease) overflow. To help control the situation, the government has mandated correctional facility managements to have grease traps or grease interceptors professionally installed in their areas of operation. There should be proper maintenance performed on them and legal permits issued for them as well. Inspection is part of the care that these grease traps should have. With thorough and regular inspection, any physical damage could be immediately treated and the FOG levels could be monitored. If the damages are immediately repaired, leaks could be eliminated. If FOG levels are monitored, then pump outs could be performed before the FOG overflows.
Correctional facility grease trap flooding is a very detrimental scenario that should be prevented. As much as possible the inmates and the employees in the correctional facilities should not have direct contact with the untreated effluent. When there is negligence in grease trap maintenance, FOG overflows. It spills directly into the untreated wastewater and hardened within the sewer pipes. The FOG sticks to the inner pipe walls and eventually blocks the path of the flowing effluent towards the wastewater treatment facility. The FOG backs up into the correctional facility and contaminates everything. There will be odors that carry fumes that cause respiratory ailments and trigger allergic reactions. Skin contact with the effluent will result to the infections and contracted diseases. The surrounding water ecosystem will be polluted and all aquatic life will be destroyed. The clean water supply will also be compromised.
There are some cases of correctional facility grease trap flooding that has resulted to death and injury in the kitchen areas. Correctional facilities produce the bulk of their FOG in their own kitchens. If the grease trap and drains overflow with untreated effluent, the electrical wirings there could malfunction and electrocute the people who work there. Indeed, correctional facility grease trap flooding should be prevented at all costs. This can be done by manually scraping off the grease materials from dishes and cooking equipment and placing them in leak-proof bins that could be sealed tightly and disposed of properly. The wash sinks could then be fitted with strainers or fine food meshes that could effectively catch the food and grease before they reach the grease trap. These practices will keep the FOG levels in the grease trap very low.
Another method is to use bacteria in maintaining the grease trap. Chemicals and enzymes should not be used anymore because they just emulsify the FOG and mix it easily with the untreated wastewater. The emulsified FOG then hardens and sticks to the inner pipe walls and the rest that happens is pretty much like a regular FOG overflow. Bacteria give the grease trap a new lease on life because they completely devour solid wastes and FOG. They use the FOG as their food to sustain their survival and reproduction.
If bacteria are regularly used to clean up or maintain the grease trap, then correctional facility grease trap flooding will be totally kept at bay. The management will also have a lasting grease trap; no more payment of large fines; and no more lawsuits to deal with.