Food preparation businesses must install grease traps- GWI

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on Tuesdayu appealed to all businesses involved in food preparation to install and consistently clean grease traps. 

“The company continues to experience numerous reports of overflowing sewerage which has resulted from sewer pipes becoming clogged due to coagulated fats and oils used for food preparation by restaurants and hotels,” GWI said in a statement.

GWI said its Sanitation Department records in excess of seven sewerage overflows per week which have resulted from restaurants and hotels not installing grease traps or failing to clean the devices. 

In light of the recent media reports regarding persons being injured due to the removal of a sewer chamber cover by unauthorized persons, the company advised that it is an offense to tamper with any device under the purview of the Guyana Water Incorporated as stipulated by the Water and Sewerage 2002.

The company said it was alarmed by recent events and urges all residents of Georgetown to report immediately any instances of tampering particularly the removal of sewer chamber covers to GWI. 

Through the Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) US$10,000,000 Georgetown Sanitation Improvement Programme (GSIP), GWI is rehabilitating the entire sewerage system in an effort to alleviate sewerage overflows.  However, without residents utilizing the system properly the improvements will yield poor results.  

The company, through the GSIP, is currently planning a seminar for hotel and restaurant owners to provide education on the installation and correct use of the grease trap.  This is expected to be held within the second quarter of 2014.  In addition, GWI conducts scheduled inspections of hotels and restaurants to ensure that grease traps are being effectively utilized; the company also provides advice for hotel and restaurant owners on the correct use of the device via its call centre and Sanitation Department. 

To report instances of tampering customers are advised to call GWI’s Customer Services Call Centre on 227-8701/03/04, email  customercallcentre@gwi.gy, visit www.gwiguyana.com  or post  via social media at www.facebook.com/everydropcountsgy