On-Site Infrared Measurement of Fats, Oils and Grease Can Help Protect Our Water Resources - Sandra Rintoul

As the world supply of fresh water decreases and the demand for water exceeds the supply in many parts of the world, protecting the quality of water resources becomes a priority. In 1977, the US established the Clean Water Act that enacted regulations for industrial discharges. More recent updates of the Clean Water Act focus on “non-point source pollution” from diffuse sources rather than from identifiable facilities. This includes clogged sewer lines that cause Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs). In the US, it is estimated that about 30% of SSOs are due to Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG). As a result, industries discharging into sewer lines are faced with limits as low as 100 ppm of oil and grease.

Europe also established initial directives for water quality standards in the 1970’s. Since these initial efforts were not effective enough, the Water Framework Directive came into effect in 2000 with a legal framework for the EU to protect and restore water resources. In 2008, the Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) was adopted to minimise pollutants discharged from large industrial installations. The initial focus of the IPPC is on the 33 worst pollutants which are currently on the “list of priority substances”. While it is recognised that oil and grease is a major culprit for SSOs, the EU regulations are not yet as strict as the US. The first step in the Water Framework Directive is to get all the Member States to participate in a monitoring program. As data is gathered on the health of Europe’s waters and the sources for the priority substances are identified and controlled, the next phase will most likely lead to SSO’s and regulation of FOG sources.