Anglian Water and Environmental Compliance and Services (ECAS) save East of England’s sewers from five million litres of fat helping to prevent flooding in the region 
 
This month, Anglian Water reached a significant milestone in its work with food services establishments (FSEs) across the East of England by preventing five million litres of fats, oils and grease (FOG) – equivalent to the size of over 10,000 polar bears – from entering its sewer network. 
 
Delivered in partnership with Environmental Compliance and Services (ECAS), Anglian Water has been working with more than 8,000 FSEs to change their commercial kitchen practice, helping to prevent avoidable sewer flooding and harm to the environment.  
 
FOG left over from cooking processes or Christmas dinner plates can cause serious issues when they enter the sewer systems through sinks, dishwashers, or internal drains. This is especially common in establishments such as takeaways, restaurants, pubs, hotels and canteens.  
 
When FOGs enter the system, they combine with other debris, leading to blockages known as ‘fatbergs’, which can restrict wastewater flows, damage sewer infrastructure, and cause sewer flooding that can damage homes and businesses, and pollute rivers and seas leading to avoidable environmental harm. 
 
Connor Brailsford, Network Protection Manager at Anglian Water, said: “Commercial kitchens, by their very nature, generate a lot of FOG, and we estimate around 80% of these blockages could be prevented by kitchen staff making simple changes to their daily operations.  
 
“That’s why it’s so important we continue our work with food businesses and are grateful for their support so far in helping reach this fantastic milestone of shedding 5 million litres of fats from our sewers.” 
 
There are over 70,000 food service establishments trading in the Anglian region. The water company prioritises locations where sewer blockages pose the most significant threat to its networks in a bid to help prevent problems from cropping up again in the future.   
 
Anglian Water has worked in partnership with ECAS since 2019 to engage and educate the food sector in the East of England. 
 
Philip Soden, Managing Director of ECAS: “It’s been a privilege to help prevent an astounding five million litres of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from entering the sewers through our work with food service establishments.  
 
“Simple measures, such as installing grease traps and encouraging better daily kitchen habits, make a significant difference. We look forward to supporting more commercial kitchens in 2025 to ensure they dispose of their FOG in the most environmentally friendly way possible.” 
 
Section 111 of the Water Industry Act 1991 makes it a criminal offence for any food business to damage, restrict or block the free flow of a public sewer. Water companies, like Anglian Water, can also charge food service establishments for any costs caused by their actions. 

Find out what steps food service establishments can take to ensure the fat and food waste they produce avoids the sewers here.