Resource Centre | Drain Resources

There are many products on the market that claim to reduce, or eliminate, the need for preventative drain maintenance, and/or reduce or even eliminate the accumulation of grease in the drains or sewers. Some products even claim they can clear blockages. New products come and go every week. Harsh chemicals can seriously damage pipes and/or the couplings that connect them. Some products simply "liquefy" grease, which allows it to be flushed downstream only to re-congeal further down, eventually causing even greater problems. Some "bacteria" based products claim to "digest" waste "naturally". However, to our knowledge, no scientific proof exists that this actually occurs - and science suggests that it cannot.

Many of these products have serious health and safety risks associated with their handling and use. Almost all of the products we have reviewed, if used as directed, cost quite a bit more than a proper preventative maintenance program. As a property owner, you are responsible for what you discharge into the sewer system. As an employer, you are accountable for the health and safety of your staff. Drainage and sewer systems are extremely expensive to replace or repair, and you can be held financially responsible for blockages or damages down-stream.

There are two forms of these products on the market; biological or biochemical products and chemical and/or solvent based products.

Chemical / Solvents

Chemical solvents are intended to dissolve or emulsify grease and blockages and promoting their discharge into drains and sewers. Dissolved or emulsified grease can accumulate downstream in drains and sewers, leading to blockages. Chemical solvents are often toxic and/or combustible, and require special storage and handling precautions to protect workers health and safety. Most municipalities prohibit the use of chemical solvents.

Bio-augmentation Products

Bio-augmentation products are intended to reduce grease accumulation by biologically degrading the grease in the interceptor or drainage system. These products typically contain a combination of emulsifiers ("wetting agents"), enzymes, bacteria and other compounds intended to support microbial growth. Bio-augmentation products are commonly promoted as being a "biodegradable" or "environmentally friendly" alternative to chemical solvents. Some even claim to "digest" waste in the interceptor.

Independent study of the performance of bio-augmentation products supports the experience of many food service establishments; that these products are not effective replacements for regular maintenance.

A study commissioned by the Greater Vancouver Regional District in 1996¹ found that the literature provided by the manufacturers of bio-augmentation products did not provide reasonable evidence for efficacy in cleaning grease interceptors. It was also noted that there is no independently published scientific or technical information on the biodegradation of oil and grease in grease interceptors using biological additives.

The report describes microbial processes for oil and grease degradation and states that grease interceptors are not a good environment for oil and grease degradation. Most grease interceptors are subject to conditions that can prevent or hinder biodegradation. These conditions include short retention time, presence of compounds toxic to microorganisms and extreme physiochemical conditions (i.e. temperature, pH, oxygen concentration, and the lack of nutrients required for microbial growth). The report suggests that it is reasonable to be skeptical about the efficacy of bio-augmentation products for grease interceptors until evidence in support of efficacy is found.

A separate study² involving ten restaurants in the City of Toronto was conducted in 1995 by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy. The purpose of the study was to evaluate bio-augmentation products against the claims made by their manufacturers. Claims include reductions in maintenance requirements (i.e. clean outs), odour and grease accumulations in drains and sewers. It was also claimed that through the use of microbial products, it may be possible to achieve compliance with sewer discharge limits.

Before and after comparisons were used to evaluate the efficacy of biological products against the claims made. Observations and measurements taken demonstrate that, with the exception of a reduction in odours from the grease interceptor in some instances, the products did not perform as claimed. The products did not achieve consistent, significant reductions in maintenance requirements, grease accumulations in drains and sewers, or the strength of the discharged wastewaters.

Finally, drainage systems also accumulate solids that cannot be removed by additives. Neither chemical solvents, nor bio-augmentation products can deal with solids. Often these solids contain mop strings, toothpicks, paper towels, creamers, bottle caps and other trash, that can cause drain blockages. Settled solids cannot be dissolved, emulsified, nor degraded and must be removed by regular physical cleanouts.

We do not recommend the use of any biological or chemical drain cleaning, or grease interceptor cleaning products.