PPUC suspects restaurants in downtown Koror to have released grease found in sewers last year, however due to lack of evidence it remains to be a suspicion.
PPUC Director of Administration Tmetuchl Baules said that the ideal way to dispose of the waste grease would be to pack it up in jars or containers and send it to the landfill.
Island Times interviewed Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB) Director Roxanne Blesam on the matter.
Blesam said, “EQPB and PPUC are working towards raising awareness about Fat Oil and Grease(FOG) which is discharged into the sewers lines.”
She warned the dangers of releasing FOG into the sewer lines by adding that there is a risk of sewers being clogged up.
“If it is clogged up it will reduce the capacity of the line and impede the regular flow of sewage.” She said.
To tackle the problem, EQPB is conducting monitoring of restaurants which aims at ensuring presence of grease traps which is an equipment installed under the sink and collects grease that is dumped into the sink.
“Under EQPB all establishments that deal with food processing are required to have grease traps, log sheets on the wall of the kitchen where they maintain the times grease traps are used and emptied.” Blesam said.
According to Blesam, the EQPB is empowered with fining a penalty upon violations up to $10,000. EQPB also has authority to issue stopwork or order establishments to take immediate remedial measures.
She also requested the residents of Palau to dispose of grease at landfills by putting it in the jar and never to let it out in the sewers.
“We as a community need to take care of little things as our sewer facility as well is in process of improvement,” Blesam added. (By Eshan Kalyanikar)