Why should FM Providers be aware of Section 111 of the Water Industry Act?

There are various laws and regulations that as a Facilities Management (FM) company, you must ensure the properties you manage comply with. One such regulation is Section 111 of the Water Industry Act, which outlines that FM companies should prevent anything from entering the public sewer which could cause pollution or interfere with the free flow of water. This details that any water discharged from sites, such as car parks, industrial units, and commercial properties do not cause harm or pollution to the public sewer. If you fail to comply with this regulation, this could result in fines of unlimited value, legal action, and reputable damage.

But don’t worry, there are steps you can, and should, take to comply with Section 111:

• Asset Mapping: An asset map, also known as a drain map, is crucial to identify the location, size, directional flow and type of liquid carried in your drains beneath your site. By knowing the exact location of your drains, you can also see where they discharge, which is an essential insight to prevent water pollution and flooding.
• Car Park Maintenance: Keeping up with car park maintenance of various equipment such as interceptors, gullies and ACO drain channels is something FM companies should focus on. Keeping your car park clear, will help to catch oil and sediment before it enters the drain, preventing pollution. It is essential to keep up with regular maintenance to ensure equipment works correctly to reduce the risk of flooding and pollution, in particular, interceptors and car park gullies should be emptied and maintained at least twice a year.
• Grease Management: Any commercial hot food kitchen or property that manufactures or produces food should have a grease trap, as well as a maintenance plan for the equipment. On average, a grease trap should be emptied every 1 to 3 months, but this depends on the amount of grease being produced. Failure to empty and maintain grease traps can lead to a number of problems, such as blocked sinks, grease discharged into the water course and disruption to the business.
• Sewage Pump Station Maintenance: Sewage Pumps are essential for collecting and pumping sewage and other wastewater to mainline sewers and treatment facilities; preventing it from entering rivers, streams and other watercourses. They play an important role in complying with section 111 of the Water Authority Act; failure to maintain them can lead to a breach of the regulation with waste overflowing causing expensive repairs. It is recommended to service your pump station at least twice a year to diagnose and repair any issues before they become a problem, saving you time and money in the long run.

Taking the above steps will help you to comply with regulations such as Section 111 of the Water Authority Act. Failure to do so can result in environmental damage as well as putting the company at risk of unlimited fines, legal action and reputation damage. To help FM companies to understand their responsibilities, Metro Rod has developed a Pollution Prevention Plan, download the free whitepaper to find out more.

As well as the whitepaper, Metro Rod can support FM companies in implementing the above measures as well as many other drain, pump, plumbing or tanker services you may need. Their one-stop-shop of services is available nationally and their network of over 500 engineers are available within an hour’s drive of 85% of commercial properties in the UK, making them one of the fastest to reach you.

For more information about improving and maintaining your drainage system, visit their website.