Sewers get the “a la carte” treatment - 5/7/2010
The thrill of exploring one of Brighton’s most famous landmarks, the Victorian sewers, lured Brighton hoteliers and restaurant managers below ground.
The labyrinth hidden under the city boasts 300 miles of brick-built sewers, dealing with 22 million gallons of sewage each day, and a giant storm-water tunnel.
Wearing hard hats and rubber gloves, guests from Brighton and Hove’s hotels and restaurants went beneath the Palace Pier to learn about Southern Water’s Fight the Fat campaign which was launched last Christmas. The tour started with a video presentation, before the group walked through the network of sewers and chambers, emerging through a manhole near the Royal Pavilion.
The aim of the Fight the Fat campaign is to increase awareness of the problems caused to the sewers by the disposal of fat, oil and grease down the sinks and to encourage businesses and householders to dispose of their cooking fats in an environmentally-friendly way.
Brighton’s Hotel Du Vin’s General Manager Philip Lewis said: “After living what I though was an eco-friendly way of life, I was shocked to discover the damage and problems caused by disposing of fat, oil and grease through our drains. Since going on the Brighton Sewer Tour my eyes have been opened and I now feel well informed. I would certainly recommend this tour to my friends, family and guests of Hotel Du Vin."
Thistle Hotel General Manager Simon Quarrel said: “I found the experience both enjoyable and educational. The tour was timely as we’re just in the process of replacing our fat trap and can now identify the benefits of having this in place.”
Premier Inn’s Team Leader Nick Dixon said: "I have been interested in doing the sewer tour for some time now, ever since I saw some people climbing out of the ground at the Old Steine two years ago. I am also interested in the history of what the Victorians did for us, as well as all the hidden work that Southern Water does to ensure that we have clean beaches and seas. I will certainly be recommending the sewer tour and I will try to pass on the knowledge to friends not to pour oil down the sink.”
Geoff Loader, Southern Water’s Director of Communications, said: “We would like to thank all our guests for their support of our Fight the Fat environmental campaign. Tipping fat, oil and grease down the sink, or leaving it on crockery and pans in the dishwasher, blocks sewers and customers’ pipes. Approximately 35 per cent of sewer blockages are caused by congealed cooking fats and oils.
“We are seeing more and more flooding in the UK caused by extreme weather and the effects of this can be much worse if sewers are blocked by fat. This is why we urge our local businesses and householders to dispose of their cooking oils responsibly and we urge other organisations to follow suit.”
Approximately 3,000 property flooding incidents in the South East are caused by the accumulation of residential and commercial fat, oil and grease in the sewers. This is costly to resolve, detrimental to water quality and a potential health risk.
