Restaurants and food establishments that prepare and sell cooked dishes, especially those heavily using fats and oils, are required to install grease traps, according to Dr. Amit Chanan, CEO of the Water Authority of Fiji. During a recent session with the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Dr. Chanan emphasized the authority’s commitment to ensuring compliance through inspections of these establishments.
The authority has been conducting regular visits to places like fried fish and chicken outlets to verify their adherence to grease trap requirements. Dr. Chanan highlighted that it is not only eateries that are inspected, but also industrial customers, who are evaluated biannually to check that the composition of their wastewater is appropriate for the sewer systems.
Currently, the authority lacks the legal authority to penalize establishments that do not comply with these regulations. However, Dr. Chanan noted that legislative powers allowing for such enforcement were passed by Parliament in July 2022, and they are now awaiting approval from the relevant ministry to activate these powers. He pointed out that having the ability to impose penalties is critical for regulating utilities effectively and fostering compliant behavior among establishments.
Overall, this initiative reflects the Water Authority of Fiji’s proactive approach to maintaining water and wastewater standards, which will ultimately benefit the environment and community health.
In a hopeful light, once the necessary approvals are obtained and enforcement powers are activated, the Water Authority will be better equipped to ensure that all eateries comply with health and safety standards, thereby enhancing the overall environmental quality in Fiji.
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