Wastewater washout fine for Derrimut company

A Derrimut cooking oil transport company has been fined $4,070 by EPA Victoria after it was seen washing out its storage tanks then allowing the wastewater to escape their bunded area and flow to the nearby stormwater drain.

Cookers Bulk Oil System Pty Ltd in Derrimut Drive, Derrimut has been warned before about the illegal discharge of wash waters but had not acted to change their practice.

“Our Officers saw wash waters containing grease trap waste being discharged to the stormwater system. An oil sheen was seen on the liquid in the stormwater pit,” said EPA West Metropolitan Regional Manager Julia Gaitan.

“This stormwater pit discharges to the municipal stormwater system, which then flows to Laverton Creek. Grease trap waste deposited into the stormwater system can impact aquatic life when it discharges to a waterway and can contribute to blockages in the municipal stormwater system.

“The only thing that should be going down our stormwater drains is rain. Cookers Bulk Oil were advised to stop their illegal practice but failed to heed that advice. Now they have a fine of $4,070 and we will be monitoring them to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”