Anglian Water has teamed up with The Big Table Group (which operates several major restaurant chains, including Bella Italia), GreaseTech Drainage Solutions and ECAS (Environmental Compliance and Services) to protect the East of England’s sewers from blockages – which can be caused by fats, oils, greases and other unflushables, including starch.

As part of Anglian Water’s work in Northampton, which is a blockage hotspot, it worked with its partners to install top-of-the-range blockage prevention at The Big Table Group’s Bella Italia in Sixfields.

The Big Table Group was already working with GreaseTech Drainage Solutions as their national contractor across the whole estate, installing and managing grease management solutions including grease management units (GRUs), which collect fats, oils and greases so they can be separated and safely recycled without clogging up the local sewer pipes. But at its Bella Italia in Sixfields, Northampton, there was another potential culprit: starch.

Draining pasta water in the sink can contribute to avoidable sewer blockages, as the starch acts as a binding agent for other unflushable materials in the pipe. Starch is so good at sticking things together that it’s also a principal ingredient in adhesive products, such as wallpaper paste and envelopes.

GreaseTech Drainage Solutions worked with Bella Italia’s team in Northampton to install a new filter shield in its pasta sinks. The fine mesh on the shield works to catch starch, as well as any stray pasta, making sure only water goes down the restaurant’s kitchen sinks and into the sewers in Anglian Water’s region. So far, the new shields have been a huge success, with no blockages in the water company’s local sewer network since they were installed.

This work forms part of a wider Anglian Water initiative in partnership with ECAS, taking place across the region to tackle sewer misuse and reduce avoidable blockages. ECAS, on behalf of Anglian Water, engages with food service establishments, such as Bella Italia in Sixfields, and provides advice and support on good kitchen habits and grease management practices. Depending on ECAS’s recommendations, the food service establishment will then work with a supplier of their choice, such as GTD, to install the necessary equipment.

Since this collaborative effort began in 2019, it has already prevented an estimated 8 million litres of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from entering the sewer network – the same weight as more than 50 blue whales. Keeping this kind of blockage material out of local drains helps prevent pollution, which can be caused when blockages reduce the amount of space in the pipes, forcing untreated wastewater to come back up – not only causing damage and distress, but also potentially pollute nearby watercourses. The Big Table Group’s preventative actions at their restaurants, which include Bella Italia, Las Iguanas and Frankie and Benny’s, are a huge milestone in the mission to keep the East of England’s sewers flowing.

Simon Galkoff, Procurement & Supply Chain Director at The Big Table Group, said: “We’d already been receiving expert advice from GreaseTech Drainage Solutions, so we already knew that it was important to manage our fats, oils and greases carefully. That’s why we’d previously installed GRUs to protect the sewers and the local environment nearby. But when GreaseTech Drainage Solutions offered us the filter shields to catch starch, it was a game-changer. Our Bella Italia locations are cooking up delicious pasta all day, every day, so it’s really important to us that our customers’ spaghetti doesn’t create a problem in the local sewer pipes.”

Steve Edwards, Business Development Manager at GreaseTech Drainage Solutions, said: “The team at Bella Italia were already taking steps to help prevent fats, oils and greases from going down their kitchen sinks and into the sewer network. We were really pleased to be able to help them go even further by installing their new filter shields. Working in partnership is a vital part of keeping the pipes flowing, which is why we’ll continue to support Bella Italia with quarterly servicing of their equipment, as well as training up their staff to use and maintain the machines properly. It’s great to see a business taking responsibility to do the right thing for the environment, especially given that Anglian Water has seen an immediate improvement at its nearby pumping station.”

Reflecting on the progress made, Philip Soden, Managing Director at ECAS, said: “Most food service establishments we work with, like those belonging to The Big Table Group, want to do the right thing by their business and the environment. By collaborating with the sector and grease management experts, we can help and support even more restaurants to take further steps to reduce blockages, sewer flooding, and pollution.”

Simon from The Big Table Group added a message to other food service establishments: “By engaging and working with grease contractor experts such as GreaseTech Drainage Solutions and ECAS, the grease management process becomes much easier, giving us peace of mind that we’re tackling the problem effectively. It’s a no-brainer when you consider the long-term benefits to both the environment and your business.”

In the Anglian Water region, 80% of sewer flooding incidents are caused by blockages, many of which are the result of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) entering the sewer system. Last year alone, Anglian Water cleared over 35,000 blockages, removing tonnes of waste that were linked to flooding and pollution events.

Wipes are also a major contributor to this problem. Around half a million wipes – that’s equivalent to 9,500 packets – are flushed into the East of England’s sewers every day. When flushed, wipes can mix with fats, oils, and other unflushable items, creating solid blockages because wipes don’t break down like toilet paper and can take over 100 years to decompose — even those labelled ‘flushable’ or ‘fine to flush’.

Connor Brailsford, Programme Manager at Anglian Water, commented: “Stopping fats, oils, and grease at the source is one of the most effective ways to protect our environment – especially when combined with action on unflushable items like wipes. That’s why we’re working in blockage hotspots like Northampton to raise awareness and protect local communities through partnerships like this one. The Big Table Group and GreaseTech Drainage Solutions’ proactive approach is a fantastic example of how businesses can play a vital role in keeping our sewers flowing.”

Anglian Water’s ‘Just Bin It’ campaign continues to raise awareness of what should and shouldn’t go down the drain. Whether it’s wet wipes, fats, or oils, every small action adds up to big environmental benefits.

Connor Brailsford added: “We’re asking everyone – businesses and customers alike – to take a moment and think before they flush or pour. If it’s not pee, poo, or toilet paper, it belongs in the bin, not the drain. Together, through initiatives like this and everyday good habits, we can protect our homes, rivers, beaches, and the environment for future generations.”