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As the foam dissipates, it becomes mainly liquid and then the live bacteria multiply in the drain. Environmentally safe surfactants break down pest breeding areas. Organic material such as food residue or cooking ingredients are broken down and later washed away when the drain is back in use. This reduces the area where pests can live and multiply.

Finally, the microbes eat the remaining organic material, completing the elimination of pest breeding areas. This bioremedial cleaning breaks down the organic material and converts it into fish food and water. One 20-oz. can provides 7 gal. of foam.

MORE DRAIN HELP

Roebic Laboratories also provides products to help customers with their drain and plumbing problems. For over 50 years, their environmentally-friendly products have been used to treat septic systems, drain lines, grease maintenance systems, etc. without harm to the environment.

“Many years of research have culminated in the isolation and patenting of eight strains of bacteria that serve as the base for the RoeTech line of bacterial products,” says Lorraine Gifford, vice president of commercial sales and marketing for Roebic Laboratories.

These powerful bacteria produce a wide array of enzymes that are capable of degrading the most problematic of materials such as fats, oils, grease and food particulates. “It is these problem substrates that tend to build-up in plumbing lines and grease traps that lead to backups and overflows. The use of products in our Restaurant Line will help to avoid these messy and costly situations,” says Gifford.

Gifford also cautions against the use of harsh chemical drain cleaners that can cause damage to facility pipes and equipment. Additionally, “enzyme-only products are costly and have limited abilities to work in various conditions. This is the great advantage that the RoeTech bacteria give, as they produce multiple enzymes which will do their work over a wide range in temperature and pH,” says Gifford.

For foodservice personnel, these products are preventive maintenance and can save money by avoiding expensive cleanouts. They are not an immediate solution.

Waterbury also offers a continuous cleaning system. A metered dispenser delivers fresh bacteria every 15 minutes for 30 days.

“The dispenser is hooked on the wall and works with a drip tube to the drain,” says Rice. “It makes cleaning at the end of the day easier. It runs on just two C batteries and it uses significantly less product than ready-to-use products.”