Sewer maintenance in Amsterdam: “We look for fractures of fat and check everything is still good”
Waternet maintains the water pipes and sewer pipes in and around Amsterdam. A network of up to 4000 kilometers. Old or sagging pipes are regularly replaced. The tubes are still in order by using cameras. The creators of the AT5 program Traffic spend a morning watching the sewer work in Slotermeer.
Sewer cleaner Richard Kroll explains what the work entails. “We are inspecting and cleaning the sewer. Fractures, safety, grease. Checking if everything is still good”.
By using moving cameras, the sewer cleaners of the sewer pipes and water pipes are still in order. The vet flushed down the toilet by households in particular causes problems. “Because people probably throw in their pans with fat, we have problems with fat. We are now removing that.”
According to passers-by, it is not that difficult to dispose of fat. “Well, other than what comes out of me, I don’t throw anything down the toilet. And toilet paper, of course,” says a local resident. And another passer-by would not know where that fat must come from.”I keep the old oil and it goes separately with the garbage. I’ve been doing that for a long time. For years actually.”
“A little butter maybe, but I hope it’s not too bad,” says a passer-by. “I’ll have a look at it.”
Sewer cleaner Kroll has a tip for the Amsterdammers. “If you have grease, or whatever, wipe it out of your pan and throw it in the trash. The sewer is just for pee, poo and that sort of thing.”