Received a Severn Trent Water letter about grease?
If Severn Trent Water has contacted your site about grease entering the sewer network, the next step is usually to understand what is already in place, whether it is working properly and what response the site can support with confidence.
What it usually means
This is usually a site-review problem before it is a product-buying problem
A Severn Trent Water letter often means the site needs to show that its grease-management arrangement is suitable, maintained and capable of reducing risk to the sewer network. The right answer is not always a brand-new unit. Sometimes it is a proper survey, a servicing reset, a clearer maintenance route or a better-matched system.
Common signals
What usually brings operators to this page
- • A letter about fats, oils and grease entering the sewer network
- • A request for evidence, site details, a survey or a recommendation
- • Questions about whether the current grease trap setup is suitable
- • Concern that the site may be contributing to repeated sewer misuse or drainage trouble
What to do next
A calmer, stronger response usually starts with these steps
Most operators do not need legal jargon first. They need a clearer picture of what is on site, what is missing and what action is likely to satisfy the concern without wasting money in the wrong place.
Keep the letter and note any response deadline or requested evidence.
Review what is already on site: trap type, servicing history, drainage issues and any previous recommendations.
Get the kitchen surveyed properly before assuming the answer is just to buy a new unit.
Work out whether the site needs better servicing, a different system, an upgrade or clearer reporting.
Respond with a site-based recommendation rather than guesswork.
Why it matters
A Severn Trent letter is a pressure signal, not something to brush aside
Most operators do better when they slow the panic down, review the actual site position and respond with a plan that is grounded in what the kitchen really needs.
A Severn Trent letter usually means the site needs a credible plan
The pressure is often less about instant blame and more about whether the operator can show that grease risk is understood, controlled and being dealt with properly.
Existing grease equipment does not always settle the question
Severn Trent-linked enquiries often come from sites that already have a trap in place, but the current arrangement may be undersized, poorly maintained or weakly documented.
Delay tends to make the operational problem heavier
If the site waits too long, the issue can move from a manageable review into follow-up pressure over evidence, servicing history, corrective works and ongoing responsibility.
Typical response timeline
Most kitchens benefit from a quick review sequence
The goal is not to sound impressive quickly. The goal is to gather the right evidence, decide what actually needs changing and respond before the pressure grows.
Read the Severn Trent letter closely
Check what is being asked for, whether there is a response date, and whether the concern is about evidence, suitability, maintenance or a broader sewer misuse risk.
Review the kitchen setup properly
Look at the existing trap, servicing trail, drainage issues and any signs that the current arrangement is no longer aligned with the way the kitchen operates.
Work out the sensible corrective route
Some sites need a survey and documentation first. Others need servicing, an upgrade, clearer reporting or a different system altogether.
Reply with a calmer, defensible position
The aim is to show that the site has taken the issue seriously and is acting on a recommendation grounded in the actual kitchen, not in assumptions.
What helps
What to gather before replying
Having the useful site details together makes it much easier to respond calmly and avoid guessing at what Severn Trent really needs to see.
- • The Severn Trent Water letter and any stated response deadline
- • Any grease trap servicing records, waste-transfer notes or maintenance reports
- • Photos or notes showing the current setup and any obvious drainage concerns
- • Basic details on trap type, location, access issues and kitchen output
- • Any record of smells, blockages, overflows or repeat drain interventions
- • The name of the person who will coordinate the response internally
Why Actem gets these enquiries
Severn Trent and Anglian Water are common enquiry routes into Actem
Many water-authority-linked enquiries reaching Actem come through Severn Trent Water and Anglian Water. But the same site-led approach also applies to commercial kitchens contacted by other water authorities across the UK.
What operators often miss
Having a grease trap already installed does not automatically answer the letter
A site can still face pressure if the current setup is undersized, poorly maintained, not matched to the kitchen output, or lacking the servicing and reporting needed to back up the response properly.
Common questions
What people usually want answered quickly
Can I keep trading if Severn Trent Water has written to my site?
That depends on the circumstances, but many operators can continue trading while they gather the right site information and move toward a proper response. The key is not to ignore the issue or rely on assumptions about what is already installed.
How quickly should I respond to a Severn Trent Water letter?
You should respond within the timeline given in the letter or start dealing with it promptly if the letter is less specific. A quick site review is usually better than waiting until the pressure escalates.
Will installing a grease trap automatically solve the problem?
Not always. Some sites already have a grease-management setup in place, but it may be undersized, poorly maintained, wrongly located or simply not suited to the way the kitchen really operates.
What if the site already has a grease trap?
That does not mean the current setup is doing enough. The site may need a servicing reset, a survey, better reporting, a different system or a replacement based on actual kitchen demand.
Does this only apply to Severn Trent Water enquiries?
No. Severn Trent Water and Anglian Water are common enquiry routes into Actem, but the same core approach also applies when sites are contacted by other water authorities across the UK.
Seen in the field
Relevant proof and next reading
Start here if the letter is from a different authority or you want the broader version of the same issue.
Helpful when repeat drainage trouble points to a trap that is no longer right for the site.
Helpful when the site already has infrastructure in place but needs a more robust ongoing arrangement.
Helpful when you need the site assessed properly and want a clear recommendation rather than guesswork.
Written by Actem
This guide was written by Actem’s grease management team for commercial kitchens dealing with water-authority pressure, compliance concerns and the need for a clear site-led next step.
Start with a conversation
Need help responding to a Severn Trent Water letter?
If your site has been contacted about grease entering the sewer network, Actem can help you review the setup, survey the kitchen and work out the right next step with confidence.