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 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.
Useful if repeat drainage trouble points to a trap that is no longer right for the site.
Useful if the site already has infrastructure in place but needs a more robust ongoing arrangement.
Useful if 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.