Wastewater Plant · NRW Reference · LINEG · 5 min read · Video: 3:50

LINEG NRW: Grease Shaft Maintenance Optimised — Tim Shows the Result

LINEG stands for Linksniederrheinische Entwässerungs-Genossenschaft — one of the major wastewater management organisations in North Rhine-Westphalia. Tim is responsible there for the operations management of grease shafts and wastewater infrastructure.

In this video Tim shows what changed at a specific grease shaft after using lipasanF® — visually, in terms of odor, and in maintenance rhythm.

Tim — Operations Management, LINEG NRW

Linksniederrheinische Entwässerungs-Genossenschaft · Municipal Infrastructure

Tim — LINEG NRW · Grease Shaft On-Site · lipasanF® Pilot Phase Subtitles available: DE · EN · FR · ES · IT · PT · DA · HR

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Tim: "I'm responsible at LINEG for operations management in the grease shaft area. This shaft here gave us repeated problems — too much fat, too fast. We had to intervene more often than planned. We tried lipasanF® as an additive in regular operation. Dosing runs via an automatic pump doser, set to normal fat load. What I'm showing you now is the shaft after about eight weeks. [Shaft opened.] The fat that used to sit in thick layers — it's noticeably less. The floating sludge is thinner, the smell is different. Still a wastewater smell, but not that sharp fatty odor anymore. We were able to extend the interval to the next planned maintenance by about six weeks. Doesn't sound like much, but if you have twenty shafts, it adds up. I'd say: it works. Not like a miracle product, but reliably. That's enough for us."

Grease Shafts in Municipal Wastewater Infrastructure: An Ongoing Issue with Measurable Costs

In municipal sewer networks, fat accumulates at specific hotspots: shafts near restaurant areas, handover points, and low points in the sewer routing. These grease shafts require regular maintenance — often more frequently than planned when fat load is high.

LINEG tested lipasanF® at a problem shaft that regularly required early maintenance intervention. Tim shows the on-site condition at the start of the pilot phase and after use.

What LINEG Observed During the Pilot Phase

Three changes Tim documented on-site:

1
Floating sludge layer measurably reduced — visually apparent after 8 weeks of operation
2
Problem shaft maintenance interval extendable by ~6 weeks — scaled to 20 shafts: significant savings
3
H₂S odor in the shaft significantly reduced — improved working environment for maintenance teams

Why Biological Support in Municipal Grease Shafts Makes Sense

Municipal grease shafts are not controlled laboratory conditions: varying loads, temperature fluctuations, seasonal peak loads. Mechanical maintenance alone can handle it — but at a cost. Every maintenance deployment costs personnel, vehicle time, and often external contractors.

lipasanF® is not an alternative to mechanical cleaning, but a relief before it. If fat is already biologically broken down in the shaft, the layer thickness to be pumped out at the next maintenance is reduced. Less volume = less frequency = less cost.

"Twenty shafts, six extra weeks per shaft — that adds up."

— Tim — Operations Management, LINEG NRW

Questions About lipasanF® in Municipal Grease Shafts

Can lipasanF® be dosed automatically?

Yes. LINEG uses an automatic pump doser — the preferred method for municipal operations with multiple shafts. We recommend and configure dosing systems on request.

From how many shafts does biological support pay off?

Even a single problem shaft can justify the measure through extended maintenance intervals. With five or more shafts, savings are generally clearly positive — depending on local maintenance costs.

Is use in sewer networks regulatorily unproblematic?

Yes. lipasanF® contains no chemicals, only biologically active strains that are degradable in wastewater treatment. Use is compatible with standard DWA guidelines. We advise on specific requirements.