Mess wasn't from sewerage pipe

A CLOGGED, leaking kitchen pipe created a mess in Basement 1 of Tampines Mall on Friday.

MESS NO MORE: The floors of Tampines Mall's Basement 1 are now clean after kitchen waste water apparently leaked from a pipe on Friday. TNP PICTURE: GAVIN FOO

Tenants and workers had initially thought the brownish liquid was from a leaking sewerage pipe.

But a CapitaLand retail spokesman has since clarified that it was actually kitchen waste water that had leaked through the pipes and cracks of the basement flooring.

Said the spokesman: 'This happens when tenants do not dispose of their food waste products properly.

'That is when they just pour all their waste (which includes solid food waste products) directly down the sink.

'This in turn will build up and cause certain pipes to clog up.'

Security guards alerted the management when they noticed the liquid spreading across the floor.

The spokesman said: 'All 18 cleaners were then mobilised to clean up the area at about 9.40am.'

A contractor was then asked to use special equipment to clear up the choked area.

The entire basement was also disinfected thoroughly, said the spokesman.

Not the first time

Following the incident, the mall's contractor is now carrying out thorough checks and flushing all kitchen waste pipes.

In April, another waste water pipe was clogged and had leaked onto another part of Basement 1.

Like most malls, maintenance of the pipes is carried out once every three months.

But, the spokesman added, if tenants do not dispose of their food waste products properly, leakage might occur again.

'Thus, we are also working closely with our tenants to educate them on the good habits of utensils washing and food waste disposal, and carrying out regular inspection to ensure that strainers are in place in their sinks at all times to trap waste solids.'

The mall may also replace the waste pipes if the contractor finds them faulty. The pipes are about four years old.

Said BreadTalk manager Frankie Tan, 35: 'The liquid started to flow out of the drain pipe at about 9.30am last Friday.

'At first I thought it was just a problem with my store. But I walked to the other stores and I realised they all had the same problem.'

He added that the cleaners worked quickly and by 1pm, the mess was cleared up.