Twenty thousand dollars.
That’s what the water board could fine you for washing grease filters in the gully trap out the back of your shop. No warning. No second chance. Just a fine that could wipe out a month’s profit – or worse.
And here’s the thing, most business owners don’t realise – they don’t need to catch you in the act. The water authority can test the stormwater system and trace contamination back to its source. By the time you get the call, the evidence is already locked in.
We’re not telling you this to scare you. We’re telling you because we’ve seen good operators – people who thought they were doing the right thing – get caught out. Sometimes they were trying to save a few dollars by doing it themselves. Sometimes they hired a cheap operator who promised to “take care of it” without explaining how.
Either way, the fine lands.
The Real Cost of “Saving Money” on Filter Cleaning
Let’s be honest, when you look at a greasy filter, the first thought isn’t “I need a licensed facility to handle this.” It’s just as likely to be “I could probably sort this out myself.”
And on the surface, it makes sense. You’re already dealing with a hundred things. The filter’s right there. The gully trap’s out back. A bit of degreaser, some hot water, and you’re done. What’s the harm?
The harm is that grease, chemicals, and caustic cleaners entering the stormwater system constitute an environmental offence. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t know. It doesn’t matter that you were just trying to keep your kitchen running. The regulations exist to protect the water supply, and the penalties reflect how seriously the authorities take it.
Neither Melbourne Water nor Yarra Valley Water issues warnings for this. They issue fines. And they’ve got the systems in place to find out who’s responsible.
This isn’t about being paranoid. It’s about understanding that what feels like a small shortcut can have serious consequences for your business.
The Cowboy Operator Problem
Here’s where it gets more complicated.
Maybe you’re not cleaning filters yourself. Maybe you’ve got a guy who comes around, picks them up, and brings them back clean or swaps them out for clean filters. He’s cheap. He’s reliable. He seems fine.
But have you ever asked him where he actually cleans them?
Because if he doesn’t have a licensed facility – if he’s washing them in his backyard, or at an industrial estate without proper drainage, or dumping the waste somewhere it shouldn’t go – then he’s operating illegally.
The rogue operator might disappear. He might shut up shop and move on to the next suburb. But you’re still there, running your business, and your workflow has broken down.
Is saving $10 or $20 per clean worth that hassle?
And God help you if the same operator is cleaning your exhaust. Because if he’s taking shortcuts with your filters, he’s no doubt taking shortcuts cleaning your fan and exhaust system.
These operators exist because they undercut legitimate businesses. They don’t have the overhead of proper facilities, licensing agreements, or compliant waste disposal. That’s how they offer rock-bottom prices. But it also means they’re not running a sustainable business. They’re one inspection away from being shut down – and one step ahead of a trail that leads back to their customers.
Working with an operator like this isn’t just a business risk. It’s an environmental one. You’re effectively paying someone to pollute the water system on your behalf. That might sound harsh, but that’s how the regulators see it.
The Price Perception Problem – OMG! I can’t believe the value!
Here’s something that surprises most business owners: legitimate filter cleaning is probably cheaper than you think.
Many operators assume professional filter service costs $400 or $500. So they either try to do it themselves, or they go with the cheapest quote they can find – which often turns out to be a cowboy operator.
But a compliant filter cleaning service – where someone comes to your premises and swaps out your dirty filters for clean filters – can cost as little as $60 for a standard set.
That’s less than a family dinner.
When you compare that to the risk of a $20,000 fine – or the hassle of dealing with the water board – it’s hard to justify cutting corners.
What Legitimate Filter Cleaning Actually Looks Like
A licensed filter cleaning service operates from a facility that’s been assessed and approved by the water authorities. They have formal agreements – often spanning years – that allow them to receive, clean, and dispose of grease and chemical waste in a tracked, compliant way.
For example, operating a filter-cleaning facility in Melbourne requires a license from Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, or the relevant authority. Getting that agreement isn’t easy. It requires site inspections, documented processes, and ongoing compliance checks.
The wastewater from filter cleaning doesn’t just go down the drain. It passes through treatment systems designed to remove grease and contaminants before entering the stormwater system. The authorities track this. They audit it. And they know exactly which facilities are operating legitimately.
When you use a licensed service, you’re not just getting clean filters. You’re getting documentation that proves your business is compliant. That matters when the insurance assessor comes around. It matters when you’re renewing your food safety certification. And it matters if there’s ever a question about your environmental practices.
What You Should Ask Your Current Provider
If you’re already using a filter cleaning service, it’s worth asking a few questions:
- Where do you clean the filters?
A legitimate operator will have a facility address and be happy to share it with you. If they’re vague, or they say they clean them “on site” or “at our depot” without details, that’s a red flag. - Do they have a licensing agreement with the water authority?
This is the key question. In Melbourne, that means Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, or the relevant regional authority. - How long have you been operating?
Cowboy operators tend to come and go. They start up, undercut the market, run until they get caught or the business becomes unviable, then disappear. A provider with years of operation and long-term client relationships is a safer bet.
The Bottom Line
Cleaning grease filters yourself – or using an unlicensed operator – might save you a few dollars in the short term. But the risk isn’t worth it.
A $20,000 fine can cripple a small business. An environmental investigation can damage your reputation. And associating with operators who cut corners puts you on the wrong side of regulations you might not even know exist.
The good news is that doing it properly isn’t expensive. It’s not complicated. And it gives you one less thing to worry about in a business where there’s already plenty to keep you up at night.
If you’re not sure whether your current setup is compliant, it’s worth finding out. Ask the questions. Check the credentials. And if something doesn’t add up, make a change before the water board makes it for you.
Because $20,000 is a lot to pay for a lesson you could have avoided.
Clean Air Filtration has held licensing agreements with Melbourne Water and Yarra Valley Water for over a decade, and has a purpose-built facility that has been inspected and approved multiple times. If you want to know more about compliant filter cleaning – or you’re not sure about your current provider – get in touch.
