101.04 GREASE INTERCEPTOR INSTALLATION REQUIRED AFTER EFFECTIVE DATE.

The owner of a building or facility in which an FSE is located, and the owner or operator of an FSE shall be required to install an approved grease interceptor, and to thereafter operate and maintain same as provided in this division.

(Ord. 1662 - Jul. 10 Supp.)

101.05 EXEMPTION FROM GREASE INTERCEPTOR INSTALLATION REQUIREMENT FOR EXISTING FACILITIES.

The requirements of Section 101.04 shall not apply to that portion of a building or facility within which an FSE is in existence on the effective date if:

1.   The FSE has an existing grease interceptor or grease trap in place as of the effective date and provided that (a) the owner or occupant of the FSE continues to use the interceptor or trap, (b) the interceptor or trap is of sufficient capacity and design, and (c) the interceptor or trap is operated and maintained so as to comply with FOG discharge limits; and

2.   Any repair, remodeling or renovation of the wastewater plumbing system in the existing FSE involves only (a) the repair of leaks or the clearing of stoppages in drains, soil, waste or vent piping, or (b) the removal and reinstallation of a sink, toilet or hot water heater; provided that such work does not involve replacement, rearrangement or moving of wastewater pipes, floor sinks, drainage fixtures or grease traps; and

3.   None of the following conditions are present:

   A.   A building or facility exists on the effective date and is thereafter expanded or renovated, or a portion thereof, to include an FSE where such FSE did not previously exist; or

   B.   An FSE exists on the effective date within a building or facility , or portion of a building or facility, and application is thereafter made for a building permit(s) for such building or facility with valuation of $50,000 or more within a twelve (12) month period; or

   C.   A building or facility, or portion thereof, that contained an FSE on the effective date but in which an FSE ceases to operate for one year or more, as determined by Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals, Food and Consumer Safety Bureau records.

(Ord. 1662 - Jul. 10 Supp.)

101.06 COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES.

1.   After the effective date, any permitted construction under Section 101.04 shall be deemed compliant upon issuance of a certificate of compliance or certificate of occupancy for such construction by the City Building Official.

2.   An FSE shall be deemed compliant, unless the WRA director or local building official or designee determines that an existing grease trap or grease interceptor is incapable of adequately retaining FOG. In such cases, the Director may order the FSE to install an adequate grease interceptor within a specified time period if:

   A.   The FSE is found to contribute FOG in quantities above FOG discharge limits; or

   B.   The FSE discharges necessitate increased maintenance on the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) in order to keep stoppages from occurring therein; or

   C.   The FSE's discharge to the POTW is at anytime determined to exceed four hundred (400) mg/l total FOG.

3.   An order directing an existing FSE or the owner or operator of the FSE or the owner of the building or facility in which the FSE is located to install a grease interceptor shall be in writing from the WRA Director in the form of a notice of violation including a corrective action order, as provided in section 118-488 of this division.

4.   FSEs or owners of buildings of facilities within which an FSE is located which are unable to install or replace a grease interceptor due to exceptional physical constraints or economic hardship may appeal to the WRA director for approval of an alternative grease control technology by requesting a hearing in accordance with the provisions of this division. Such requests shall be submitted in writing and shall include detailed descriptions of the FSE's physical or financial constraints and the alternative grease control technology which it proposes to install and utilize.

   A.   In order to demonstrate exceptional economic hardship, the owner or operator of the FSE shall submit to the WRA director balance sheets and profit and loss statements for FSE for the preceding three (3) years. A new FSE shall submit profit/loss projections or a detailed business plan with projections for twenty-four (24) months. Each request shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

   B.   Notwithstanding approval of alternative grease control technology, when the WRA director determines that such alternative is not performing adequately, the FSE or owner of the building or facility in which the FSE is located shall be required to take additional grease control measures, which may include the installation of a grease interceptor.

   C.   In order to demonstrate exceptional physical site constraints preventing the installation of a grease interceptor, the owner or operator of the FSE or owner of the building or facility in which the FSE is located shall submit to the WRA director documentation and plats showing the location of sanitary sewer and any private easements in relation to the building sewer for the building housing the FSE, and showing available space inside or outside the building and drawings of existing plumbing at or in a site that uses common plumbing for all services at that site.

   D.   An FSE that is given an exemption from installing a properly sized grease interceptor is prohibited from installing or using a dishwasher or garbage disposal without approval of the director and must comply with the conditions of such approval, if any.

(Ord. 1662 - Jul. 10 Supp.)

101.07 INSTALLATION OF GREASE INTERCEPTORS AND GREASE TRAPS.

Grease interceptors and grease traps, when required, shall be installed as follows:

1.   Grease interceptors and grease traps shall be installed at the expense of the owner or operator of the FSE or owner of the building or facility in which the FSE is located which is contributing wastewater to the POTW.

2.   All wastewater streams containing FOG or reasonably likely to contain FOG within FSEs or other FOG generating operations shall be directed into one or more appropriately sized grease interceptor before discharge to the POTW. Grease interceptors shall be either sized by adding the peak design flow rates for all fixtures leading to the grease interceptor and allowing a minimum retention time of thirty (30) minutes or as follows:

Grease Interceptor Sizing
1.   Peak meals per hour
   a.   Seating capacity of FSE              _________
   b.   Occupancy of FSE                 _________*
   c.   Seating or occupancy x meal factor of 1.3 (45 minute meal) or 1.0
      (intermittent-use FSEs) = Peak meals per hour
*Church: include all area(s) used for meal service
*Assisted Living / nursing facility: equal to maximum number of residents (per State license)
2.   Waste flow rate, gallons of flow
   a.   Commercial, equipped kitchen with dishwasher & one garbage disposal*     7
   b.   Commercial, equipped kitchen with dishwasher, no garbage disposal     6
   c.   Commercial, equipped kitchen with no dishwasher, one garbage disposal*     6
   d.   Commercial, equipped kitchen with no dishwasher, no garbage disposal     5
   e.   Single service kitchen**                      2
* Each additional garbage disposal, add one (1) gallon
**Single service kitchen = no garbage disposal, no dishwasher and all service is single use
3.   Retention time, hours
   a.   Commercial kitchen                          2.5
   b.   Single service kitchen                       1.5
4.   Storage factor
   a.   Commercial Kitchen up to 8 hours of operation              1
   b.   Commercial kitchen up to 12 hours of operation             1.5
   c.   Commercial kitchen up to 16 hours of operation              2
   d.   Commercial kitchen up to 20 hours of operation              2.5
   e.   Commercial kitchen up to 24 hours of operation              3
   d.   Single service kitchen                       1.5

Peak Meals      Waste Flow       Retention       Storage    Calculated
per Hour X    Rate          X    Time      X    Factor    =   Interceptor Size

(Ord. 1959 - Feb. 19 Supp.)

3.   Concrete grease interceptors whether precast or poured in place, shall be designed and manufactured in accordance with ASTM C 1613-08 Standard Specification for Precast Concrete Grease Interceptor Tanks or IAPMO/ANSI Z1001 Grease Interceptors and shall be installed in accordance with the codes adopted by the jurisdiction in which the FSE is located. Where no code is adopted, the construction and installation shall be in accordance with the Iowa State Plumbing Code and this division. Grease interceptors using materials other than concrete require approval by the director, and shall comply with the conditions of such approval, if any.

4.   The building official or other designated official of the governmental subdivision within which the FSE is located shall inspect each grease interceptor installation made pursuant to this division, shall review all relevant information regarding the rated performance of the grease interceptor, and the building plan and facility site plan for the building and site where the grease interceptor has been installed, and shall approve such grease interceptor installation upon determination that the grease interceptor meets all applicable standards and requirements.

5.   Grease interceptors shall have a minimum capacity of one thousand (1000) gallons and shall not exceed five thousand (5000) gallons for a single unit. Where a capacity greater than five thousand (5000) gallons is required, several smaller units shall be installed in series; however, the capacity shall not exceed ten thousand (10,000) gallons for any single series of interceptors without approval of the director.

(Subsections 1-5 - Ord. 1662 - Jul. 10 Supp.)

6.   Grease interceptors shall be installed outside the building housing the food service establishment and below surface grade, and shall have access manholes, with a minimum diameter of twenty-four (24) inches, over each chamber and sanitary tee. Access manholes shall extend from the grease interceptor to at least the finished surface grade and be designed and maintained to prevent storm or surface water inflow and groundwater infiltration. The manholes shall also have readily removable covers to facilitate inspection and grease removal.

7.   Sewer lines which are not grease laden, which are not likely to contain FOG, or which contain sanitary wastes shall not be connected to a grease interceptor.

8.   Grease interceptors shall be equipped with an accessible discharge sampling port with a minimum six-inch diameter, which shall extend from the grease interceptor to at least the finished surface grade.

9.   Where grease interceptors are shared by more than one food service establishment, the building owner shall be the responsible party for record keeping and cleaning of the interceptor.

101.08 OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING OF GREASE INTERCEPTORS AND GREASE TRAPS AND GREASE HAULER CERTIFICATION.

1.   The owner or operator of an FSE which is required to pass wastewater through a grease interceptor or trap shall operate and maintain the grease interceptor or trap so that wastewater exiting the grease interceptor or trap shall not exceed four hundred (400) milligrams per liter of FOG.

2.   The owner or operator of the FSE shall cause the grease interceptor or trap to be cleaned as hereinafter required when FOG and solids reach 25 percent of the design liquid level of the grease interceptor or trap, or sooner if necessary to prevent carry over of FOG from the grease interceptor or trap into the city sanitary sewer system. Interceptors and traps shall be cleaned at three (3) month intervals or less. A longer cleaning interval must be approved by the WRA director. The owner or operator of an FSE shall employ a waste hauler licensed by the WRA pursuant to Chapter 102 of this Code of Ordinances to clean the grease interceptor or trap, provided that the waste hauler personnel performing the cleaning has a current grease hauler certification from the WRA indicating satisfactory completion of the course of training offered by the WRA on the cleaning of grease interceptors and traps.

3.   Any person who cleans a grease interceptor or trap shall do so in accordance with the following procedures and requirements. The person cleaning the grease interceptor or trap shall:

   A.   Completely empty and remove the contents (liquids and sludge) of all vaults of the grease interceptor or trap, and remove the grease mat and scrapings from the interior walls. As part of each cleaning of a grease interceptor or trap, the licensed waste hauler employed by the FSE owner or operator shall perform the following maintenance activities:

      (1)   Check that the sanitary "tees" on the inlet and outlet sides of the grease interceptor are not obstructed, loose, or missing.

      (2)   Verify that the baffle is secure and in place.

      (3)   Inspect the grease interceptor or trap for any cracks or other defects.

      (4)   Check that lids are securely and properly seated after completion of cleaning.

   B.   Not deposit waste and wastewater removed from a grease interceptor or trap back into the grease interceptor or trap from which the waste or wastewater was removed, or into any other grease interceptor or trap or drainage fixture connected to the sanitary sewer, for the purpose of reducing the volume of waste and wastewater to be disposed of.

   C.   Not introduce enzymes, emulsifying chemicals, hot water or other agents into a grease interceptor or trap to dissolve or emulsify grease or as a grease abatement method. Introduction of bacteria as a grease degradation agent is permitted with prior written approval by the WRA director.

   D.   Dispose of waste and wastewater removed from a grease interceptor or trap at the WRF or at a facility approved for disposal of such waste by the WRA director. Waste and wastewater removed from a grease interceptor or trap shall not be discharged to any private sanitary or storm sewer or to the city sanitary or storm sewer system. The waste hauler shall provide a copy of the disposal receipt for all waste and wastewater removed from a grease interceptor or trap to the owner or operator of the FSE.

   E.   Not use an automatic grease removal system to clean a grease interceptor without prior written approval of the WRA director, and if, the use of an automatic grease removal system is approved, shall operate same in a manner that the grease wastewater discharge limit, as measured from the system's outlet, is consistently achieved.

4.   The WRA director may make exceptions to the above requirements, or may approve alternative operational requirements or cleaning and maintenance methods, provided that such exceptions or approvals shall be made in writing by the WRA director.

5.   The WRA director may issue a grease hauler certification upon satisfactory completion of the course of training offered by the WRA on the proper maintenance and cleaning of grease interceptors and traps, disposal procedures and record keeping. Such certification shall be for a period of 5 years and shall be in effect for the person receiving such training. Grease haulers certified by the WRA shall be subject to a grease interceptor cleanout inspection by WRA personnel, not less than once every two years, for purposes of the hauler demonstrating its compliance with requirements in this section. Such inspections shall be scheduled at a time which coincides with normal working hours for WRA personnel, shall involve all individuals employed by the same company who have been issued a grease hauler certification by the WRA, and shall be conducted at an FSE within the WRA service area. Failure to follow WRA's cleanout procedures or other requirements of this section may result in fines, additional scheduled cleanout inspections, and loss of grease hauler certification status, individually or company-wide, with the WRA.

(Ord. 2119 - Sep. 22 Supp.)

101.09 RECORDS AND RECORD KEEPING.

1.   Required Records. The owner or operator of a food service establishment which is required to pass wastewater through a grease interceptor or trap shall maintain a written record of grease interceptor or trap maintenance, including a log showing the dates upon which the grease interceptor or trap was inspected and the estimated amount of FOG present in the grease interceptor or trap at each inspection, the date upon which waste and wastewater were removed from the grease interceptor or trap and disposed of, and the location and means of such disposal of waste and wastewater, and the name and employer or the person or persons performing each of said tasks. The log shall further include a record of the placement of any approved or unapproved additive into the grease interceptor, grease trap or building sewer on a constant, regular or scheduled basis, including the type and amount of additive placed on each such occasion. Only additives approved by the WRA Director pursuant to Section 101.08(3)(C) may be used in a grease interceptor.

2.   Record Keeping. The log shall at all times be kept and maintained on a day-to-day basis so as to show a record of waste and wastewater removal, waste and wastewater disposal and approved additive placement for a continuous period of three (3) years. All such records shall be kept secure at the premises of the food service establishment for a continuous period of three years and shall be made available for non-routine inspection by the City, the WRA, and its operating contractor, or the employees and agents of any of them at any time during normal business hours.

101.10 INSPECTION OF GREASE INTERCEPTORS AND RELATED SEWERS AND EQUIPMENT.

The owner or operator of an FSE shall:

1.   Provide, operate and maintain, at its expense, safe and accessible monitoring facilities (such as a suitable manhole), and shall make such monitoring facilities available for inspection, for routine cleanouts by the owner or operator's licensed grease hauler, and for sampling and flow measurement of the building sewer or internal drainage systems. There shall be ample room in or near such monitoring facilities to allow for proper inspection, accurate sampling and preparation of samples for analysis. The monitoring facilities shall be maintained such that the device(s) is readily and immediately accessible for inspections and cleanouts being free of coverings, building materials, pavements, or any other obstructions.

2.   Allow personnel authorized by the WRA Director or by the City Building Official, bearing proper credentials and identification, to enter upon or into any building, facility or property housing a food service establishment at any reasonable time and without prior notification, for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, testing or record review, in accordance with this chapter.

3.   Upon request by the WRA director's authorized representative, open any grease interceptor or grease trap for the purpose of confirming that maintenance frequency is appropriate, that all necessary parts of the installation are in place including, but not limited to, baffles and effluent tees, and that all grease interceptors, traps, and related equipment and piping is maintained in efficient operating condition.

4.   Accommodate compliance inspections and sampling events by the authorized representatives of the WRA Director or of the City Building Official. Staff may conduct routine inspections and sampling events of any food service establishment. Non-routine inspection and sampling events shall occur more frequently when there is a history of non-compliance with this chapter and when blockages occur in the City's sanitary sewer system downstream of the food service establishment.

(Ord. 2119 - Sep. 22 Supp.)

101.11 TRIP CHARGES.

The fees for inspection of an FSE shall be as provided in Section 100.17 and shall be paid within 30 days of the date of the invoice for such fees. A trip charge of $50.00, as referenced in Section 100.17 shall be assessed in conjunction with the violation of any requirement of Section 101.10 which results in the need for WRA personnel to reschedule such inspection of grease interceptor/trap or food service establishment, and shall be paid within 30 days of the date of the invoice for such charge.

(Ord. 2119 - Sep. 22 Supp.)