(A) Exemptions. The General Manager may exempt certain classes of dischargers of industrial wastes from requirement to obtain a permit if the quantity and quality of the wastewater are determined to be unlikely to create significant effects on the POTW or produce violation of state or federal regulations.
(B) Grease interceptors and gravity separating devices.
(1) Restaurants.
(a) All restaurants or food service facilities, except those identified as exempt, shall install an approved grease interceptor of sufficient size to prevent excessive discharges of grease into the District’s wastewater system. The interceptor size shall be based on the most recent version of CAWD’s Uniform Plumbing Code. The grease interceptor shall be easily accessible for inspection by CAWD’s authorized representative. Toilets, urinals, wash basins and other fixtures containing fecal material shall not flow through the interceptor. The District reserves the right to make determinations of grease interceptor size, adequacy, location and need based on review of relevant information, including, but not limited to, grease interceptor performance, waste stream characteristics, facility location, maintenance needs and/or inspection needs.
(b) Exceptions to the installation of a grease interceptor shall be determined on a case by case basis by the CAWD’s District Engineer. The CAWD District Engineer shall take into account the following items when determining exceptions:
1. Size of restaurant;
2. Meals served per day;
3. Daily water usage based upon water bills;
4. Seating capacity;
5. Dishwasher and garbage disposal facilities on hand; and
6. Other criteria the District deems applicable.
(c) After determination that a grease interceptor or trap is required, the following procedures shall be adhered to.
1. When waste treatment is required pursuant to this chapter, an approved grease trap or grease interceptor complying with the provisions of this chapter shall be installed in the waste line leading from sinks, drains and other fixtures or equipment.
2. A plumbing permit shall be obtained from the District prior to the installation of a grease trap or grease interceptor.
3. Each trap, interceptor or comparable device required by this chapter shall have an approved volume not less than that required by this chapter or by current standards adopted by CAWD’s Plumbing Code.
4. Toilets, lavatories and other sanitary fixtures shall not be connected to any grease trap, grease interceptor or comparable device.
5. Location of grease traps and grease interceptors shall be documented and on file with the District office.
6. Grease interceptors shall be located outside buildings, unless a finding is made by the District Engineer or authorized representative that the location of the building on the site or some other aspect of the use prevents an outside location and that placement within a building is not hazardous to public health and safety.
7. Grease interceptors shall be located and maintained at all times to prevent the entrance of foreign materials, and shall be easily accessible for cleaning, inspection and removal of intercepted grease, and shall pose no hazard to public health or safety.
8. Grease interceptors may be located on either private or public property provided approval and permitting have been obtained from the appropriate regulatory entity.
9. All encroachment permits for grease interceptors located within the public right-of-way shall be recorded with the County Recorder’s office prior to installation.
10. Grease interceptors are to be designed in accordance with the CAWD Plumbing Code, must be consistent with the standards of this chapter and must be approved by the District Engineer.
11. Related equipment grease interceptors shall be fitted with a minimum of two standard service access covers or manholes. Manholes shall be brought to grade and finished with a standard manhole cover and ring with H-20 traffic load bearing capacity.
12. All discharging fixtures shall be individually trapped and vented in accordance with the CAWD Plumbing Code.
13. Grease pretreatment equipment shall not be installed until the type and/or model have been subjected to and fully complied with tests acceptable to CAWD’s District Engineer.
14. Where an existing grease trap or grease interceptor is found to be compliant with this chapter, such equipment will be allowed to remain in use.
15. Whenever a grease trap or grease interceptor does not comply with the provisions of this chapter or an adopted grease control program, CAWD’s District Engineer shall require corrective measures.
16. The installation and use of garbage grinders (food waste disposals) in commercial food establishments is prohibited except where a grease interceptor is in use. If pre-existing, the grinder will be allowed until a change of ownership or a violation occurs.
17. The connection of dishwashers to a grease trap is prohibited.
18. The use of enzymes or bacterial cultures designed to disperse grease is prohibited unless specifically approved in writing by CAWD’s District Engineer.
19. Preventative and repair maintenance shall be accomplished.
20. Traps and interceptors shall be kept in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the accumulated grease.
21. No collected grease shall be introduced into any public or private drainage or sewerage piping.
22. Any grease trap or grease interceptor required by this chapter shall be readily accessible for inspection and properly maintained to assure that accumulations of grease or oil do not impair its efficiency or transport grease or oil into the sewer system.
23. a. All food service establishments or businesses required under this chapter to install and keep a grease trap or grease interceptor shall maintain a maintenance record for the grease trap or grease interceptor.
b. This record shall include:
i. The date;
ii. The name of the person who performed cleaning; and
iii. The disposal site of the waste.
24. The record shall be posted in a conspicuous location and be available for review by the District’s inspector or authorized representative at each routine inspection and at such other time as necessary for the District to determine whether a particular establishment may be performing maintenance contrary to the provisions of this chapter.
25. The District shall have the discretion to request the County Health Department to terminate, or cause to be terminated, the health permit of any user if a violation of any provision of this chapter is found to cause a condition of contamination, pollution, nuisance or other threat to public health or safety.
26. If an applicant for a permit or the owner of a grease trap or grease interceptor disputes the interpretation or application of this chapter, he or she may request a written ruling by the General Manager of CAWD. The decision of the General Manager can also be ruled upon by the Board of Directors. An appointment for ruling may be made with the CAWD Board Secretary. The determination of the Board of Directors shall be final for all purposes.
(2) Vehicles. Vehicle service stations, garages, public works yards and school transportation yards shall be required to install a gravity separating device designed to prevent the discharge of sand, silt, oil and grease to the District’s sewerage system.
(3) Laundries and dry cleaners.
(a) After the effective date of this chapter, all new and existing laundries and dry cleaners or similar establishments shall install a gravity separating device of a size and design approved by the General Manager.
(b) They shall also install any other pretreatment facility required by the General Manager to ensure their compliance with all requirements and specifications of this chapter.
(c) Establishments in existence prior to this date shall install an appropriate pretreatment system if, in the opinion of the District Engineer, the system is warranted.
(4) Existing gravity separating device and grease interceptors. If the District Engineer finds that a grease interceptor or gravity separating device installed prior to the effective date of this chapter is incapable of retaining adequately the grease or sand and oil in the wastewater flow from a service station, restaurant or similar establishment, the District Engineer shall give the proprietor a written notice requiring that an adequate interceptor or gravity separating device be installed within a reasonable time period.
(5) Maintenance of grease interceptors and gravity separating devices.
(a) Any grease interceptor or gravity separating device required by this chapter shall be readily accessible for inspection and properly maintained to assure that the accumulations of grease or sand and oil do not impair its efficiency or pass out with the effluent.
(b) All users required to use and maintain a grease interceptor or gravity separating device and shall maintain a maintenance record, including waste hauling manifests in accordance with §§ 35.130 through 35.135. This record shall include the date, the name of the person who cleaned it and the disposal site of the waste. The report shall be reviewed by the District Engineer (or assignee) at each routine inspection. Persons hauling wastes and wastewater removed from these interceptors or gravity separating devices shall be registered to do so by the proper permitting agency. An interceptor or gravity separating devices shall not be considered properly maintained if material accumulations total more than 25% of the operating fluid capacity.
(c) No user shall introduce any additives, including, but not limited to, enzymes or surfactants acting as grease emulsifiers or degradation agents, into any grease interceptor or grease removal device, unless prior written approval is obtained from the District. The District will endeavor to inspect all grease interceptors and gravity separating device at least yearly. If it is found that it is improperly maintained or adequate records have not been kept, a warning will be issued to the owner and/or user of the property. If on subsequent inspections it is found that one of the above conditions continues to exist, a fine shall be levied against the owner and/or user of the property. (See §§ 35.115 through 35.119.)
(Ord. 2022-02, passed 3-31-2022)