(A) Existing and proposed users shall install grease interceptors as required by the Director or his or her designee. Grease interceptors shall be installed at the user’s expense, when the user operates a cooking establishment. Grease interceptors may also be required in non-cooking, cold dairy, frozen foodstuffs, industrial, commercial or residential establishments when they are deemed necessary by the director for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease. No user shall allow wastewater discharge concentration of oil, fats or grease from subject grease interceptor to exceed 100 milligrams per liter. All grease interceptors shall be of a type design, and capacity approved by the Director or his or her designee and shall be readily and easily accessible for user cleaning and town inspection. All grease interceptors shall be serviced and emptied of accumulated waste content as required in order to maintain minimum design capability or effective volume of the grease interceptor, but not less often than every 30 days, unless a grease interceptor variance permit has been issued. Users who are required to pass water through a grease interceptor shall:
(1) Provide a minimum 1,000 gallon tank:
(a) The following table shall determine the size of the grease separation tank;
Facility | Grease Tank Size |
Salads only, subs, take-out grilled food | 1,000 to 1,500 gallons depending on size |
Take-out deep fried foods | 1,500 to 2,000 gallons depending on size |
Pasta and pizza | 1,500 to 2,000 gallons depending on size |
Sit-down full menu restaurants < 100 seats | 1,500 to 2,000 gallons depending on size |
Sit-down full menu restaurants > 100 seats | 2,000 to 3,000 gallons depending on size |
(b) Grease tank size for facilities other than those mentioned above shall be determined by the Director or his or her designee. Twenty percent of the total volume of the grease interceptor shall be allowed for sludge to settle and accumulate, identified hereafter as a “sludge pocket”.
(2) Remove any accumulated grease cap and sludge pocket as required, but at intervals of not longer than 30 days at the user’s expense. Grease interceptors shall be kept free of inorganic solid materials such as grit, rocks, gravel, sand, eating utensils, cigarettes, shells, towels, rags and the like, which could settle into this pocket and thereby reduce the effective volume of the grease interceptor;
(3) Accept the following conditions: if any skimmed or pumped wastes or other materials removed from grease interceptor are treated in any fashion onsite and reintroduced back into the grease interceptor as an activity of and after the on-site treatment, the user shall be responsible for the attainment of established grease numerical limit consistent with and contained herein on all discharges of wastewater from the grease interceptor into the town sanitary sewer collection and treatment system;
(4) Operate the grease interceptor in a manner so as to maintain the device such that attainment of the grease limit is consistently achieved.
CONSISTENT shall mean any wastewater sample taken from the grease interceptor shall be subject to terms of numerical limit attainment described herein;
(5) With the approval of the Director, an establishment may request an alternate to an out-of-building grease interceptor due to exterior space constraints. The request for an alternative location shall contain the following information:
(a) Location of town sewer main and easement in relation to available exterior space outside building; and
(b) Existing plumbing at or in a site that uses common plumbing for all services at that site.
(6) Understand and agree that the use of biological additives as a grease degradation agent is conditionally permissible, upon prior written approval by the Director. Any establishment using this method of grease abatement shall maintain the trap or interceptor in a manner that attainment of the grease wastewater discharge limit, as measured from the trap’s outlet, is consistently achieved;
(7) Understand and agree that the use of automatic grease removal systems is conditionally permissible, upon prior written approval by the Director, the Lead Plumbing Inspector of the town and the County Department of Health. Any establishment using this equipment shall operate the system in a manner that attainment of the grease wastewater discharge limit, as measured from the unit’s outlet, is consistently achieved; and
(8) Understand and agree that the Director reserves the right to make determinations of grease interceptor adequacy and need, based on review of all relevant information regarding grease interceptor performance, facility site and building plan review and to require repairs to, or modification or replacement of the traps.
(B) The user shall maintain a written record of trap maintenance for three years. All records will be available for inspection by the town at all times.
(C) No non-grease-laden sources are allowed to be connected to sewer lines intended for grease interceptor service.
(D) (1) A variance to the scheduled maintenance requirement of this chapter is to provide specific changes to the scheduling of grease separation device maintenance and servicing. The variance is intended to give food service establishments an avenue to provide substantial evidence to reducing maintenance of grease separation device servicing. All other requirements of the town’s sewer provisions, this subchapter and any other requirements remain in effect.
(2) Food service establishments shall provide a written explanation for the need to vary from this subchapter. All establishments requesting a variance shall agree to conform to the variance study procedures. The town has the right to discontinue the variance study at any time the grease separation device discharge adversely affects the sanitary sewer system and treatment works.
(3) Fees associated with the request for variance study will include a variance request fee of $195, which includes estimated reimbursement costs associated with the study. All fees are non-refundable and shall be paid in advance. Reimbursement of the town personnel shall be at an hourly rate of $50 per hour, and any additional costs incurred through the analysis of wastewater.
(a) If the following occurs anytime after a variance permit is granted, the facility shall revert back to requirements set forth by this subchapter:
1. Grease separation device FOG concentrations exceeding the limits set by the town’s FOG Control Ordinance;
2. Grease separation device discharge adversely affects the sewer collection system and treatment works;
3. Solids accumulation is greater than 20% of the total water depth from the grease separation device’s interior floor to the static or working water level, at any point within the grease separation device;
4. FOG accumulation is greater than or equal to three inches at any point within the grease separation device;
5. Facility significantly increases food service production or seating capacity;
6. Facility employs the use of a garbage disposal of food pulp that is connected to the grease separation control device;
7. Facility causes or contributes to a sanitary sewer blockage or overflow; and
8. Change in ownership. Variance is non-transferable.
(b) All food service establishments requesting variance to this subchapter shall conform to the following conditions and schedules.
1. The applicant shall provide the town written explanation as to the need of the variance.
2. The applicant agrees that any request for variance is considered and implemented under the discretion of the town and can be denied for any reason.
3. Variance request fee shall be paid in full by check to the amount of $195 before variance study is started.
4. Applicant shall conform to the pumping requirements set by the town during the variance study. Failure to follow pumping requirements will result in variance study discontinuation.
5. Applicant agrees to the pumping schedule after variance study is complete, even in the event the town requires a service schedule greater than once every 30 days.
6. Applicant shall contact the Town Pretreatment Section two working days prior to the scheduled grease separation device cleaning.
7. Facilities that desire the use of biological or chemical treatment shall provide the town all information supplied by the manufacturer of type, solution makeup, dosing schedule and service agreements. All facilities using biological or chemical treatment shall be required to maintain a separation device service schedule set by this subchapter or Town Variance Study.
8. During the variance study all limits and conditions of this subchapter apply. All violations of this subchapter will be addressed during and after the variance study.
9. The town will not be responsible for any FOG discharges, odor or blockages during or after the variance study.
(c) Procedure for Variance Study:
1. The applicant shall submit to the Town Public Works Department Pretreatment Section a written explanation as to the needs of the service schedule variance to this chapter. This letter shall include a copy of a current menu, total customer seating capacity, previous six months grease pump out receipts and grease separation device size.
2. After submission of request to the town, the pretreatment section will review all information submitted and will contact the facility by mail accepting or denying the variance request.
3. The facility shall schedule with a service company and the town a time during normal business hours (Monday - Friday) to have the subject grease separation device cleaned. It is the responsibility of the food establishment to have the grease separation device total pumped and sufficiently cleaned by a servicing company. Variance study cannot be conducted unless the grease separation device is properly cleaned.
4. The applicant shall contact the Town’s Pretreatment Section two working days prior to the scheduled grease separation device cleaning.
5. Once the grease separation device is cleaned properly and refilled with water from the facility, pretreatment staff will conduct a visual inspection of the grease separation device and verify that all components of the grease separation device are in place and are in proper working order. If the grease separation device is determined to be adequate designed and installed the staff will collect, within 72 hours of initial pumping, a baseline FOG sample from the grease separation device’s effluent sampling point. Baseline grease and solids levels will be measured in all compartments.
6. Two weeks after initial sampling, pretreatment staff will obtain a second effluent FOG sample, and measure grease and solids levels in all compartments of the subject separation device.
7. Two weeks after second sampling, pretreatment staff will obtain a third effluent FOG sample, and measure grease and solids levels in all compartments.
8. Additional monitoring events may be required if deemed necessary by the town. Variance studies shall not exceed a period of 90 days.
9. After a minimum of three site samples are collected and all sampling results are obtained, the town will analyze all data. All samples analyzed by contract laboratories will include the cost of analysis and a 20% administrative fee. The town will not grant a grease interceptor service schedule variance until the town receives payment for all wastewater analysis costs, administrative fees and any costs incurred by the town as a result of the study. After all data is reviewed by the town, the town will submit in writing the results of the variance study to the applicant requesting the study.
(d) The town will not be responsible for any FOG discharge, odor or blockages occurring during or after the variance study. At no time during the variance study shall the grease separation device be pumped, except by direct approval of the town.
(E) Except as provided herein, for a period of one year following adoption of this chapter, although installation of grease interceptors will be required to be installed, no enforcement actions will be taken under this subchapter for failure to achieve limits on grease discharges from grease interceptors. If, during or after this one-year period an obstruction of a town sewer main(s) occurs that causes a sewer overflow to the extent that an impact on the environment is realized and that the overflow or failure of the sanitary sewer collection system to convey sewage can be attributed in part or in whole to an accumulation of grease in the town’s sewer main(s), of the town of edenton will take appropriate enforcement actions, as stipulated in the town’s industrial pretreatment enforcement plan and sewer use provisions, against the generator or contributor of the grease.
(F) If, after the one-year grace period, the user fails to achieve limits on grease discharges, the town will take appropriate enforcement actions, as stipulated in the town’s industrial pretreatment enforcement plan and sewer use provisions, against the generator or contributor of the grease.
(G) Access manholes, with minimum diameter of 24 inches, shall be provided over each chamber and sanitary tee. The access manholes shall extend at least to finished grade and be designed and maintained to prevent water inflow or infiltration. The manholes shall also have readily removable covers to facilitate inspection, grease removal and wastewater sampling activities.
(Ord. passed 6-14-2005)