(a) A person commits an offense if the person introduces, or causes, permits or suffers the introduction of any bioremediation media into a grease trap.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to an enforcement of subsection (a) above that the use of the bioremediation media had been approved by the director, and the media and the use of the media met all criteria of subsection (c) below.
(c) Bioremediation media may be used with the director’s approval if the person has proved to the satisfaction of the director that:
(1) Laboratory testing which is valid for the type of grease trap to be used has verified that:
a. The media is a pure live bacterial product and does not contain any surfactants, emulsifiers or substances which act as solvents for fat; and
b. The media can perform 100% treatment/digestion of oil and grease under controlled conditions in a set timeframe not to exceed two weeks.
(2) The use of the media meets the following operational criteria:
a. The volume of oil, grease and water discharged to the sanitary sewer after use of the media will not exceed the volume of oil, grease and water which would be discharged if the product were not being used and the grease trap were being properly maintained;
b. The total mass of oil and grease discharged to the sanitary sewer after the use of the media will not exceed the discharge limits for oil and grease established in Article VI of this chapter;
c. The total mass of oil and grease discharged after use of the media shall be determined by the hourly collection of 24 samples per day over a minimum two-week period prior to approval;
d. The BOD, COD and TSS discharged to the sanitary sewer after use of the media does not exceed:
1. The BOD, COD and TSS which would be discharged if the product were not being used and the grease trap were being properly maintained; and
2. The discharge requirements for BOD, COD and TSS established in Article VI of this chapter.
e. The pH of the discharge is not less than 5.0 nor greater than 12;
f. The use of the media does not reduce the buoyancy of the grease layer in the grease trap and does not increase the potential of oil and grease to be discharged to the sanitary sewer;
g. The media is not destroyed by the use of domestic or commercial disinfectants and detergents, or by hot water;
h. Any waste pumped from the grease trap after use of the media is acceptable at disposal sites for grease trap waste; and
i. The use of the bioremediation media does not cause foaming in the sanitary sewer.
(d) All testing designed to satisfy the criteria set forth in subsection (c) above shall be scientifically sound and statistically valid. All tests to determine oil and grease, TSS, BOD, COD, pH and other pollutant levels shall use appropriate EPA test methods. Testing shall be open to inspection by the director, and shall meet the director’s approval.
(Ord. 12274, § 1, passed 11-28-1995)