(A) Scope and purpose. The purpose of this section is to control discharges into the public sewerage collection system and POTW that interfere with the operations of the system, cause blockage and plugging of pipelines, interfere with normal operation of pumps and their controls and contribute waste of a strength or form that either causes treatment difficulties or is beyond the treatment capability of the POTW.
(B) Definitions. For purposes of this section the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
FATS, OILS AND GREASES or FOG. Material composed primarily of fats, oils and greases from animal or vegetable sources. The terms fats, oils and greases shall be deemed as GREASE by definition. These substances are detectable and measurable using analytical test procedures established in 40 C.F.R., as may be amended from time to time. GREASE does not include petroleum base products.
FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT. Those establishments engaged in activities of preparing, serving or otherwise making food available for consumption by the public, including but not limited to, restaurants, commercial kitchens, churches, clubs, caterers, hotels, schools, hospitals, prisons, correctional facilities and care institutions. These establishments use one or more of the following preparation activities: cooking by frying (all methods), baking (all methods), grilling, sauteing, rotisserie cooking, broiling (all methods), boiling, blanching, roasting, toasting or poaching. Also included are infrared heating, searing, barbecuing and any other food preparation activity that produces a hot, non-drinkable food product in or on a receptacle that requires washing.
GREASE INTERCEPTOR. A structure or device designed for the purpose of removing and preventing fats, oils and greases (non-petroleum grease) from entering the sanitary sewer system. These devices are below-ground units in outside areas and are built as two or three chamber baffled tanks.
GREASE TRAP. A device for separating and retaining waterborne greases (non- petroleum) and grease complexes prior to the wastewater exiting the grease trap and entering the sanitary sewer system. Such grease traps are compact under-the-sink units that are near food preparation areas. These devices also serve to collect settleable solids, generated by and from food preparation activities, prior to the water exiting the grease trap and entering the sanitary sewer system. Grease traps in lieu of grease interceptors are not permitted without written approval of the Joint Building Department.
INDIANA PLUMBING CODE. References herein to the Indiana Plumbing Code shall mean 675 IAC 16-1.4-1 et seq., as amended or replaced from time to time. Application of the Indiana Plumbing Code to the provisions of this section and the enforcement thereof shall always be the application and interpretation of the most current version of the code section.
JOINT BUILDING DEPARTMENT. The Director of Municipal Utilities and the Building Inspector together constitute the Joint Building Department.
MAILING. For purposes of mailing documents and receipt thereof, notices shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, and delivery shall be deemed made on the date signified on the return receipt. Notices may also be hand delivered with receipt determined on the date of such delivery.
MINIMUM DESIGN CAPABILITY. The design features of a grease interceptor and its ability or volume required to effectively intercept and retain greases from grease-laden wastewater discharged to the sanitary sewer system.
POTW or PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS. A treatment works which is owned by a municipality as defined by § 502(4) of the Clean Water Act. This definition includes any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature. It also includes all sewers, pipes and other conveyances that transfer wastewater to a POTW. The term also means the municipality as defined in§ 502(4) of the Act, which has jurisdiction over the indirect discharges to and the discharges from such a treatment works. For purposes of this section, the terms SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM and POTW may be used interchangeably.
SAND, SOIL AND OIL INTERCEPTORS. Approved and industry standard system that is specifically designed and manufactured to separate sand, soil and petroleum based oil and grease from water. The system shall allow the sand, soil and oil to be collected and removed on a regular basis as to prevent it from being discharged into the wastewater collection system.
USER. Any person, including those located outside the jurisdictional limits of the city, who contributes, causes or permits the contribution or discharge of wastewater into sewers within the wastewater service area, including persons who contribute such wastewater from mobile sources, such as those who discharge hauled wastewater.
(C) General criteria.
(1) Installation requirements. All existing, proposed or newly remodeled food service establishments inside the city's wastewater service area shall be required to install, at the user's expense, an approved, properly operated and maintained grease interceptor that complies with the Indiana Plumbing Code. Each food service establishment must have its own grease interceptor, unless approved by the Joint Building Department in writing.
(2) Maximum and minimum sizes. The maximum size of a grease interceptor shall be 2,000 gallons. The minimum size of a grease interceptor shall be 1,000 gallons for users without a dishwasher and shall be 1,500 gallons for users with a dishwasher. If a user requires a grease interceptor with a volume larger than 2,000 gallons, multiple grease interceptors shall be installed in series but in no event shall the volume of a single grease interceptor be less than 1,000 gallons (or 1,500 gallons if a dishwasher) or greater than 2,000 gallons.
(3) Sanitary sewer flows. Sanitary sewer flows from toilets, urinals, lavatories and the like shall not be discharged into the grease interceptor. These flows shall be conveyed separately to the sanitary sewer service lateral.
(4) Floor drains. Only floor drains that discharge or have the potential to discharge grease shall be connected to a grease interceptor.
(5) Garbage grinders/disposers. It is recommended that solid food waste products be disposed of through normal solid waste/garbage disposal means. If a grinder/disposal is used it must be connected to separate solids interceptor before connecting to the grease interceptor. Solids interceptor and grease interceptor shall be sized and rated for the discharge of the food waste grinder.
(6) Dishwashers. Commercial dishwashers must be connected to the grease interceptor unless discharge water exceeds 140ºF/60ºC. If the discharge temperature exceeds 140ºF/60ºC, then temperature equalization equipment must be used before discharge enters the grease interceptor. Dishwashers discharge soap and hot water that can melt grease and allow it to pass through an undersized grease interceptor. Therefore, grease interceptors must be sized accordingly to allow enough detention time to allow water to cool and grease to solidify and float to the top of the grease interceptor.
(7) Location. Grease interceptors shall be installed outside the building upstream from the sanitary sewer service lateral connection. This will allow easy access for inspection, cleaning and removal of the intercepted grease at any time. A grease interceptor may not be installed inside any part of a building without written approval by the Joint Building Department.
(8) Pass through limits. No user shall allow wastewater discharge concentrations to the sanitary sewer system to exceed 100 mg/l (milligrams per liter) as identified by EPA test method 1664A, as amended from time to time.
(D) Discharge criteria.
(1) Where fats and greases are a byproduct of food preparation and/or cleanup, reasonable efforts shall be made to separate fats and greases into a separate container for proper disposal. Fats and greases shall not be discharged to any drains or grease interceptors, except as contained in byproducts of food preparation and/or clean up. Such waste shall be placed in a container designed to hold such waste and either utilized by the industry or disposed of at suitable locations.
(2) None of the following agents shall be placed directly into a grease interceptor, or into any drain that leads to the interceptor:
(a) Emulsifiers, de-emulsifiers, surface active agents, enzymes, degreasers or any type of product that will liquefy grease interceptor wastes;
(b) Any substance that may cause excessive foaming in the POTW; or
(c) Any substance capable of passing the solid or semi-solid contents of the grease interceptor to the POTW.
(3) The influent to grease interceptors shall not exceed 140ºF/60ºC.
(E) Grease interceptor requirements.
(1) Grease interceptor sizing and installation shall conform to the Indiana Plumbing Code, but in no instance shall a grease interceptor be less than 1,000 gallons minimum capacity.
(2) Grease interceptors shall be constructed in accordance with design approved by the Joint Building Department and shall have a minimum of two compartments with fittings designed for grease retention.
(3) Grease interceptors shall be installed at a location where it shall be easily accessible for inspection, cleaning and removal of intercepted grease. The grease interceptor may not be installed in any part of the building where food is handled. Location of the grease interceptor must meet the approval of the Joint Building Department.
(4) All such grease interceptors shall be serviced and emptied of accumulated waste content as required in order to maintain minimum design capability. Users who are required to maintain a grease interceptor shall:
(a) Provide for a minimum hydraulic retention time in accordance with the Indiana Plumbing Code;
(b) Remove any accumulated grease and sludge as required to maintain minimum design capability; and
(c) Keep grease interceptors free of inorganic solid materials such as grit, rocks, gravel, sand, eating utensils, cigarettes, shells, towels, rags and the like, which could settle in the interceptor and thereby reduce the effective volume of the device.
(5) Access manholes shall be provided over each grease interceptor 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.
(6) (a) Grease interceptors required under this section shall be installed in all food service establishments unless the Joint Building Department authorizes in writing the installation of an indoor grease trap or other alternative pretreatment technology and determines that the installation of a grease interceptor is not feasible. The Joint Building Department shall consider requests for installation of a grease trap or other alternative grease removal device on a case-by-case basis noting that the city's preference is a solution using a grease interceptor. If a user believes the installation of a grease interceptor is infeasible, because of documented space constraints, the request for consideration of an alternative grease removal device shall contain the following information:
1. Location of sewer main and easements in relation to available exterior space; and
2. General information about existing plumbing at the site.
(b) The Joint Building Department is under no obligation to approve such request for use of a grease trap or other alternative grease removal device, and if the Joint Building Department approves installation of a grease trap or other grease removal device, such approval must be in writing.
(F) Grease interceptor and grease trap maintenance and design.
(1) Cleaning/pumping. The user, at the user's expense, shall maintain all grease interceptors and grease traps to assure proper operation and efficiency and maintain compliance with the city's pass through limits. Maintenance of grease interceptors and grease traps shall include the complete removal of all contents, including floating materials, wastewater and bottom sludge and solids. This work shall be performed by a qualified and licensed hauler. Decanting or discharging of removed waste back into the grease interceptor or grease trap from which it was removed or any other grease interceptor or grease trap, for the purpose of reducing the volumeto be disposed, is prohibited. This service shall also include a thorough inspection of the grease interceptor or grease trap and its components. Any needed repairs shall be noted by the inspecting city representative, provided in writing to the user, and repaired at the user's expense.
(2) Disposal. All waste removed from each grease interceptor or grease trap must be disposed of at a facility approved to receive such waste in accordance with the provisions of this program. In no way shall the pumpage be returned to any private or public portion of the sanitary sewer system. All pumpage from grease interceptors or grease traps must be tracked by a manifest, which confirms pumping, hauling and disposal of waste. The user must obtain and retain a copy of the original manifest from the hauler.
(3) Maintenance log. A grease interceptor or grease trap cleaning/maintenance log indicating each pumping for the previous 24 months shall be maintained by each food service establishment. This log shall include the date, time, amount pumped, hauler and disposal site and shall be kept in a conspicuous location for inspection. The log shall be made available to the Joint Building Department or POTW representative upon request.
(4) Inlet and outlet piping. Wastewater discharging to a grease interceptor or grease trap shall enter only through the inlet pipe of the grease interceptor or grease trap. Each grease interceptor or grease trap shall have only one inlet and one outlet pipe.
(5) Construction. Grease interceptors or grease traps shall be constructed in accordance with Indiana Plumbing Code standards and shall have a minimum of two compartments with fittings designed for grease retention. All grease removal devises or technologies shall be subject to the written approval of the Joint Building Department. Such approval shall be based on demonstrated removal efficiencies of the proposed technology.
(6) Access. Access to grease interceptors or grease traps shall be available at all times, to allow for their maintenance and inspection.
(7) Load-bearing capacity. In areas where additional weight loads may exist, the grease interceptor shall be designed to have adequate load-bearing capacity. (Example: vehicular traffic in driving or parking areas.)
(8) Sand, soil and oil interceptors. All car washes, truck washes, garages, service stations, car and truck maintenance facilities, fabricators, utility equipment shops and other facilities (as determined by the Indiana Plumbing Code) that have sources of sand, soil and oil shall install effective sand, soil and oil traps, interceptors and/or oil/water separators. These systems shall be sized to effectively remove sand, soil and oil at the expected flow rates. These systems shall be, at the user's expense, cleaned or pumped on a regular basis to prevent impact upon the wastewater collection and treatment systems. Users whose systems are deemed to be ineffective by the Joint Building Department shall be required to change the cleaning frequency or to increase the size of the system in the discretion of Municipal Utilities. Owners or operators of washing facilities will be required to prevent the inflow of detergents and rainwater into the wastewater collection system. Oil/water separator installations shall be required at facilities that accumulate petroleum oils and greases and at facilities deemed necessary by the Joint Building Department.
(9) Laundries. Commercial laundries shall be equipped with an interceptor with a wire basket or similar device, removable for cleaning, that prevents passage (into the wastewater collection system) of solids one-half inch or larger in size such as rags, strings, buttons or other solids detrimental to the system.
(10) Control equipment. The equipment or facilities installed to control FOG, food waste, sand, soil, oil and lint must be designed in accordance with the Indiana Plumbing Code, most current engineering standards, or other applicable guidelines approved by the Joint Building Department. Underground equipment shall be tightly sealed to prevent inflow of rainwater and groundwater and shall be easily accessible to allow regular maintenance and inspection. Control equipment shall be maintained by the owner and/or operator of the facility as to prevent a stoppage of the wastewater collection system, and the accumulation of FOG, food waste, sand and lint in the collection lines, pump stations and POTW. If the city is required to clean out the wastewater collection lines, as a result of a stoppage resulting from poor any fines incurred due to any sanitary sewer overflow due directly to the stoppage. The city retains the right to inspect and approve any and all installations of control equipment. The city, through the Joint Building Department, reserves the right to request additional control measures if existing control equipment is shown to be insufficient to protect the wastewater collection system and POTW from interference due to the discharge of FOG, sand, soil, lint or any other undesirable materials.
(G) Violation.
(1) Any person who violates this section, in part or in whole, shall be guilty of a civil violation punishable under and according to the general penalty provision of the city's Code of Ordinances. Each day's violation of this section shall be considered a separate offense.
(2) (a) It is unlawful for any user to discharge into the POTW in any manner that is in violation of this section, or of any condition set forth in this section.
(b) Additionally, a person commits an offense if the person causes or permits the plugging of, blocking of or otherwise interferes with or permits interference with a grease interceptor or the POTW, including alteration or removal of any flow constricting devices so as to cause flow to rise above the design capacity of the interceptor.
(3) No user, person, and/or facility shall discharge grease to the POTW, except as expressly authorized by this section. If such discharge occurs, the user, person or facility shall be considered in violation of this section and subject to the remedies described herein.
(4) In addition to prohibiting certain conduct by natural persons, it is the intent of this section to hold a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other entity or organization legally responsible for prohibited conduct performed by an agent action on behalf of such an entity and within the scope of his or her office or employment.
(5) The POTW may recover the fees and costs imposed by this section in a civil action and may pursue any other remedy available at law or in equity to address a violation of this section or to enforce compliance with it.
(H) Appeal process.
(1) The Utility Service Board shall hear and decide appeals when it is alleged there is an error in any requirement, decision or determination made by the inspecting city representative in the enforcement or administration of this section.
(2) Appeals shall be made in writing to the Utility Service Board, attention to the Clerk-Treasurer, no later than 30 days from the date of receipt of the violation. The Clerk-Treasurer shall then schedule the appeal on the Utility Service Board agenda as a regular agenda item.
(I) Authorization. The Utility Service Board is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as shall be reasonable and necessary to carry out the provisfons of this section according to its terms and intent.
(`94 Code, § 52.85) (Ord. 6-1994, passed 6-6-94; Ord. 11-2019, passed 8-22-19)