§ 52.209 GUIDELINES FOR ALL FOG CONTRIBUTING FACILITIES.
   (A)   Maintaining and pumping/cleaning requirements.
      (1)   All grease traps/interceptors and/or oil/water separators shall be pumped on a scheduled frequency set by the FOG team to maintain compliance with this policy. This schedule may require periodic adjustments in order to meet all requirements set forth § 52.212.
         (a)   All facilities with an outdoor/in-ground FOG interceptor of 1,000 gallons or greater, shall maintain a pump and clean schedule of at least quarterly by an approved pumper/hauler.
         (b)   All facilities with an indoor/in-floor FOG interceptor shall maintain a pump and clean schedule of at least monthly by an approved pumper/hauler.
         (c)   Existing facilities with an under-the-sink FOG interceptor shall maintain a pump and clean schedule of at least monthly by an approved pumper/hauler.
      (2)   The introduction of enzymes in a grease interceptor is prohibited unless pre-approved in writing by the FOG unit. Solvents and surfactants or any other substances used for maintenance of drain lines are also prohibited unless pre-approved in writing by the FOG unit.
      (3)   Water removed from trap/interceptor shall not be reintroduced to the trap itself (backwashing).
      (4)   The transportation and/or disposal of sludge generated by FOG interceptors shall be subject to applicable federal, state and local regulations.
      (5)   The user is responsible for the proper removal and disposal of captured (sludge) material, by appropriate means. All organic and inorganic solids reduce the effective volume of the FOG interceptor and are required to be removed. All floating material is required to be skimmed.
   (B)   Requirements.
      (1)   Interior baffles to distribute flows;
      (2)   Access manholes with a minimum diameter of 24 inches shall be provided over the influent and effluent chambers of the interceptor. The access manholes shall extend at least to finish grade and be designed to prevent inflow or infiltration. The manholes shall also have readily removable covers (not to exceed 100 pounds) to facilitate inspection, grease removal and wastewater sampling activities;
      (3)   FOG interceptors must be installed by a licensed plumber and shall conform to the Uniform Plumbing Code;
      (4)   User shall install FOG interceptors as required by the city. FOG interceptors shall be installed at the user's expense, when such user operates a food service establishment.
   (C)   Approval.
      (1)   All new FOG contributing facilities must notify the City of Lincolnton FOG Program prior to opening for business in order to receive approval for the proper sizing and installation of the FOG interceptor.
      (2)   All FOG contributing facilities shall have grease trap(s), FOG interceptor(s) and/or oil/water separator(s) approved by the city. Interceptor design, construction and installation are all subject to final approval by the FOG unit.
      (3)   The FOG unit reserves the right to make determinations of grease trap/interceptor adequacy and need based on review of all relevant information regarding grease trap/interceptor performance, maintenance, and facility site and building plan review to require repairs, modification or replacement of such traps or interceptors.
   (D)   Inspections, services records, and sampling.
      (1)   All new and existing FOG contributing facilities discharging wastewater to the POTW shall grant access to the city’s FOG unit for the purpose of inspection sampling, record examination and copying or the performance of any of their duties. The FOG unit shall have the right to set up on the user's property such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling, inspection, compliance monitoring and/or metering operations. Denial of the FOG unit's access to the user's premises shall be in violation of this program. Unreasonable delays may constitute denial of access (see "access" under § 52.202).
      (2)   Pumping, service and maintenance manifest documentation must be readily accessible for review.
      (3)   The owner/user shall submit copies of the grease trap/interceptor cleaning (maintenance manifest) to the Pretreatment Coordinator no later than the 20th day of the following month. The submittal can be done either physically or electronically.
      City of Lincolnton
      Attn: Pretreatment Coordinator
      PO Box 617
      Lincolnton, NC 28093
   (E)   Other.
      (1)   Any establishment found in violation of this policy (i.e., manifests are not readily accessible for review and/or incomplete pumping, etc.) will be subject to enforcement actions as established in § 52.212.
      (2)   If grease is responsible for a sewer blockage, all food service establishments upstream from the blockage will be inspected.
   (F)   Notification of change in ownership or closure of an FSE.
      (1)   A change in ownership of a food service establishment shall be reported to the FOG Coordinator in writing within 30 days of the ownership change.
      (2)   Any food service establishment that goes out of business shall report such closure to the FOG Coordinator in writing within 30 days of closure and shall ensure that any grease trap and/or interceptor shall be cleaned/pumped by an approved pumper/hauler before the building is vacated.
(Ord. O-01-22, passed 4-7-2022)