(A) Fats, oil and grease (FOG) in wastewater can result in the decreased carrying capacity of sewers due to congealed, cooled grease which coats the inside of the pipes. Once a pipe becomes constricted, the potential for a blockage increases. Blockages can and will eventually cause sanitary sewer overflows.
(B) The following is the FOG policy for the town’s wastewater treatment utility (utility). The purpose of establishing the FOG policy is to protect public health by eliminating sanitary sewer system overflows due to FOG and reduce the amount of FOG discharged to the sanitary sewer system while reducing maintenance costs for the utility’s customers and improving operation of the collection system. Any wastewater which contains FOG shall only be discharged into the utility’s sanitary sewer system under the conditions of this policy and with a valid FOG discharge permit.
(C) (1) A FOG discharge permit shall be required of any customer of the utility including businesses, institutions or establishments participating in the preparation or service of food, where fats, oil and grease may be discharged into a public sewer, except as provided in division (E) below and in accordance with the schedule provided in division (D) below. Such customers shall obtain a FOG discharge permit from the utility and install a grease interceptor as a condition of wastewater service.
(2) Grease interceptors and, when pre-approved, under-counter or in-floor grease traps, waste oil collection devices or either applicable pretreatment units shall be installed, operated, maintained and repaired solely at the customer’s expense.
(D) Schedule for compliance with the FOG discharge policy.
(1) New construction of any establishment meeting the criteria of division (C) above shall obtain a FOG discharge permit and be in full compliance with its construction requirements before commencing any wastewater discharges to the sanitary sewer system.
(2) Existing structures meeting the criteria of division (C) above due to a change of use shall obtain a FOG discharge permit and be in full compliance with its provisions within six months of issuance.
(3) (a) Existing structures meeting the criteria of division (C) above being renovated or expanded shall obtain a FOG discharge permit and be in full compliance with its provisions within six months of issuance.
(b) Structures being renovated or expanded that already have a FOG discharge permit shall contact the utility to determine if a modification is needed.
(4) Food service establishments in existence prior to the effective date of this policy may be allowed to continue current operations without modifications. However, existing establishments determined, by the utility, to be contributing FOG to the sanitary sewer system in excess of 100 mg/l as total recoverable FOG, are contributing to increased downstream maintenance of the sanitary sewer system, or are contributing to downstream backups or overflows due to grease blockages shall be required to obtain a FOG discharge permit and be in full compliance with the permit provisions within six months of issuance.
(5) Regardless of permit status, establishments contributing to FOG blockages or increased down stream maintenance due to FOG discharge shall also be responsible for costs incurred by the utility to remedy the effect of the establishment’s FOG discharge.
(E) Exceptions.
(1) (a) Establishments meeting the criteria of division (C) above that use disposable service ware (disposable plates, cups, utensils and the like) and have less than 25 seats will not be required to install a grease interceptor; however, such establishments may be required to install grease trap(s). This exception does not apply to wholesalers, commercial kitchens or take-out only establishments. The establishment shall complete and submit a FOG discharge permit questionnaire showing fixtures, seat count and certify usage of disposable service ware and shall comply with all other provisions of the FOG policy.
(b) Exception must be pre-approved by the utility prior to:
1. Construction of a new establishment;
2. Beginning modifications and/or opening of a new establishment in an existing building; or
3. Beginning construction of new seating addition or kitchen expansion of an existing establishment.
(2) A FOG discharge permit shall not be required for single-family residences unless such residences have been converted for commercial food preparation use.
(3) A FOG discharge permit shall not be required for duplexes, triplexes, quadraplexes, or apartment complexes. However, multi-family dwellings which are found to be contributing FOG in sufficient quantities to cause main line blockages or increased maintenance in the sanitary sewer system shall be required to obtain a FOG discharge permit.
(4) Single service kitchens with no food preparation (microwave heating and serve only), and which use only disposal service ware will not be required to install a grease interceptor; however, establishments may be required to install grease a trap(s). The establishment shall complete and submit a FOG discharge permit questionnaire showing number of fixtures, seat count and certify usage of disposable service ware and shall comply with all other the provisions of the FOG policy. Exception must be pre-approved by the utility prior to: construction of new establishment; beginning modifications and/or opening of a new establishment in an existing building; or beginning construction of new seating addition or kitchen expansion of an existing establishment.
(F) (1) The utility reserves the right to waive portions of the FOG policy at its discretion. If a properly-sized grease interceptor cannot be accommodated within the property of existing establishments, a waiver may be requested from the utility. For existing establishments, the establishment shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the utility that the installation of a grease interceptor would be unfeasible and/or would cause an undue hardship in the utilization of the building as a food service establishment. The establishment seeking the waiver shall submit a written request to the utility detailing the reasons and issues supporting the waiver request. The establishment shall complete and submit a FOG discharge permit questionnaire and shall comply with all other provisions of the FOG discharge policy as well as the best management practices (BMP) of Appendix B. A waiver to the grease interceptor installation requirement shall not relieve the establishment of other FOG policy requirements such as the installation of a grease trap(s) in lieu of a grease interceptor or the use of waste oil barrels to dispose of waste cooking grease as detailed in § 52.06(C).
(2) For any establishment granted a waiver that fails to comply with the provisions of the FOG policy (except as waived) or fails to comply with the BMPs of Appendix B, the utility reserves the right to require the establishment to install a grease interceptor.
(Ord. 2012-20, passed 8-22-2012)