(A) Any FSE required by this chapter to provide FOG control shall install, operate, and maintain an approved type and adequately sized grease interceptor necessary to maintain compliance with the objectives of this chapter.
(B) Grease interceptor design, construction, sizing and installation shall conform to the most current edition of the California plumbing code. Grease interceptors shall have a minimum of two (2) compartments.
(C) The grease interceptor shall be installed at a location where it shall be at all times easily accessible for inspection, cleaning, and removal of accumulated grease.
(D) An access manhole, with a minimum diameter of twenty four inches (24"), shall be provided over each grease interceptor chamber and each sanitary tee within the interceptor. The access manholes shall extend at least to finished grade and be designed and maintained to prevent the entry of groundwater or stormwater runoff. The manholes shall also have readily removable covers to facilitate inspection, grease removal, and wastewater sampling activities.
(E) All grease interceptors are required to have grease retention fittings as designed for proper function. Any interceptor that does not have grease retention fittings shall be repaired and/or retrofitted with appropriate grease retention fittings.
(F) No FOG that has accumulated in a grease interceptor shall be discharged into any sewer lateral or public sewer. In addition, FOG shall not be transferred to or disposed of in a storm drain, public right of way, or onto the surface of any street, sidewalk, landscaping area or parking area.
(G) The required maintenance frequency for every FSE with a grease interceptor shall be determined by the director pursuant to the following criteria and procedures:
1. All grease interceptors shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the full contents of the interceptor, which includes wastewater, accumulated FOG, floating materials, sludge and solids.
2. Grease interceptors shall be fully pumped out and cleaned once every three (3) months or when the combined FOG and solids accumulation in the grease interceptor equals twenty five percent (25%) of the design hydraulic depth of the grease interceptor, whichever occurs first. The purpose of the twenty five percent (25%) rule is to ensure that the minimum hydraulic retention time and required available hydraulic volume are maintained to effectively intercept and retain FOG from being discharged to the public sewer system.
3. If the grease interceptor, at any time, contains FOG and solids accumulation exceeding the requirements described in subsection (G)2 of this section, the FSE shall be required by the director to have the grease interceptor pumped and cleaned as soon as possible, but in no case more than seventy two (72) hours following issuance of an order to clean by the director, unless otherwise specified by the director.
4. The director may require any FSE with a grease interceptor to submit data and information necessary to establish the required maintenance frequency of the grease interceptor.
5. The director may change the required maintenance frequency at any time to reflect changes in actual operating conditions when sufficient data has been obtained and validated to warrant a different frequency based on the requirements described in subsection (G)2 of this section or other guidelines adopted by the city pursuant to the FOG control program. The required maintenance frequency may increase or decrease based on the actual generation of FOG from the FSE but shall not be less frequent than once every three (3) months unless specific written authorization from the director is obtained.
(H) Wastewater, accumulated FOG, floating materials, sludge/solids, and other materials removed from the grease interceptor shall be transported by a licensed waste hauler to an approved recycling or disposal site in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. FSEs shall obtain and maintain a copy of the waste hauler's documentation which shall include:
1. Name of the hauling company;
2. Name and signature of the operator performing the pump out;
3. Documentation of a full pump out indicating the total volume of water and FOG removed in gallons;
4. Documentation of the level by percentage of the combined FOG and solids accumulation in the interceptor in order to determine compliance with the twenty five percent rule;
5. Documentation regarding whether repairs to the grease interceptor are required;
6. Identification of the facility where the waste hauler has transported the waste.
(I) The director may direct city staff or a city contractor to pump and clean an FSE's grease interceptor if the FSE has failed to comply with the terms of this chapter. The FSE jointly and severally with the property owner shall be responsible for any and all expenses of the city in undertaking such work and such expenses are deemed a debt of the owner of the pertinent FSE and the property owner to the city, enforceable and collectible as provided by law.
(J) Abandoned grease interceptors shall be immediately emptied and filled by the property owner with a suitable material as required for abandoned septic tanks as specified in the most current edition of the California plumbing code. (Ord. 1646, 5-8-2012)