(a) Purpose; Objective; Application.
(1) The purpose of this section is the regulation of the collection and disposal of grease or grit interceptor waste for the protection of the City's sanitary sewer system and the environment.
(2) The objective of this section is to reduce the operational and maintenance costs to the City of maintaining the sanitary sewer system by preventing the accumulation of grease or grit within the collection system lines.
(3) This section shall apply to residents and businesses within the City of Rocky River as set forth in subsection (c) below and to persons outside the City who, by contract, agreement or otherwise with the City, are users of the City's sanitary sewer.
(b) Administration.
(1) The Building Commissioner, under the authority of the Safety Service Director, shall administer, implement, and enforce the provisions of this regulation. Wherever stated in this section, "City" shall refer to the authority of the Safety Service Director or the Building Commissioner.
(c) Applicability.
(1) Waste which contains grease or grit shall be discharged into the sanitary sewer system only under the conditions of this section. The following facilities shall discharge all waste from sinks, dishwashers, drains, and any other fixtures through which grease or grit may be discharged, into an adequately sized, properly maintained and functioning grease or grit interceptor before the discharge enters the sanitary sewer. The following facilities shall also provide a grease or grit interceptor(s) inlet-flow control-device inspection port and a grease or grit interceptor effluent monitoring port:
A. Every commercial food-preparation and food-service facility, including but not limited to bakeries, boardinghouses, butcher shops, cafes, clubhouses, commercial kitchens, delicatessens, fat-rendering plants, ice-cream parlors, hospitals, meat packing plants, restaurants, schools, slaughter houses, soap factories, and similar facilities, especially where meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products or fried foods are prepared or served;
B. All shopping centers that have food-processing facilities;
C. All food courts;
D. All other facilities discharging grease in amounts that, in the opinion of the City, will, alone, or in combination with other substances from the discharges of the same or other facilities, have a reasonable chance to inhibit the flow in the sanitary sewer;
E. All new areas of intensified use or dwelling, including, but not limited to adult day-care facilities, assisted-living facilities, convalescent homes, day nursing and childcare facilities, in which food preparation occurs, homes for the mentally challenged, hotels, maternity homes, motels in which there is a commercial food-preparation service, nursing homes, retirement and life-care communities and homes, and truck stops with commercial food service, shall be required to have grease or grit interceptors. Modifications to existing facilities that do not add new buildings or new grease-generating activities are exempt from this requirement; and
F. Interceptors shall not be required for single-family residences, duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, or apartment complexes, unless the City first determines there are discharges from the property that may create problems in the sanitary sewer system. The determination shall be made based upon an investigation of the property and a comparison of the content and amount of discharge from the property with the discharges of other properties similar in size and use. Upon a determination that the discharges may create problems in the sanitary sewer system, the City may require the installation of a sufficiently sized grease or grit interceptor to treat the discharges.
(d) Compliance and Timeline.
(1) Upon the effective date of the section codified in this chapter, an existing facility (excepting those existing facilities described in subsection (c)(1)E. and F. above) shall be required to install an approved, adequately sized, and properly operated and maintained grease or grit interceptor when any of the following conditions exist:
A. It is found by the City to be contributing grease or grit in potential quantities sufficient to inhibit sanitary sewer flow or necessitate increased City maintenance on the sanitary sewer collection system in order to keep impairments to the main line flow from occurring and the existing grease or grit interceptor has not been maintained in such a manner as to keep grease or grit from creating a hazard in the City's sewer system;
B. It is remodeling the food preparation or kitchen waste plumbing facilities in such a manner to be subject to a permit issued by the City building department;
C. Its interceptor allows a discharge of oil, or grease or grit in excess of 250 mg/l;
D. It is required by this section or other applicable Ordinance to maintain a grease or grit interceptor and is found to be equipped with an undersized interceptor. Such a facility shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this Section, install an adequately sized interceptor in accordance with the specifications of this Section; or
E. It is required by this section or other applicable ordinances to maintain a grease or grit interceptor and is found not to be equipped with such an interceptor. Such a facility shall, within sixty (60) days of the effective date of this Section, install an adequately sized interceptor in accordance with the specifications of this Section.
(2) New facilities required by this section or other applicable ordinances to maintain a grease or grit interceptor shall install such a unit prior to commencement of discharge to the sanitary sewer system.
(3) Any requests for extensions to installation dates must be made in writing to the City, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the compliance date. The written request shall include the reasons for the facility's failure or inability to comply with the compliance date set forth, the additional time needed to complete the remaining work, and the steps to be taken to avoid future delays. The City shall determine the date for compliance.
(4) Existing facilities required by this section or other applicable ordinances to maintain a grease or grit interceptor that demonstrate that the installation of such an interceptor is not feasible may use bioremediation as an alternative. The City will determine whether a facility may exercise this option for sanitary sewer maintenance. The bioremediation method and product must be approved by the City in writing prior to use in the drainage system. In addition, the operator must maintain written documentation of a current contract with a bioremediation supplier approved through the City.
(e) Discharge Criteria.
(1) Where oil and grease are a byproduct of food preparation and/or cleanup, reasonable efforts shall be made to separate waste oil and grease into a separate container for proper disposal. Except as contained in byproducts of food preparation and/or clean up, waste oil and grease shall not be discharged to any drains or grease or grit interceptors. Such waste shall be placed in a container designed to hold such waste and either utilized by industry or disposed of at suitable locations.
(2) None of the following agents shall be placed directly into a grease or grit 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 or grit interceptor wastes;
B. Any substance that may cause excessive foaming in the sanitary sewer system; or
C. Any substance capable of passing the solid or semi-solid contents of the grease or grit interceptor to the sanitary sewer system.
(3) The influent to interceptors shall not exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit (140° F). The temperature at the flow-control-device inspection port shall be considered equivalent to the temperature of the influent.
(4) Toilets, urinals, and other similar fixtures shall not discharge through a grease or grit interceptor.
(5) Waste shall only enter the grease or grit interceptor through the inlet-flow-control device.
(6) Where food-waste grinders are installed, the waste from such units shall discharge directly into the building drainage system without passing through a grease or grit interceptor. Living quarters, as defined in subsection (c)(1)E. and F. are exempted from this
(f) Requirements for Grease or Grit Interceptors.
(1) The operator must apply for all necessary permits prior to installation of any grease trap or grit interceptor.
(2) The inspector assigned by the City will oversee the installation of such interceptor.
(3) All food establishments which maintain a kitchen or other facilities for the preparation of food shall be required to have a 1,000 gallon capacity grease or grit interceptor. Such interceptor shall be installed at least ten (10) feet from the building wherein the food is prepared. Alternative size and location conditions may be approved but only if in conformance with the Ohio Plumbing Code.
(4) Grease or grit interceptor traps shall be installed a minimum distance of ten (10) feet from sinks and dishwashers to allow for adequate cooling of wastewater. Water temperatures must be less than 140º degrees Fahrenheit (140º F) prior to entering such an interceptor.
(5) Sample port. A sample port shall be installed on the effluent line of each interceptor. The port shall be a minimum of six (6) inches in diameter and be connected to the sewer line at a 90° degree angle to allow for sampling activities. The port shall be installed in such a manner as to be protected from storm water contamination and maintained in a safe and proper operating condition. The plug on the sample port must be easily removable.
(g) Interceptor Maintenance.
(1) Facilities are responsible for maintaining grease or grit interceptors traps in continuous proper working condition. Further, facilities are responsible for inspecting, repairing, replacing, or installing apparatus and equipment as necessary to ensure proper operation and function of grease traps and compliance with discharge limitations at all times.
(2) Records of maintenance are required to be maintained on site for three (3) years. (ninety (90)-day maintenance frequency assumes proper sizing and installation consistent with this guidance). If pre-existing grease or grit interceptors are of an age and/or size where by ninety (90) day maintenance schedules are inadequate, then the frequency of emptying such interceptors shall be increased; however, records shall be sent to the City on a quarterly basis.
(3) In addition, if the City becomes aware that the facility's maintenance schedule is inadequate, the Safety Service Director or the Director's designee shall require a cleaning schedule that is adequate (which could include a monthly cleaning schedule).
(4) The facility shall maintain and furnish to the City adequate documentation that the grease or grit interceptors are is appropriately cleaned and inspected at a minimum of four (4) times per year (March, June, September, and December).
(5) No facility shall allow grease or grit interceptor waste to be removed from his premises by a waste hauler who does not have all applicable Federal, State, or local permits or registrations, including any permit required by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health Waste Haulers.
(6) When grease or grit interceptor waste is removed from the facility by either a waste hauler or the facility itself, the following information, if applicable, shall be documented and kept on file with the facility and submitted to the City:
A. The signature of the facility representative present when the grease trap or interceptor was cleaned;
B. The name, address, and telephone number of the disposal site;
C. The company waste hauler's name, address, and telephone number;
D. The name of a primary and secondary contact person at the waste hauler;
E. The waste hauler's Cuyahoga County Board of Health permit number;
F. The work order, signed and dated by an authorized representative of the waste hauler; and
G. Copies of the waste hauler's Certificate of Insurance, Certificate of Assurance and Certificate of Indemnification.
(h) Required Pumping Frequency.
(1) Unless otherwise specified in writing by the City each grease or grit interceptor in active use shall be cleaned at least once every calendar quarter or more frequently as needed to prevent carry over of grease or grit into the sanitary sewer system, unless it is demonstrated to the City that the pumping frequency can be performed at greater intervals without impairment of the operation of the public sewer. The City may specify cleaning more frequently when quarterly pumping is determined by the City to be inadequate. Any grease or grit generating facility desiring a schedule less frequent than quarterly shall submit a request to the City.
(2) The facility shall be responsible for providing such additional pumping as needed.
(3) All grease or grit interceptors shall be maintained by the facility at the facility's expense.
(i) Interceptor Maintenance Log.
(1) Every facility having a grease or grit interceptor shall maintain an Interceptor Maintenance Log indicating each pumping for the previous three (3) years. This log shall include the date, time, amount pumped, hauler and disposal site, initials of individual recording the information, and shall be kept in a conspicuous location on the premises of the facility for inspection. Said log shall be made immediately available to any authorized inspector.
(j) Fees.
(1) The City shall inspect the facility if records are not submitted timely or clearly indicate the dates of grease or grit interceptor cleaning; failure to provide such documentation shall result in the facility being invoiced for the costs of the City's inspection.
(2) If grease or grit causes a complication in the City's sewer system and the City determines that the grease or grit is from one (1) facility; that facility will be invoiced for the cost of the sewer work to remediate the problem.
(k) Violation.
(1) It is unlawful for any person, facility or organization to discharge into the sanitary sewer system in any manner that is in violation of this Section, or of any condition set forth in this Section. No person shall cause or permit the plugging or blocking of, or otherwise interfere with or permit the interference of the operation of a grease or grit interceptor or the sanitary sewer system, including alteration or removal of any flow constricting devices so as to cause flow to rise above the design capacity of the interceptor.
(2) No person, facility or organization shall discharge grease or grit in excess of 250 mg/l to the sanitary sewer system.
(3) The City may suspend water or sewer service when such suspension is necessary, in the opinion of the City, in order to stop an actual or threatened discharge which:
A. Presents or may present an imminent or substantial endangerment to the health or welfare of persons or the environment;
B. Causes or may cause stoppages or excessive maintenance to be required to prevent stoppages in the sanitary sewer collection system;
C. Causes interference to the sanitary sewer system; or
D. Causes the City to violate any condition of the Rocky River Wastewater Treatment Plant NPDES Discharge Permit.
E. Any person, facility or organization notified of a suspension of the water or sewer service shall immediately stop or eliminate the discharge. In the event of a failure of the person, facility or organization to comply voluntarily with a suspension order, the City may take such steps as deemed necessary, including immediate termination of water or sewer service, to prevent or minimize actual or threatened damage to the sanitary sewer system or sewer connection or endangerment to any individuals. The City shall reinstate the water or sewer service upon receipt of proof that such conditions causing the suspension have passed or been eliminated. A detailed written statement submitted by the facility describing the cause(s) of the harmful discharge and the measure(s) taken to prevent any future occurrence shall be submitted to the City within fifteen (15) days of the date of occurrence.
(4) Any person, facility or organization who violates any provision of this section, or who shall fail to comply with any provision hereof, shall be guilty of a first degree misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in Rocky River Codified Ordinance 501.99 for each violation and each day a violation continues, shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punished accordingly.
(5) In addition to any applicable fines or penalties, a violator shall be liable to the City for any expense, loss, or damage occasioned by the City for clean-up and proper disposal of said materials. The violator shall be further required to pay an administrative fee equal to one-half (½) of assessed clean-up costs.
(6) The City has the option to take additional action against any person, facility or organization that has caused three (3) or more sanitary sewer blockages in one calendar year due to excess grease accumulation.
(l) Severability.
(1) If any part or parts of this Section shall be held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this chapter. The governing body declares that it would have passed the remaining parts of this chapter if it had known that such part or parts thereof would be declared invalid.
(Ord. 3-14. Passed 3-10-14.)
(Ord. 3-14. Passed 3-10-14.)