Struthers City Council hereby establishes rules for grease traps in the Struthers Waste Water/Mahoning County Service Area. They are as follows:
(a) Scope and Purpose. To aid in the prevention of sanitary sewer blockages and obstructions from contributions and accumulation of fats, oils and grease into the sanitary sewer system from industrial and commercial establishments, particularly food preparation and serving facilities.
(b) Definitions.
(1) Fats, oils and greases: Organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. These substances are detectable and measurable using analytical test procedures established in the United States Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR 136, as may be amended from time to time. All are sometimes referred to herein as “grease” or “greases”.
(2) Grease traps: A device for separating and retaining waterborne greases and grease complexes prior to the wastewater exiting the trap and entering the sanitary sewer collection and treatment system. Such traps are typically compact under-the-sink units that are near food preparation areas.
(3) Grease interceptor: A structure or device designed for the purpose of removing and preventing fats, oils, grease from the sanitary sewer collection system. These devices are often below-ground units in outside areas and are built as two or three chamber baffled tanks.
(4) Food service establishments: Those establishments primarily engaged in activities of preparing, serving or otherwise making available for consumption by the public such as restaurant, commercial kitchen, caterer, hotel, school, hospital, prison, correctional facility, and care institution. 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.
(5) User: Any person, including those located outside the jurisdictional limits of the City of Struthers who contributes to, causes or permits the contribution or discharge of wastewater into the sewers within the City’s service area, including persons who contribute such wastewater from mobile sources, such as those who discharge hauled wastewater.
(c) Food Service Establishment Permit Requirement. All permitted food service establishments discharging wastewater to the City of Struthers Wastewater Treatment Plant are subject to the following requirements:
(1) Grease interceptor requirements: All permitted food service establishments are required to install, operate and maintain an approved type and adequately sized grease interceptor necessary to maintain compliance with the objectives of this section. All grease interceptors must meet the requirements of the City of Struthers and Mahoning County Plumbing Codes.
(2) All existing food establishments, determined by the Safety Service Director/Wastewater Plant Manager, to have a reasonable potential to adversely impact the City’s sewer system will be notified of their obligation to install a grease interceptor within the specified period set forth in the notification letter.
(3) Variance from Grease Interceptor Requirements: Grease interceptors required under this section shall be installed unless the Mahoning County Board of Health and/or the Struthers Health Department determines the installation of a grease interceptor would not be feasible. The food establishment bears the burden of demonstrating that the installation of a grease interceptor is not feasible. The Mahoning County Board of Health may authorize the installation of an indoor grease trap where the installation of a grease interceptor is not feasible due to space constraints or other considerations.
(4) Interceptors shall be provided, operated and maintained whenever liquid or wastes are received by the plumbing system, which may contain flammable, explosive, noxious, toxic, gaseous or other materials that may be hazardous to the building drainage system, the wastewater system, sewage treatment plant processes and personnel.
(5) All interceptors shall be of such capacity and volume as to retain the liquid for a sufficient length of time to permit the deleterious and detrimental materials to separate from the other wastes before they are discharged into the building drain or sewer. (If necessary, strainers shall be installed to retain and collect solid materials one half inch or larger in any dimension.)
(6) Interceptors shall be located so as to be readily accessible at all times, with sufficient head room and clear area around them to permit easy inspection and the removal of the accumulated materials from within the interceptor at such intervals and at such times as may be necessary to assure the continued efficient operation of the interceptor and as necessary to prevent the entrance of the deleterious and detrimental materials into the sewerage system. All materials removed shall be disposed of in a manner that will not permit them to enter the sewerage system or wastewater treatment plant.
(7) Grease interceptors for kitchen wastes shall be installed so that they will receive all kitchen wastes except those from food waste grinders. Grease interceptors shall be installed immediately outside the building where there is easy access for cleaning, unless it is impractical, in which case they may be installed adjacent to or outside the food preparation area.
(8) The grease interceptor shall be inspected every thirty (30) days and cleaned to remove the grease wastes. The materials removed in cleaning shall be removed from the premises for disposal and not deposited in the plumbing or sewerage systems.
(9) All grease interceptors/traps for sewers/discharging to the Struthers Sewer System must be registered and permitted by the Department of Wastewater, using a permit and registration application available from the Struthers Department of Wastewater.
(d) Wastewater Discharge Limitations.
(1) No user shall allow wastewater discharge concentration from subject grease interceptor, grease trap or alternative pretreatment technology to exceed 100 milligrams per liter as defined by EPA test method 1664 or milligrams per liter, as identified by EPA test method 413. The City of Struthers has the authority to require the user to install a sampling manhole between the interceptor/grease trap and their sanitary lateral that discharges to the Struthers Wastewater Treatment Plant.
(e) Grease Interceptor Requirements.
(1) Grease interceptor sizing and installation shall conform to the current edition of the City of Struthers and Mahoning County Plumbing Code.
(2) Grease interceptors shall be constructed in accordance with design approved by the Mahoning County Board of Health 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 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 Mahoning County Board of Health’s Rules and Regulations.
(4) All such grease interceptors shall be serviced and emptied of accumulated waste content as required by the City of Struthers grease trap permit. These devices should be cleaned at least monthly. Users who are required to maintain a grease interceptor shall:
A. Provide for a minimum hydraulic retention time in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code (or other applicable plumbing code used by the local agency).
B. Remove any accumulated grease cap and sludge pocket as required. Grease interceptors shall be kept free of inorganic solid material such as grit, rocks, gravel, sand, eating utensils, cigarettes, shells, towels, rags, etc., which could settle into this pocket and thereby reduce the effective volume of the device.
(5) The user shall maintain a written record of inspection and maintenance for three (3) years. All such records will be available for on-site inspection by representatives of the City of Struthers during all operating hours.
(6) Sanitary wastes are not allowed to be connected to sewer lines intended for grease interceptor service.
(7) Access manholes with a minimum diameter of 24 inches, shall be provided over each grease interceptor chamber. 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.
(f) Grease Trap Requirements.
(1) Upon approval by the Safety Service Director/Wastewater Treatment Plant manager, a grease trap complying with this section must be installed in the waste line leading from sinks, drains and other fixtures or equipment in food service establishments where grease may be introduced into the drainage or sewer system in quantities that can effect line stoppage or hinder sewage treatment or private sewage disposal.
(2) Grease traps sizing and installation shall conform to the City of Struthers and Mahoning County Plumbing Code.
(3) No grease trap shall be installed which has a stated rate of flow of more than fifty- five (55) gallons per minute, or less than twenty (20) gallons per minute, except when specially approved by the Safety Service Director/Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager.
(4) Grease traps shall be maintained in efficient operating conditions by removal of the accumulated grease every thirty (30) days. No such collected grease shall be introduced into drainage piping or public or private sewer. Grease traps should be cleaned monthly or as often as thirty (30) days to meet the discharge limit of 100 milligrams per liter.
(5) No food waste disposal unit or dishwasher shall be connected to or discharge into any grease trap.
(Ord. 08-045. Passed 5-14-08.)
(6) Wastewater in excess of one hundred four (104) degrees F/forty (40) degrees C shall not be discharged into grease trap.
(Ord. 12-003. Passed 1-11-12.)