A. The purpose of this section is to provide for the regulation, inspection, maintenance, and rehabilitation of oil and grease interceptor/trap systems, to permit intervention in circumstances which may constitute a public nuisance or health hazard; and to establish penalties for violations of the provisions of this section.
B. Applicability. Oil and grease interceptor/trap systems are required for all restaurants, food preparation facilities, or other commercial, industrial and institutional establishments determined by the operator to have the potential to discharge oil and/or grease into a sanitary sewer system.
C. Permits.
(1) No person shall install, construct or alter an oil and grease interceptor/trap or occupy or utilize any structure in which an oil and grease interceptor/trap system shall be installed without first obtaining written approval from the operator, which said approval shall identify the site and approve the plans and specifications so as to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section.
(2) All oil and grease interceptor/traps shall be available for inspection by the operator during normal business hours.
(3) After receipt of all required approvals, any person desiring to construct a permanent oil and grease trap interceptor system shall notify the operator at least 72 hours in advance of the commencement of the construction so as to arrange the required inspections.
D. Design and inspection.
(1) All oil and grease interceptor/trap systems must be the type and capacity approved by the owner’s design professional and must be located for easy accessibility to clean and inspect.
(2) The owner or person utilizing any property connected to a sanitary sewer system shall permit an authorized agent of the operator:
(a) To enter all properties and facilities for the purpose of inspection, sampling, and testing to determine compliance with the provisions of these regulations.
(b) To examine and copy any and all records required to be maintained by the owner for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of these regulations.
(3) Any oil and grease interceptor/trap system may be inspected by an operator’s authorized agent at any reasonable time.
(4) Inspection of an oil and grease interceptor/trap system may require a physical tour of the property, sampling of the oil and grease interceptor/trap, and dye-testing of the interior plumbing to determine the path and ultimate destination of the generated wastewater.
(5) An initial inspection may be conducted [to] determine the type and functionality [of] oil and grease interceptors and traps.
(6) A schedule of routine inspections may be established to assure proper functioning of oil and grease interceptors and traps.
(7) An operator’s authorized agent may inspect systems known or alleged to be malfunctioning. Should said inspections reveal the system is malfunctioning, the authorized agent will order action to be taken to correct the malfunction.
E. Maintenance.
(1) Every person owning a building or structure containing an oil and grease interceptor/trap system, as well as any person making use of the oil and grease interceptor/trap system shall have the oil and grease interceptor/trap pumped by a qualified pumper/hauler at least every three months, or as required by manufacturer recommendations, or as required by the operator, whichever schedule provides for more frequent pumping. The owner and/or utilizer of the oil and grease interceptor/trap shall submit to the operator receipts from the pumper/hauler confirming the pumping of the oil and grease interceptor/trap within two weeks after the removal of the accumulated oil and grease.
(2) The required pumping frequency may be increased by the operator for good cause shown.
(3) Any person owning a property served by an oil and grease interceptor/trap, as well as any person making use of the oil and grease interceptor/trap system, must submit, with each required pumping receipt, a written statement from the pumper/hauler that the baffles in the oil and grease interceptor/trap have been inspected and found to be in good working order. Any person whose oil and grease interceptor/trap baffles are determined to require repair or replacement must first contact the operator for approval of the necessary repair.
(4) Any person owning a building served by an oil and grease interceptor/trap, as well as any person utilizing an oil and grease interceptor/trap system, must follow the operation and maintenance recommendations of the equipment manufacturer. A copy of the manufacturer’s recommendations and a copy of the service agreement must be submitted to the operator within 60 days of the effective date of this chapter. In no case may the service or pumping intervals for the oil and grease interceptor/trap exceed those recommended by the manufacturer.
F. System rehabilitation.
(1) A written notice of violation may be issued to any person who is the owner of any property and/or any person utilizing the oil and grease interceptor/trap system, which is found to be served by a malfunctioning oil and grease interceptor/trap system or which is discharging oil and grease without a permit.
(2) Within seven days of notification by the operator that a malfunction has been identified, the property owner and/or the person utilizing the oil and grease interceptor/trap system, must make application to the operator for approval to repair or replace the malfunctioning system. Within 30 days of initial notification by the operator, construction of the permitted repair or replacement must commence. Within 60 days of the original notification by the operator, the construction must be completed unless conditions mandate a longer period, in which case the operator may set an extended completion date.
(3) In the event the modifications do not result in the elimination of the malfunction of the existing oil and grease interceptor/trap system, the person owning and/or making use of the interceptor system shall bear responsibility for the continued malfunction of the system. The owner and/or utilize of said system shall be required to take such action as necessary to eliminate the malfunction.
G. Liens. The operator, upon notice that an imminent public health or safety hazard exists due to failure of a proper owner and/or utilize to maintain, repair or replace an oil and grease interceptor/trap system, shall have the authority to contract to have the work performed. The owner of record of the property will be charged for the work performed and, if necessary, a lien will be entered therefore in accordance with the law.
H. Oil and grease disposal.
(1) All grease originating within the operator’s collection system shall be disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the Solid Waste Management Act (Act 97 of 1980, 35 P.S. § 6018.101 et seq.) and all other applicable laws and at sites or facilities approved by DEP.
(2) Pumpers/haulers of oil and grease shall operate in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act (Act 97 of 1980, 35 P.S. §§ 6018.101–6018-1003) and all other applicable laws.
I. Violations. Should any person violate the provisions of this section, the Township or the operator is authorized to pursue all legal remedies available to it in order to effectuate compliance.