(A) The owner or operator of an FSE which is required to pass wastewater through a grease interceptor or trap shall operate and maintain the grease interceptor or trap so that wastewater exiting the grease interceptor or trap shall not exceed 400 milligrams per liter of FOG.
(B) The owner or operator of the FSE shall cause the grease interceptor or trap to be cleaned as hereinafter required when FOG and solids reach 25% of the design liquid level of the grease interceptor or trap, or sooner if necessary to prevent carry over of FOG from the grease interceptor or trap into the city sanitary sewer system. Interceptors and traps shall be cleaned at three-month intervals or less. A longer cleaning interval must be approved by the WRA Director. The owner or operator of an FSE shall employ a waste hauler licensed by the WRA pursuant to this chapter to clean the grease interceptor or trap, provided that the waste hauler personnel performing the cleaning has a current grease hauler certification from the WRA indicating satisfactory completion of the course of training offered by the WRA on the cleaning of grease interceptors and traps.
(C) Any person who cleans a grease interceptor or trap shall do so in accordance with the following procedures and requirements. The person cleaning the grease interceptor or trap shall:
(1) Completely empty and remove the contents (liquids and sludge) of all vaults of the grease interceptor or trap, and remove the grease mat and scrapings from the interior walls. As part of each cleaning of a grease interceptor or trap, the licensed waste hauler employed by the FSE owner or operator, shall perform the following maintenance activities:
(a) Check that the sanitary "tees" on the inlet and outlet sides of the grease interceptor are not obstructed, loose, or missing.
(b) Verify that the baffle is secure and in place.
(c) Inspect the grease interceptor or trap for any cracks or other defects.
(d) Check that lids are securely and properly seated after completion of cleaning.
(2) Not deposit waste and wastewater removed from a grease interceptor or trap back into the grease interceptor or trap from which the waste or wastewater was removed, or into any other grease interceptor or trap or drainage fixture connected to the sanitary sewer, for the purpose of reducing the volume of waste and wastewater to be disposed of.
(3) Not introduce enzymes, emulsifying chemicals, hot water or other agents into a grease interceptor or trap to dissolve or emulsify grease or as a grease abatement method. Introduction of bacteria as a grease degradation agent is permitted with prior written approval by the WRA Director.
(4) Dispose of waste and wastewater removed from a grease interceptor or trap at the WRF or at a facility approved for disposal of such waste by the WRA Director. Waste and wastewater removed from a grease interceptor or trap shall not be discharged to any private sanitary or storm sewer or to the city sanitary or storm sewer system. The waste hauler shall provide a copy of the disposal receipt for all waste and wastewater removed from a grease interceptor or trap to the owner or operator of the FSE.
(5) Not use an automatic grease removal system to clean a grease interceptor without prior written approval of the WRA Director, and if, the use of an automatic grease removal system is approved, shall operate same in a manner that the grease wastewater discharge limit, as measured from the system's outlet, is consistently achieved.
(D) The WRA Director may make exceptions to the above requirements, or may approve alternative operational requirements or cleaning and maintenance methods, provided that such exceptions or approvals shall be made in writing by the WRA Director.
(E) The WRA Director may issue a grease hauler certification upon satisfactory completion of the course of training offered by the WRA on the proper maintenance and cleaning of grease interceptors and traps, disposal procedures and record keeping. Such certification shall be for a period of five years and shall be in effect for the person receiving such training. Grease haulers certified by the WRA shall be subject to a grease interceptor cleanout inspection by WRA personnel, not less than once every two years, for purposes of the hauler demonstrating its compliance with requirements in this section. Such inspections shall be scheduled at a time which coincides with normal working hours for WRA personnel, shall involve all individuals employed by the same company who have been issued a grease hauler certification by the WRA, and shall be conducted at an FSE within the WRA service area. Failure to follow WRA's cleanout procedures or other requirements of this section may result in fines, additional scheduled cleanout inspections, and loss of grease hauler certification status, individually or company-wide, with the WRA.
(Ord. 2010-09, passed 7-13-2010; Am. Ord. 2019-03, passed 2-26-2019; Am. Ord. 2022-09, passed 8-23-2022)