(A) Purpose. This section is intended to aid in the prevention of sanitary sewer blockages and obstructions caused by the introduction, discharge and contribution of fats, oils, greases, grease complexes, scum, sludge and other organic polar compounds into the town’s wastewater collection system or publicly-owned treatment works by commercial, industrial, institutional and all other non-residential activities.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT and INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENT. Any user that has the potential to use, contribute to or otherwise impact the town’s wastewater collection system or POTW. The establishments include, but are not limited to, maintenance facilities, repair facilities and equipment cleaning facilities.
COOKING ESTABLISHMENT. Any person primarily engaged in the activities of cooking, preparing, serving or otherwise making available for human consumption any form of foodstuff, and which uses one or more of the following cooking or preparation methods in connection with such activities: cooking or preparation by frying (all methods), baking (all methods), grilling, sauteing, rotisserie cooking, broiling (all methods), boiling, blanching, roasting, toasting, poaching or any type of cooking or preparation that produces a hot non-potable products in or on a receptacle that requires washing, rinsing or other form of cleaning. The establishments include, but are not limited to, restaurants, cafeterias, extended care facilities, school cafeterias (public and private), churches and day-care facilities where meals for more than six children are prepared, served or otherwise made available for human consumption and bio-fuel companies.
EMULSIFIER. Any chemical additive that promotes the suspension of fats, oils and grease in water.
GREASE. All greases, grease complexes, fats, oils, scum, sludges and all other organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. Such substances are detectable and measurable using analytical procedures established in 40 C.F.R. 136.
GREASE TRAP or GREASE INTERCEPTOR. A device for separating and retaining waterborne greases before the wastewater which contains such grease exits, the grease trap or interceptor into the town’s wastewater collection system or POTW. The grease trap or interceptor also collects settable solids generated by or incidental to commercial, industrial and food preparation activities.
NON-COOKING ESTABLISHMENT. Any person primarily engaged in the rendering or preparation of pre-cooked foodstuffs that do not require or involve any form of cooking. The establishments include, but are not limited to, establishments that are primarily engaged in the rending preparation of cold dairy and frozen foodstuffs. These businesses are encouraged to explore methods of exemption and alternate compliance status.
TOWN. The town and its utility service area.
USER. Any person primarily engaged in any commercial, industrial, institutional or other non-residential activity who introduces, contributes or discharges (or causes or permits the introduction, contribution or discharge of) wastewater into the town’s wastewater collection system or POTW, including but not limited to any person who introduces, contributes or discharges wastewater into the wastewater collection system or POTW through any mobile source.
WASTEWATER. Any substance introduced, contributed to or discharges into the town’s wastewater collection system or publicly-owned treatment works (POTW).
(C) Grease trap and interceptor installation, maintenance, record-keeping and removal.
(1) No later than one year after adoption of this section, all users shall install grease traps or interceptors designed to limit the introduction, contribution and discharge of greases into the town’s wastewater collection system of POTW. Grease traps and interceptors with appropriate sampling or inspection points shall be installed at the user’s expense whenever any user operates a commercial, industrial or institutional cooking establishment. Grease traps and interceptors must have a minimum capacity of 1,000 gallons or more as required to affect a grease concentration maximum of 100 mg/l.
(2) Alternate methods of compliance may be approved by the town if the user demonstrates that compliance with this section is impossible or impractical at the time of adoption of this section as a result of limited space. However, any proposed alternative method of compliance will be required to meet the performance criteria specified in division (C)(1) and the user must adequately demonstrate to the satisfaction of the town that the proposed alternative method will satisfy those performance criteria. In addition, any alternative method must be cleaned at a more frequent interval than is required of grease traps and interceptors under division (C)(5). Under-the-counter types of grease traps and interceptors shall be cleaned at least daily. Prior to approval of any proposed alternative method of compliance, documentation of the proposed method’s actual performance criteria must be submitted to the Wastewater Director or the town’s designated enforcement official for review and approval.
(3) Grease traps and interceptors may also be required in other facilities, as deems necessary by the Wastewater Director or the town’s designated enforcement official.
(4) Upon the prior written approval of the Wastewater Director, non-cooking establishments may be exempted from the requirements of this section after an inspection of the subject premises and submission of adequate supporting documentation, as deemed necessary in the discretion of the Wastewater Director. At a minimum, such supporting documentation shall include: blueprints of the subject premises, a full and detailed description of the operations and activities at the subject premises, and a full and detailed list of all potential sources of grease at the subject premises.
(5) Users shall empty and service grease traps and interceptors to comply with the performance criteria in division (C)(1) as often as necessary, but in any event no longer than every 60 days. The town may require a specific schedule if deemed necessary the Wastewater Director or designee. Under-the-counter types of grease traps and interceptors shall be cleaned at least daily and shall comply with the performance criteria in this division. There shall be no reintroduction of wastewater back into the grease trap or interceptor unless and until the wastewater has been proven to contain 100 mg/l or less of grease. Under no circumstances shall the sludge or scum layer be reintroduced or discharged into the town’s wastewater collection system or POTW.
(6) Users shall supply an adequate sampling point downstream of the grease trap or interceptor, prior to mixing with other sanitary flows, and an accessible entry into each chamber of the grease trap or interceptor. The minimum requirement for the sampling point shall be a four-inch vertical clean-out. The town shall have the right to inspect at any time and without prior notice.
(7) Users shall retain detailed records on-site for a minimum of three years reflecting all maintenance carried out pursuant to this section. At a minimum, such records shall contain the following information: date of service, name of the employee involved and a receipt reflecting all services rendered by the waste hauler providing the service.
(8) Users are required to keep the grease trap or interceptor free of inorganic solids such as grit, towels, gloves, cigarettes, eating utensils and the like, which could clog or settle in the trap or interceptor, thereby reducing the effective volume or capacity of trap or interceptor.
(9) Emulsifiers will not be discharged into the town’s wastewater collection system. Emulsifiers solidify downstream and coat the lines increasing the likelihood for blockages and overflows.
(10) Users are required to ensure that all waste material removed from grease traps and interceptors is disposed of in a manner that complies with all federal, state and local statutes, rules, regulations, policies and ordinances.
(11) Except as provided herein, for a period of one year following the adoption of this section, no enforcement actions will be taken under this section for failure to achieve the performance criteria specified in division (C). If, during such period, an obstruction of any of the town’s sanitary sewer main(s) occurs and causes a sewer overflow, spill, leak or other event with any environmental impact, and such overflow, spill, leak or other event may be attributed in part or in whole to a particular user, then the town will seek enforcement action under this subchapter. For purposed of this section, an overflow, spill, leak or other event shall be deemed to have an environmental impact when such overflow or other event involves an amount of wastewater equal to or in excess of 1,000 gallons, or any amount of wastewater reaches any body of surface water.
(D) Enforcement. The town shall enforce this section to the provisions of this subchapter.
(Ord. 110612B, passed 11-5-2012)