Chapter 18.08
GREASE TRAPS
Sections:
18.08.020 Conflict between these provisions and Uniform Plumbing Code.
18.08.040 Requirement for grease trap, grease interceptor, or other device.
18.08.050 General regulations and procedures.
18.08.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to set forth policies, procedures, and requirements for food service establishments governing the installation, maintenance, and use of grease traps, grease interceptors or other comparable devices which represent the best practicable control technology for oil/grease removal, and to establish procedures regarding implementation and enforcement of the regulations set forth in this chapter. [Ord. 01-21 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1957 N.S. § 1, 1994].
18.08.020 Conflict between these provisions and Uniform Plumbing Code.
In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the Uniform Plumbing Code, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail. [Ord. 01-21 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1957 N.S. § 1, 1994].
18.08.030 Definitions.
“Food service establishment” means an establishment that prepares and/or sells food for consumption either on or off the premises, including, but not limited to, restaurants, sandwich shops, delicatessens, bakeries, or pizzerias. The term, as used in this chapter, does not refer to food stores or establishments that do not prepare food on premises or process food in a manner so as to contribute grease to the sewer system.
“Grease interceptor” means a device designed and installed to separate and retain deleterious, hazardous, or undesirable matter from normal wastes and to permit normal sewage or liquid wastes to discharge into the disposal terminal by gravity.
“Grease trap” means a device designed to retain grease from one to a maximum of four fixtures.
“MRWPCA” means the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency. [Ord. 01-21 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1957 N.S. § 1, 1994].
18.08.040 Requirement for grease trap, grease interceptor, or other device.
(a) A food service establishment or any other business discharging grease, oil or other similar material shall have an operable grease trap, grease interceptor or other comparable device(s) as determined by MRWPCA and the city’s chief building inspector to be an adequate substitute for a grease trap or grease interceptor. A properly sized interceptor or trap shall be considered first, in conformity with the sizing chart set forth in the MRWPCA Regional Grease Program of MRWPCA. Should space limitations or other exceptional circumstances prevent their installation, MRWPCA may grant exceptions to the requirement of grease traps or grease interceptors in this section.
(b) All drains from food preparation and cleanup areas including, but not limited to, prewash sinks, floor drains, food waste disposal units, pots and pans sinks, scullery sinks, and garbage can wash areas shall be connected to such trap or interceptor.
(c) Sizing Formula. The size of a grease trap or grease interceptor shall be as determined by the MRWPCA. Notwithstanding the foregoing, grease traps required by this chapter shall be no smaller than an 80-gallon capacity trap with a 75-gallon per minute flow rate.
(d) Existing grease traps, grease interceptors or similar devices.
(1) Any food service establishment or other business that, on or after January 1, 1997, installed grease traps, grease interceptors, or other grease pretreatment equipment to comply with the requirements of the MRWPCA Regional Grease Program, shall not be required to upgrade such equipment until January 1, 2002, so long as such equipment remains in good working order. Should the grease trap, grease interceptor or other grease pretreatment equipment become nonoperational or fail to operate in good working order, a grease trap or grease interceptor meeting the standards set forth in this chapter shall be immediately installed.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing subsection (a)(1) of this section, any food service establishment or other business that, on or after, January 1, 1997, installed grease traps, grease interceptors, or other grease pretreatment equipment to comply with the requirements of the MRWPCA Regional Grease Program, shall upgrade such equipment to meet the standards set forth in this chapter upon the change of ownership of the business in which the equipment is located, or upon the remodeling of the business in which the equipment is located. Remodeling of the business not requiring a building permit shall be exempted from the upgrade requirement. The remodeling shall not be separated into phases for the purpose of avoiding the requirement of a building permit. [Ord. 01-21 § 1, 2001; Ord. 98-34 § 3, 1998; Ord. 97-15 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1957 N.S. § 1 1994].
18.08.050 General regulations and procedures.
(a) When waste treatment is required pursuant to this chapter, an approved grease trap or grease interceptor complying with the provision of this chapter shall be installed in the waste line leading from sinks, drains, and other fixtures or equipment.
(b) A plumbing permit shall be obtained from the chief building inspector prior to the installation of a grease trap or grease interceptor.
(c) Each trap, interceptor, or comparable device required by this chapter shall have an approved volume not less than required by this chapter.
(d) Toilets, lavatories, and other sanitary fixtures shall not be connected to any grease trap, grease interceptor, or comparable device.
(e) Location of Grease Traps, and Grease Interceptors.
(1) They shall be located outside buildings, unless a finding is made by the chief building inspector that the location of the building on the site or some other aspect of the use prevents an outside location and that placement within a building is not hazardous to public health and safety;
(2) They shall be located and maintained at all times so as to prevent the entrance of foreign materials, shall be easily accessible for cleaning inspection and removal of intercepted grease, and shall pose no hazard to public health or safety;
(3) If they are not designed in accordance with Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) Section 711 and/or Appendix H, they must be designed by a professional engineer, must be consistent with the standards of this chapter, and must be approved by MRWPCA.
(f) Related Equipment.
(1) They shall be fitted with a standard service access cover or manhole. If a manhole is required, it shall be brought to grade and finished with standard manhole cover and ring;
(2) A sampling box shall be located on the discharge side.
(g) All discharging fixtures shall be individually trapped and vented in accordance with the UPC.
(h) They shall be constructed of durable materials and shall have a full-size gas-tight cover which can easily be removed.
(i) They shall not be installed until the type and/or model has been subjected to, and has fully complied with, tests acceptable to the chief building inspector. Where an existing grease trap or grease interceptor is found acceptable by the chief building inspector, such equipment will be allowed to remain in use. Whenever a grease trap or grease interceptor does not comply with the provisions of this chapter, the chief building inspector shall require corrective measures.
(j) Prohibited and/or Restricted Equipment.
(1) The installation and use of garbage grinders (disposals) in commercial-food establishments is prohibited, except where a 1,000-gallon-plus interceptor is in use;
(2) The connection of high-temperature/high-flow dishwashers to a grease trap or grease interceptor is prohibited;
(3) The use of enzymes or bacterial cultures designed to disperse grease is prohibited unless specifically approved in writing by the Monterey County health department and the MRWPCA.
(k) After the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, all establishments covered by this chapter shall install an approved grease trap or grease interceptor of sufficient size to prevent discharges into the sewer system.
(l) Maintenance.
(1) Traps and interceptors shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the accumulated grease. No collected grease shall be introduced into any public or private drainage piping.
(2) Any grease trap or grease interceptor required by this chapter shall be readily accessible for inspection and properly maintained to assure that accumulations of grease or oil do not impair its efficiency or transport grease or oil into the sewer system.
(3) All food service establishments or businesses required under this chapter to install and maintain a grease trap or grease interceptor shall maintain a maintenance record for the grease trap or grease interceptor, which shall be transmitted to city of Pacific Grove on a quarterly basis. This record shall include the date, the name of the person who performed cleaning and the disposal site of the waste. The record shall be posted in a conspicuous location and be available for review by the city’s inspector at each routine inspection and at such other time as necessary for the city to determine whether a particular establishment may be performing maintenance contrary to the provisions of this chapter.
(4) The city or its designee shall perform grease trap and grease interceptor inspections bi-annually, or more often at the discretion of the city should maintenance reports not be received or should a grease trap or grease interceptor fail to operate properly.
(5) In the event the city determines that a food service establishment or business required to install and maintain a grease trap either fails to maintain the maintenance record required by this section, or fails to maintain the grease trap as required by this section, the city may require the immediate installation of a grease interceptor.
(m) Suspension or Termination of Health Permit. The city shall have the discretion to request the Monterey County health department (the city’s health officer) to terminate or cause to be terminated the health permit of any user if a violation of any provision of this chapter is found to cause a condition of contamination, pollution, nuisance, or other threat to public health or safety.
(n) Request for Ruling. If an applicant for a permit or the owner of a grease trap or grease interceptor disputes the interpretation or application of this chapter, he/she may request a written ruling by the chief building inspector. The decision of the chief building inspector shall be final for all purposes. [Ord. 01-21 § 1, 2001; Ord. 98-34 § 4, 1998; Ord. 1957 N.S. § 1 1994].