CHAPTER 2
SEWERS
ARTICLE 17.5. GREASE INTERCEPTORS, INSTALLATION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE
SECTION:
§3798A.1: Purpose And Policy, And Administration
§3798A.2: Specialized Definitions
§3798A.3: Applicability And Prohibitions
§3798A.4: Compliance Date
§3798A.5: Discharge Criteria
§3798A.6: Grease Interceptor Permit
§3798A.7: Grease Interceptor Permit Requirements
§3798A.8: Required Reporting
§3798A.9: Grease Interceptor Requirements
§3798A.10: Grease Trap Requirements
§3798A.11: Violation
§3798A.12: Enforcement
§3798A.13: Appeal Process
§3798A.14: Authorization
§3798A.1 PURPOSE AND POLICY, AND ADMINISTRATION
A. The purpose of this article is the regulation of the generation and disposal of grease interceptor waste for the protection of the city of Ukiah (city) sewage treatment plant (POTW) and the environment.
B. The objective of this article is to reduce the operational and maintenance costs of maintaining the POTW and ensure compliance of state water resources control board (SWRCB) permits, including the city’s national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit by preventing the accumulation of grease within the collection system.
C. This article shall apply to the city of Ukiah and to persons outside the city and the Ukiah Valley sanitation district (district) who, by contract or agreement with the city or the district, are users of the city’s POTW. This article rather than the district’s grease interceptor ordinance 28 shall apply to properties located both in the city and the district. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.2 SPECIALIZED DEFINITIONS
Unless a provision explicitly states otherwise, terms and phrases as defined in section 3701 of this division shall apply to the extent that they are not in conflict with the provisions of this article.
DIRECTOR: The director of the public works department or another person designated by the city manager.
FATS: Substances that are primarily fatty acid esters of the alcohol glycerol, also called acylglycerols, neutral fats or glycerides. They are the major components of depot, or storage, fats in plant and animal cells, especially in the adipose (or fat) cells of vertebrates. This term may include any synthesized substance of a like nature.
FOOD SERVICE FACILITY: Those establishments primarily engaged in activities of preparing, serving, or otherwise making foodstuffs available for consumption by the public. Examples of such facilities include a restaurant, commercial kitchen, caterer, hotel, school, hospital, prison, correctional facility, and care institution. These establishments use one or more of the following food 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, nondrinkable food product in or on a receptacle that requires washing.
GREASE: Fats, waxes, free fatty acids, calcium and magnesium soaps, mineral oils and certain other nonfatty material from animal or vegetable sources, or from hydrocarbons of petroleum origins, commonly found in wastewater from food preparation and food service. Grease may originate from, but not be limited to, discharges from scullery sinks, pot and pan sinks, dishwashing machines, soup kettles and floor drains located in areas where grease containing materials may exist.
GREASE INTERCEPTOR OR INTERCEPTOR: A structure or device designed for the purpose of removing and preventing fats, oils, and grease from entering the sanitary sewer collection system. These devices are often belowground units in outside areas and are built as two (2) or three (3) chamber baffled tanks.
GREASE TRAP: 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.
INSPECTOR: The city of Ukiah environmental compliance inspector, under the instruction and supervision of the city of Ukiah director of public works, who is assigned to investigate compliance and detect violations of this article and shall also mean city of Ukiah building inspector, who under the supervision of the building official of the city of Ukiah, is assigned to inspect construction projects within the city of Ukiah limits to ensure compliance with city of Ukiah building ordinances and other relevant building ordinances.
MINIMUM DESIGN CAPABILITY: The design features of a grease interceptor and its ability or volume required to effectively intercept and retain greases from grease laden wastewaters discharged to the public sanitary sewer.
POTW OR PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS: A treatment works which is owned by a municipality as defined by section 502(4) of the clean water act. This definition includes any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature. It also includes all sewers, pipes and other conveyances that transfer wastewater to a POTW. The term also means the municipality as defined in section 502(4) of the act, which has jurisdiction over the indirect discharges to and the discharges from such a treatment works. For purposes of this article, the terms "sanitary sewer system" and "POTW" may be used interchangeably.
USER: Any person who contributes, causes or permits the contribution or discharge of wastewater into sewers within the city of Ukiah’s boundaries, including persons who contribute such wastewater from mobile sources, such as those who discharge hauled wastewater. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.3 APPLICABILITY AND PROHIBITIONS
A. This article shall apply to all nondomestic users of the publicly owned treatment works (POTW), as defined in section 3798A.2 of this article.
B. Grease traps or grease interceptors shall not be required for residential users.
C. Facilities generating fats, oils, or greases as a result of food manufacturing, processing, preparation, or food service shall install, use, and maintain appropriate grease interceptors or grease traps as defined in section 3798A.2 of this article. These facilities include, but are not limited to, restaurants, food manufacturers, food processors, hospitals, hotels and motels, prisons, nursing homes, and any other facility preparing, serving, or otherwise making any foodstuff available for consumption.
D. No user may intentionally or unintentionally allow the direct or indirect discharge of any petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, mineral oil, or any fats, oils, or greases of animal or vegetable origin into the POTW system in such amounts as to cause interference with the collection and treatment system, or as to cause pollutants to pass through the treatment works into the environment. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.4 COMPLIANCE DATE
A. On or after the effective date hereof, an existing facility shall be required to install an approved, adequately sized, and properly operated and maintained grease interceptor when any of the following conditions exist:
1. It is found to be contributing grease in quantities sufficient to cause sanitary sewer line stoppages or necessitate increased maintenance on the sanitary sewer collection system in order to keep main line stoppages from occurring.
2. It is remodeling the food preparation or kitchen waste plumbing facilities in such a manner to be subject to a permit issued by the department of planning and building.
B. Existing facilities required by this article or other applicable ordinance to maintain a grease interceptor presently equipped with an undersized or improper grease interceptor shall, within thirty six (36) months of the effective date hereof install an adequately sized grease interceptor in accordance with the specifications of this article.
C. Existing facilities required by this article or other applicable ordinances to maintain a grease interceptor that are not currently equipped with a grease interceptor shall, within eighteen (18) months of the effective date hereof, install an appropriate and adequately sized grease interceptor in accordance with the specifications of this article.
D. New facilities required by this article or other applicable ordinances to maintain a grease interceptor shall install such a unit prior to commencement of discharge to the POTW.
E. Any requests for extensions to installation dates must be made in writing to the director, at least thirty (30) days in advance of the compliance date. The written request shall include the reasons for the grease generator’s failure or inability to comply with the compliance date set forth, the additional time needed to complete the remaining work, and the steps to be taken to avoid future delays. The director shall determine the date for compliance. Requests based solely on monetary considerations will not be approved. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.5 DISCHARGE CRITERIA
A. Where fats and grease are a byproduct of food preparation and/or cleanup, reasonable efforts shall be made to separate waste fats and grease into a separate container for proper disposal. Fats and grease shall not be discharged to any drains or grease interceptors, except as contained in byproducts of food preparation and/or cleanup. Such waste shall be placed in a container designed to hold such waste and either utilized by industry or disposed of at suitable locations. This also applies to residential users.
B. None of the following agents shall be placed directly into a grease interceptor, or into any drain that leads to the interceptor:
1. Emulsifiers, de-emulsifiers, surface active agents, enzymes, degreasers, or any type of product that will liquefy grease interceptor wastes,
2. Any substance that may cause excessive foaming in the POTW, or
3. Any substance capable of passing the solid or semisolid contents of the grease interceptor to the POTW.
C. The influent to grease interceptors or grease traps shall not exceed one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140°F).
D. Toilets, urinals, and other similar fixtures shall not discharge through a grease interceptor.
E. No food waste disposal unit or dishwasher shall be connected to or discharge into any grease interceptor or grease trap. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.6 GREASE INTERCEPTOR PERMIT
A. Any food service facility discharging grease, oil or other objectionable material is required to obtain a permit from the city known as a "grease interceptor permit".
B. All existing facilities must obtain a permit within three (3) years from the effective date hereof.
C. All facilities will be subject to annual inspections. These inspections will be initiated within one year after the adoption hereof. Inspection fees will be assessed as described in subsection F of this section.
D. "Grease interceptor permit" applications shall be completed and filed with the inspector. Plans shall be provided with the application indicating the location and design details for the proposed grease interceptor.
E. Permits shall be issued for a specified time not to exceed five (5) years. If a permittee is not notified by the director thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the permit, the permit shall be extended one additional year. The terms and conditions of the permit may be subject to modification by the director during the life of the permit. The permittee shall be informed of any proposed changes in the permit at least thirty (30) days prior to the effective date of change. Any new conditions in the permit shall include a reasonable time schedule for compliance. After five (5) years from the original permit issue date, the permit shall be renewed by submitting a new permit application; however, no new application fee shall be assessed.
F. Permittees are required to pay a onetime application fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) and an annual inspection fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00). Annual inspection fees may be reduced or waived upon demonstration by the permittee that fats, oils, and grease collected in grease interceptors, or alternate approved systems, have been recycled for conversion to biodiesel or other products as approved by the director. Documentation is subject to verification by the director.
G. Permits shall be issued only for specific uses for specific operations. As a result of any sale, lease, or transfer of the premises for which the permit was issued, a new permit shall be required. Any new or changed conditions of operation shall also require that a new permit be issued.
H. The permit may be revoked by the director if the permittee is found to be in violation of this article and who:
1. Fails to install grease pretreatment devices as required by the permit;
2. Fails to fulfill reporting requirements or pretreatment maintenance as required by the permit;
3. Refuses reasonable access to the permittee’s premises for the purpose of inspection or monitoring;
4. Violates conditions of the permit.
I. All permittees shall engage in best management practices, as outlined in documentation provided to the permittee by the director with the grease interceptor permit application. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.7 GREASE INTERCEPTOR PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
A. Any new food service facility discharging grease, oil or other objectionable material is subject to grease interceptor requirements. All such facilities must obtain prior approval from the director for grease interceptor sizing prior to or when submitting plans for a building permit.
B. Existing facilities with planned modification in plumbing improvements that are connected to or will be connected to a grease interceptor (as required by the adopted edition of the California plumbing code) with a building permit valuation of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) or more will be required to include plans to comply with the grease interceptor requirements.
C. Maintenance records on interceptor cleaning and pumping must be maintained for three (3) years and must be available for inspection on the premises.
D. Grease interceptors required under this article shall be installed outdoors unless the director authorizes the installation of an indoor grease interceptor/trap or other alternative pretreatment technology and determines that the installation of a grease interceptor would not be feasible.
E. All existing facilities, determined by the director, to have a reasonable potential to adversely impact the sewer collection system will be notified of their obligation to install a grease interceptor within the specified period set forth in the notification letter. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.8 REQUIRED REPORTING
All permitted interceptor waste generators shall, at the time of permit renewal, submit to the director:
A. Copies of all manifests made by liquid waste transporters servicing their grease interceptor during the past year;
B. A copy of the interceptor maintenance log;
C. A copy of the interceptor service contract; and
D. Any other information required by the grease interceptor permit, including analysis of the discharge to the POTW of such pollutants as the director may require. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.9 GREASE INTERCEPTOR REQUIREMENTS
A. Grease interceptor sizing and installation shall conform to the current edition of the California plumbing code.
B. Grease interceptors shall be constructed in accordance with design approved by the director and shall have a minimum of two (2) compartments with fittings designed for grease retention.
C. Grease interceptors shall be installed at a location where it shall be easily accessible for inspection, cleaning, and removal of intercepted 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 director.
D. All such grease interceptors shall be serviced and emptied of accumulated waste content as required in order to maintain minimum design capability or effective volume. These devices should be inspected at least monthly. Users who are required to maintain a grease interceptor shall:
1. Provide for a minimum hydraulic retention time in accordance with the California plumbing code.
2. Remove any accumulated grease cap and sludge pocket as required.
3. Grease interceptors shall be kept free of inorganic solid materials 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.
E. Access manholes, with a minimum diameter of twenty four inches (24"), shall be provided over each grease interceptor chamber and sanitary tee. 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 interceptors required under this article shall be installed in all food service facilities unless the director authorizes the installation of an indoor grease trap or other alternative pretreatment technology and determines that the installation of a grease interceptor would not be feasible. The food service facility bears the burden of demonstrating that the installation of a grease interceptor is not feasible. If an owner believes the installation of a grease interceptor is not feasible because of documented space constraints or other physical constraints, the request for an alternative grease removal device shall contain the following information:
1. Location of sewer main and easements in relation to available exterior space;
2. General information about existing plumbing at the site. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.10 GREASE TRAP REQUIREMENTS
A. Upon approval by the director, a grease trap complying with the provisions of this section must be installed in the waste line leading from sinks, drains, and other fixtures or equipment in food service facilities where grease may be introduced into the drainage or sewage system in quantities that can effect line stoppage or hinder sewage treatment or private sewage disposal.
B. Grease traps sizing and installation shall conform to the California plumbing code.
C. Grease traps shall be maintained in efficient operating conditions by periodic removal of the accumulated grease. No such collected grease shall be introduced into any drainage piping, or public or private sewer.
D. No food waste disposal unit or dishwasher shall be connected to or discharge into any grease trap.
E. Wastewater in excess of one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140°F) shall not be discharged into a grease trap. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.11 VIOLATION
A. It is unlawful for any user to discharge into the POTW in any manner that is in violation of this article, or of any condition set forth in this article. Additionally, a person commits an offense if the person causes or permits the plugging or blocking of, or otherwise interferes with or permits interference with a grease interceptor or the POTW, including alteration or removal of any flow constricting devices so as to cause flow to rise above the design capacity of the interceptor.
B. No person, and/or facility shall discharge grease to the POTW, except as expressly authorized by this article. If such discharge occurs, the person or facility shall be considered in violation of this article and subject to the remedies described herein. This includes nonpermitted facilities.
C. In addition to prohibiting certain conduct by natural persons, it is the intent of this article to hold a corporation, association, LLC, LLP, or other entity or organization legally responsible for prohibited conduct performed by an agent acting on behalf of such an entity and within the scope of his office or employment.
D. The city may recover the fees and costs imposed by this section in a civil action and may pursue any other remedy available at law or in equity to address a violation of this article or to enforce compliance with it. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.12 ENFORCEMENT
A. Exception: Except as provided herein, for a period of one year following adoption hereof, although installation of grease traps will be required to be installed, no enforcement actions will be taken under this article for failure to achieve limits on grease discharges from the facility. If, during this one year period an obstruction of a sewer main(s) occurs that causes a sewer overflow to the extent that an impact on the environment is realized and that said overflow or failure of the sanitary sewer collection system to convey sewage can be attributed in part or in whole to an accumulation of grease in the sewer main(s), the city will take appropriate enforcement actions, as stipulated in this article, against the generator or contributor of such grease.
B. Minor Violation: Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to a written warning for the first violation, a five hundred dollar ($500.00) civil penalty for the second violation, a one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) civil penalty for the third violation, a two thousand dollar ($2,000.00) civil penalty for the fourth violation, and an additional five hundred dollar ($500.00) civil penalty for each subsequent violation (e.g., $3,000.00 for a fifth violation, $3,500.00 for a sixth violation) within a two (2) year period. A fifth or subsequent violation within a two (2) year period may result in termination of service.
C. Major Violation: If the city through the director or his designee determines that a user is responsible for a blockage of a collection system line:
1. For the first offense, a field citation with date for compliance shall be issued to the responsible person on site. The focus of the citation shall be education. The cost of removal of the blockage shall not be assessed for the first occurrence. However, the facility shall be notified of the cost that they may incur for additional violations in the future.
2. For the second offense within a twelve (12) month period, a notice of violation shall be issued with a penalty of no less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) in addition to the cost of the removal of both the first blockage which gave rise to the first offense and the second blockage which gave rise to the second offense to be assessed. The discharger shall be informed that a future blockage resulting from a violation will result in termination of sewer service.
3. For the third offense within a two (2) year period, a notice of violation shall be issued with a penalty of no less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) per violation plus the cost of the removal of the blockage and termination of sewer service. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.13 APPEAL PROCESS
A. The city council of the city of Ukiah shall hear and decide appeals when it is alleged there is an error in any requirement, decision or determination made by the inspector or director in the enforcement or administration of this article.
B. Appeals shall be made in writing to the director not more than thirty (30) days from the date the appealing party received notice of the disputed decision which shall be heard by the city council at a regular meeting held not less than thirty (30) days from the date the appeal is filed with the director. The appealing party shall receive notice of the date and time of the hearing not less than twenty (20) days before the matter is heard by the city council. The city council shall receive evidence and argument from the appellant and the director and may uphold, reverse or modify the decision or determination appealed from. The decision of the city council shall be final for the city. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)
§3798A.14 AUTHORIZATION
The director is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as shall be reasonable and necessary to carry out the provisions of this article according to its terms and intent. (Ord. 1118, §1, adopted 2009)