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ORDINANCE NO. 12

ORDINANCE AND ORDER OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE SUMMERLAND SANITARY DISTRICT ESTABLISHING GREASE AND OIL CONTROLS

Be it ordained by the Governing Board of the SUMMERLAND SANITARY DISTRICT as follows:

The Board of Directors (“Governing Board”), in accordance with applicable law and in accordance with the provisions of the California Health and Safety Code, in an effort to curb sanitary sewer overflows from grease accumulation in its sanitary sewer mains, the Summerland Sanitary District hereby adopts a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Control Ordinance. Any new or existing nonresidential facility connected to the sanitary sewer collection and treatment system involved in the preparation or serving of foods will be subject to the conditions of this Ordinance.

State law makes the improper disposal of brown grease from grease traps or interceptors an offense. In addition, the law prohibits reinserting any of the grease removed from a trap or interceptor back into the trap or interceptor (decanting) unless specific conditions are met. The law also requires grease haulers to completely remove all grease, greasy liquids, water, and solids from a trap or interceptor each time it is pumped.

The purpose of this Ordinance is to aid in the prevention of sanitary sewer blockages and obstructions from contributions and accumulation of fats, oils, and greases into the sanitary sewer system from industrial or commercial establishments, particularly food preparation and serving facilities.

Section 1. Definitions.

  • 1. Fats, Oils, and Greases. Organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. These substances are detectable and measurable using analytical test procedures established in the United States Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR 136, as may be amended from time to time. All are sometimes referred to herein as “grease” or “greases”.
  • 2. 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.
  • 3. Grease 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 below-ground units in outside areas and are built as two or three chamber baffled tanks.
  • 4. Food Service Establishments. Those establishments primarily engaged in activities of preparing, serving, or otherwise making food available for consumption by the public such as restaurant, commercial kitchen, caterer, hotel, school, or similar. These establishments use one or more of the following preparation activities: cooking by frying (all methods), baking (all methods), grilling, sautéing, rotisserie cooking, broiling (all methods), boiling, blanching, roasting, toasting, or poaching.
  • 5. Minimum Design Capability. The design features of a grease trap or interceptor to effectively intercept and retain greases from being discharged to the public sanitary sewer.
  • 6. User. Any person, including those located outside the jurisdictional limits of the Summerland Sanitary District who contributes or permits the contribution or discharge of wastewater into sewers within the District’s boundaries, including persons who contribute such wastewater from mobile sources, such as those who discharge hauled wastewater.

Section 2. Food Service Establishment Permit Requirement.

All permitted food service establishments discharging wastewater to the Summerland Sanitary District sanitary sewer collection system are subject to the following requirements:

  • 1. Grease Interceptor Requirements: All permitted food service establishments are required to install, operate, and maintain an approved and adequately sized grease interceptor necessary to maintain compliance with the objectives of this Ordinance. All grease interceptors must meet the requirements of the Uniform Plumbing Code in addition to all requirements of the Summerland Sanitary District.
  • 2. Implementation: All new food service establishment facilities are subject to grease interceptor requirements. All such facilities must obtain prior approval from the Summerland Sanitary District for grease interceptor sizing prior to submitting plans for a building permit. All grease interceptors shall be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Existing facilities with planned modification in plumbing improvements will be required to include plans to comply with the grease interceptor requirements. These facilities must obtain approval from the Summerland Sanitary District for grease interceptor sizing prior to submitting plans for a building permit.
    All existing food service establishments determined by the Summerland Sanitary District to have a reasonable potential to adversely impact the public sewer system will be notified of their obligation to install a grease interceptor within the specified period set forth in the notification letter.
  • 3. Variance from Grease Interceptor Requirements: Grease interceptors required under this Ordinance shall be installed unless the Summerland Sanitary District 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 establishment bears the burden of demonstrating that the installation of a grease interceptor is not feasible and may request an alternate system. The request shall contain the following information:

a. Location of sewer main and easement in relation to available exterior space outside building.
b. Existing plumbing at or in a site that uses common plumbing for all services at that site.
Alternative pretreatment technology includes, but is not limited to, devices that are used to trap, separate and hold grease from wastewater and prevent it from being discharged into the sanitary sewer collection system. All alternative pretreatment technology must be appropriately sized and approved by Summerland Sanitary District.

Section 3. Wastewater Discharge Limitations.

No User shall allow wastewater discharge concentration from subject grease interceptor, grease trap or alternative pretreatment technology to exceed 100 milligrams per liter, as defined by method EPA test methods 1664 and 413.

Section 4. Grease Interceptor Requirements.

  • 1. Grease interceptor sizing and installation shall conform to the current edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code or other applicable plumbing code used by Summerland Sanitary District.
  • 2. Grease interceptors shall be constructed in accordance with a design approved by the Summerland Sanitary District and shall have a minimum of two compartments designed for grease retention.
  • 3. 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 Summerland Sanitary District.
  • 4. 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. Users who are required to maintain a grease interceptor shall:

a. provide for a minimum hydraulic retention time in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code or other applicable plumbing code used by the Summerland Sanitary District.
b. remove any accumulated grease cap and sludge pocket as required. 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.

  • 5. The User shall maintain and retain a written record of inspection and maintenance for the most recent three years. All such records will be made available for on-site inspection by representative of the Summerland Sanitary District during all operating hours.
  • 6. Sanitary wastes are not allowed to be connected to sewer lines intended for grease interceptor service.
  • 7. Except as provided herein, for a period of one year following adoption of this Ordinance, no enforcement actions will be taken under this Ordinance for failure to achieve limits on grease discharges from grease interceptors. However, during this one-year period, should an obstruction of a sewer main(s) occur 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 Summerland Sanitary District will take appropriate enforcement actions against the generator or contributor of such grease as outlined in Ordinance 8, Article VI, Sections #1-#3.
  • 8. Access manholes, with a minimum diameter of 24 inches, 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.

Section 5. Grease Trap Requirements.

  • 1. Upon approval by the Summerland Sanitary District, 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 establishments where grease may be introduced into the drainage or sewage system in quantities that can effect line stoppage, hinder sewage treatment or private sewage disposal.
  • 2. Grease traps sizing and installation shall conform to the Uniform Plumbing Code or other applicable plumbing code used by the Summerland Sanitary District.
  • 3. No grease trap shall be installed which has a stated rate flow of more than fifty-five (55) gallons per minute, nor less than twenty (20) gallons per minute, except when specially approved by the Summerland Sanitary District.
  • 4. 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.
  • 5. No food waste disposal unit or dishwasher shall be connected to or discharge into any grease trap.
  • 6. Wastewater in excess of one hundred-forty (140)˚F/(60˚C) shall not be discharged into a grease trap.
  • 7. Except as provided herein, for a period of one year following adoption of this Ordinance, no enforcement actions will be taken under this Ordinance for failure to achieve limits on grease discharges from grease interceptors. However, during this one-year period, should an obstruction of a sewer main(s) occur 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 Summerland Sanitary District will take appropriate enforcement actions against the generator or contributor of such grease as outlined in Ordinance 8, Article VI, Sections #1- #3.

Section 6. Grease Inceptors and Traps.

All grease interceptors and grease traps currently in use are subject to the waste discharge limitations and requirements as stated within this Ordinance.

Publication and Defective Date.
1. This Ordinance shall be published or posted in accordance with California Health & Safety Code Section 6490 and shall be effective on the week of publication and posting.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 20th day of August, 2009 by the following vote:
AYES: 5
NAYS: 0
ABSENT: 0

RONALD McCLAIN, President
Board of Directors
SUMMERLAND SANITARY DISTRICT

ATTEST:
BETTY FRANKLIN, Secretary
Board of Directors