Oil and Grease Removal Ordinance
DIVISION 4. OIL AND GREASE REMOVAL REQUIREMENTS
The intent of this division is to ensure compliance with the Siler City Code Chapter 27 and provide specific standards for oil and grease interceptor's location, type and size, installation, construction, and maintenance.
It is the duty of the Town of Siler City to meet the conditions set forth in its North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) issued Collection System permit thereby preventing the excessive introduction of oil and grease into the town's sewer system and wastewater treatment plant which have the potential for creating hazardous conditions in the collection system, treatment plant inhibitions, increased treatment cost, fines, and other cost for the town.
Food service establishments shall provide means of preventing oil and grease discharges to the sewage collection system above ordinance limits. Where an oil and grease interceptor currently exists or is required by the Town of Siler City and this division, the owner, leaseholder or operator at his expense shall maintain it for continuous, satisfactory and effective operation.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
Sec. 27-207. Discharge prohibitions.
(a) No user shall contribute or cause to be contributed into the POTW (publicly owned treatment works) the following pollutants, substances, or wastewater which will cause pass through or interfere with the operation or performance of the POTW. Such as but not limited to:
(1) Solid or viscous substances in amounts which will cause obstruction of the flow in the POTW resulting in interference with the wastewater treatment plant. Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin, in amounts that will cause pass through or interference.
(2) Fats, oils, or greases of animal or vegetable origin in concentrations greater than one hundred (100) mg/l. as identified by EPA approved methods.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
Sec. 27-208. Inspection and sampling of grease interceptors.
The town will inspect the facilities of any user to ascertain whether the purpose of this ordinance is being met and all requirements are being complied with. Persons or occupants of premises where wastewater is created or discharged shall allow the town, approval authority and EPA or their representative ready access at all reasonable times to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling, records examination and copying or in the performance of any of their duties. The town, approvalauthority and EPA shall have the right to set up on the user's property such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling, inspection, compliance monitoring and/or metering operations. Where a user has security measures in force which would require proper identification and clearance before entry into their premises, the user shall make necessary arrangements with their security guards so that upon presentation of suitable identification, personnel from the town, approval authority and EPA will be permittedto enter, without delay, for the purposes of performing their specific responsibilities. Denial of the public utilities director's designated personnel, approval authority's, or EPA's access to the user's premises shall be a violation of this division. Unreasonable delays may constitute denial of access.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Control authority: The town manager or his designee.
Food service establishment: Any commercial facility discharging kitchen or food preparation wastewater; including restaurants, motels, hotels, cafeterias, hospitals, schools, bars, delicatessen, meat cutting preparation, bakeries, etc. and any other facility which, it the opinion of the control authority, would require a grease trap installation by virtue of it's operation.
Grease interceptor/grease trap: A device utilized to effect the separation of grease and oils in wastewater effluent from a food service establishment. Such traps or interceptors may be of the "outdoor" or underground type normally of a one-thousand-gallon capacity or more, or the "under-the-counter" package units, which are typically less than one-hundred-gallon capacity. For the purpose of this definition, the words "trap" and "interceptor" are used interchangeably. Under the counter models must be approved by the plumbing inspector and the public utilities director.
Grease: Grease is defined to include the accumulation of oils, fats, cellulose, starch, proteins, wax, or grease, whether emulsified or not, in the sewer system of the authority. These are substances that may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit and on hundred fifty (150) degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius).
Grease generating establishments: Grease generating establishments shall mean all retail food establishments, catering establishments, commercial food preparation facilities, meat processing facilities, and other establishments that may be capable of accumulating and discharging grease into the sewer system.
Interference: A discharge which alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources inhibits and/or disrupts the POTW, its treatment processes and/or its sludge processes, use and/or disposal. Interference shall include, but not be limited to, a discharge which alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources causes, in whole or in part, a violation(s) of the town's NPDES permit, collection system permit, and/or to the prevention of sewage sludge use or disposal in compliance with any of the following statutory/regulatory provisions or permits issued hereunder, or anymore stringent State or local regulations(s): Sec. 405 of the Act (33 U.S.C. 1345), or any criteria, guideline or regulations developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Marine Protection Research and Sanctuary Act (MPRSA), or more stringent state criteria (including those contained in any state sludge management plan prepared to Title IV ofthe Solid Waste Disposal Act) applicable to the method of disposal or use employed by the POTW.
Owner: Owner shall mean individual, person, firm, company, association, society, corporation, tenant or group whose property the building or structure is located or will be constructed.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
Sec. 27-210. General requirements.
(a) In accordance with Chapter 10-Sections 101.1 of the
(1) All food service establishments shall have grease-handling facilities approved by the control authority. Establishments whose grease-handling facilities or methods are not adequately maintained to prevent floatable oils, fat or grease from entering the sewerage system shall be notified in writing of any noncompliance and required to provide a schedule whereby corrections will be accomplished.
(2) All food service establishment's grease-handling facilities shall be subject to review, evaluation, and inspection by the Town of
(3) Food service establishments receiving two (2) consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations or inspections may be subject to penalties or other corrective actions as provided for in the Siler City Code Chapter 27.
(4) Food service establishments who continue to violate the oil and grease removal ordinance requirements may be considered grounds for discontinuance of water and sewer service.
(5) Food service establishments whose operations cause or allow excessive grease to discharge or accumulate in the Town of Siler City collection system may be liable to the town for costs related to public utilities department service calls for line blockages, line cleanings, line and pump repairs, etc. including all labor, materials, and equipment. Failure to pay all service-related charges may also be grounds for water and sewer service discontinuance.
(6) Regularly scheduled maintenance of grease-handling facilities and equipment is required to ensure adequate operations. In the maintaining of these grease interceptors, the owner, lease-holder or operator shall be responsible for the approved removal and disposal of grease by the Town of Siler City Oil & Grease Removal Ordinance guidelines, and shall maintain on-site records of clean-out date, name of clean-out firm, signature of owner/manager, and a receipt from the clean-out firm. Records shall be maintained for a period of three (3) years and available at the premises.
(7) The owner shall be responsible for ensuring that no waste or wastewater pumped from the grease interceptor/grease trap is reintroduced back into the interceptor. This is a violation of the town sewer use ordinance and can result in enforcement action.
(8) Any food service establishment whose effluent discharge to the sewerage system is determined by the Town of Siler City to cause interference in the conveyance or operation of the sewerage system may be required to sample its grease trap discharge and have it analyzed for oil and grease at the expense of the owner, lease-holder or operator. Results of such analyses shall be reported to the Town of
(9) All grease traps/interceptors shall be designed to have a minimum twenty-four-minute detention time and installed to allow for complete access for inspection and maintenance of the inner chamber(s) and viewing and sampling of effluent wastewater discharged to the sewer.
(10) Food service establishments shall adopt procedures for handling sources of floatable oils, fat, or grease originating within their facility. A notice shall be permanently posted at a prominent place in the facility-advising employees of the procedures to be followed.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
Sec. 27-211. Construction standards.
(a) New facilities.
(1) All new food service establishments shall be required to install a grease interceptor according to the control authority guidelines. Grease interceptors shall be adequately sized, with no interceptor less than one thousand (1,000) gallons total capacity unless otherwise approved by the control authority. The following information must be supplied to the Town of
a. Plumbing drawings for the proposed facility.
b. Identification and dimensions (length × width × depth) in inches for each compartment of each drainage unit.
c. Dishwasher contribution (per supplier) in GPM.
d. Pulper contribution (per supplier) in GPM.
e. Drain specifications (pipe diameter).
f. Name of engineering firm or supplier who sized "trap".
g. Trap information including: supplier, type, size, calculations used to determine required twenty-four (24) minutes detention time.
h. Flow control device information. Type.
i. Any other information requested by the control authority.
(2) No new food service establishments will be allowed to initiate operations until grease-handling facilities are installed and approved by the control authority.
(3) All grease interceptors, whether singular or two tanks in series, must have each chamber directly accessible from the surface to provide means for servicing and maintaining the interceptor in working and operating condition.
(4) A basket, screen or other intercepting device shall prevent passage into the drainage system of solids, one-half ( 1/2) inch or larger in size, for under the counter units. The basket or device shall be removable for cleaning purposes.
(5) If a food service establishment chooses to install or has a food-waste grinder installed, the waste from these units shall pass through a grease interceptor. The food service establishment shall service and maintain the unit as often as necessary to meet the conditions of this division.
(b) Existing facilities.
(1) All existing food service establishments shall have grease-handling facilities approved by the control authority. Food service establishments without any grease-handling facilities will be given a compliance deadline not to exceed six (6) months from date of notification to have approved and installed grease-handling equipment in compliance with this policy. Failure to do so will be considered a violation of Siler City Code Chapter 27 and may subject the facility to penalties and corrective actions or service discontinuance. Said installations shall meet the same requirements for design as for new facilities. (See section 27-206(a).
(2) In the event an existing food service establishment's grease-handling facilities are either under-designed or substandard in accordance with this policy, the owner(s) will be notified in writing of the deficiencies, required improvements, and given a compliance deadline not to exceed six (6) months to conform with the requirements of this oil and grease removal ordinance.
(3) For cases in which "outdoor" type grease interceptor is infeasible to install, existing food service establishments will be required to install adequate and approved "under-the-counter" grease traps for use on individual fixtures including dishwashers, sinks, and other potentially grease-containing drains.
(4) If it is determined that an "outdoor" type grease interceptor is infeasible, the Food Service Establishments shall meet the same requirements for design as for new facilities. (See section 27-206(a). Flow control fittings must be provided to the inlet side of all "under-the-counter" units to prevent overloading of the grease trap and to allow for proper operation.
(5) The control authority approval of flow control devices and grease trap design must be obtained prior to installation.
(6) The location of "under-the-counter" units must be near the source of the wastewater as physically possible.
(7) Wastewater from garbage grinders shall be discharged to grease traps/interceptors.
(8) In maintaining grease traps/interceptors, the owner(s) shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal by appropriate means of the captured material and shall maintain records of the dates and means of disposal, which are subject to review by the Town of
(9) The use of enzymes, grease solvents, emulsifiers, etc. is not considered an acceptable grease traps maintenance practice and therefore is prohibited.
(c) New food service establishments in existing buildings
(1) Where practical, new food service establishments locating in existing buildings will be required to comply with the grease trap standards applicable to new facilities. (See section 27-211).
(2) Where physically impossible to install "outdoor" units, "under-the-counter" units may be allowed as with existing food service establishments provided prior approval of unit type, size, location, etc. is approved by the Town of
(d) Exceptions
(1) Under certain circumstances, the interceptor size and location may need special exceptions to this policy. If an exception to this policy is requested, the user must demonstrate that the size and location will not cause the facility any problems in meeting the discharge requirements of the control authority. Any variance to the requirements herein shall be granted at the discretion of the Public Utilities Director for the Town of Siler City.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
The intent of this policy is to ensure compliance with the Town's POTW NPDES Permit No. NC0026441, which is required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This policy is in no way intended to discourage development, but rather to protect the facilities and the town's infrastructure as it relates to the sanitary sewer system.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
(a) The control authority shall conduct a minimum of one compliance inspection annually. The director of public works and utilities may direct town staff to inspect any one or more food service establishment based on compliance history, collection system problems, etc.
(b) Food service establishments determined to be in non-compliance of the oil and grease removal ordinance requirements that are linked to a collection line blockage will be required to reimburse the Town of Siler City for expenses associated with clean-up.
(c) Food service establishments determined to be in non-compliance with the oil and grease removal ordinance requirements that are linked to a collection line blockage will be required to increase its interceptor cleaning frequency.
(d) The Town of Siler City may assess penalties for failure to keep required records, failure to clean in-floor/under-sink units or in-ground units properly or according to variance issued by the town.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
(a) Food service establishments determined to be in non-compliance with the record keeping requirements of the oil and grease removal ordinance will be issued a notice of violation (NOV). Food service establishments determined to be in non-compliance twice in a twelve-month period for record keeping could be fined up to five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(b) Food service establishments that do not install a grease trap/interceptor when instructed to do so by the control authority will be fined two hundred dollars ($200.00)/month until a properly sized trap/interceptor is installed.
(c) The Siler City Code section 27-183(a) provides for civil penalties of up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per day per violation.
(Ord. No. 2006-2, § 1, 3-6-06)
Secs. 27-215--27-223. Reserved.