[Adopted 12-29-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-51[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. IV,
Grease Interceptors, adopted 1-27-1997 by Ord. No. 97-1, as amended.
The purpose of this article is:
A.
To prevent the obstruction and overflow of the municipal sewer system
caused by a blockage or other interference resulting from wastewater
discharge containing fats, oils and/or grease from food-related businesses
into the sewer system.
B.
To abate a nuisance and prevent any health hazards created by the
discharge of fats, oils, and/or grease into the sewer system that
may threaten or cause injury to public health, safety, and welfare
of life, property and/or the environment.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Also known as a "gravity grease interceptor" and means a
plumbing appurtenance or appliance that is designed by a licensed
professional engineer to be installed in a sanitary drainage system
to intercept nonpetroleum fats, oils, and greases (FOG) from a wastewater
discharge and is identified by volume, baffle(s), a minimum of two
compartments, and gravity separation.
Any nonresidential establishment licensed to operate as a
retail food establishment or which has obtained a valid sewer connection
permit, Health Department plan approval or permits to construct from
West Windsor Township prior to the effective date of this article.
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 40 CFR 136, as may be amended from time
to time. All are sometimes referred to herein as "grease" or "greases."
Also known as a "hydromechanical grease interceptor," means
a plumbing appurtenance or appliance that is installed in a sanitary
drainage system to intercept nonpetroleum fats, oils, and grease (FOG)
from a wastewater discharge and is identified by flow rate, separation
and retention efficiency. The design incorporates air entrainment,
hydromechanical separation, interior baffling, and/or barriers in
combination or separately, and an external flow control, with air
intake (vent).
Any establishment that is not defined as an existing establishment.
The Plumbing and Drainage Institute.
As defined in N.J.A.C. 8:24.
A.
The Business Administrator, Township Engineer, Health Officer, Plumbing
Subcode Official, Director of Public Works or other designated and
duly authorized employees of West Windsor Township shall administer,
implement and enforce the provisions of this article.
B.
The Township may waive or relax specific requirements set forth by
this article when in its opinion the release of FOG into the sewer
system is not likely to occur. The property or business owner shall
submit a written request for a waiver from the requirements of this
article.
C.
This article shall be liberally construed to permit the Township
of West Windsor to discharge its functions and duties.
D.
The Township Engineer, Health Officer, Director of Public Works,
Plumbing Subcode Official, or other designated employees, shall exercise
his or her discretion with respect to any related matters not directly
governed by this article.
The Township shall establish and maintain best management practices
for grease control in retail food establishments. The Township shall
conduct an annual review of this document, seeking advice from the
Township Engineer, Health Officer, Plumbing Subcode Official, and
the Director of Public Works. Revisions shall be made as necessary
and approved by the Business Administrator. All businesses or property
owners affected by this article shall take all steps necessary to
ensure compliance with the Township's best management practices. Copies
of the Township's Best Management Practices can be obtained from the
Township Health Department.
Nonresidential properties and/or businesses which may potentially
discharge FOG into the West Windsor Township sewerage system must
install, operate and maintain approved grease interceptors or similar
technology to achieve compliance with the objectives of this article.
No person, property owner or business owner shall:
A.
Discharge or cause to be discharged FOG into the Township's sewer
system in a manner that will allow the accumulation of liquid and/or
solidified grease that is in a quantity which is capable of being
visually observed in the sewer lines or which accumulates within the
system in a manner that potentially obstructs or hinders the flow
of sewage along its intended path.
B.
Store, dispose of, handle, or discharge FOG in a manner that creates
a nuisance or potential nuisance.
C.
Clean grease interceptors, monitoring pits and/or sewer lines in
a manner that allows solidified or emulsified FOG to be transported
into the Township's sewer system. This includes the improper use of
chemicals, hydraulic sewer line jetting without the subsequent reclamation
of dislodged FOG, steam cleaning or any other manner that fails to
ensure the removal of the FOG from the sewer system prior to release
into the downstream municipal sewer system.
D.
Permit the installation of new or the replacement of existing food
grinders and/or garbage disposal units within the plumbing system
of any retail food establishment that generates FOG.
E.
Dispose of waste cooking oil into the sewer system. All waste cooking
oil shall be collected and stored in leakproof, securely covered receptacles
such as barrels or drums for recycling or alternate, approved method
of disposal. Written documentation of disposal methods must be maintained
on-site for a minimum of three years.
A.
Owners of nonresidential properties and/or businesses engaged in
a food-related business shall not discharge or cause to be discharged
any wastewater containing fats, oils and/or grease, either directly
or indirectly, into the West Windsor Township sewer system without
complying with this article.
B.
No person, property owner or business owner shall discharge, cause
to be discharged, or permit to be discharged into the public sewer
system, sanitary wastewater with FOG content in excess of 100 ppm.
C.
Nonresidential properties which must comply with the above include
but are not limited to retail food establishments or other nonresidential
establishments involved in the production, preparation, manufacture,
storage, transportation or handling of food. The Township may also
require other nonresidential properties that are not engaged in a
food-related business to adhere to the requirements of this article
when, in its opinion, a discharge of FOG is likely to occur.
D.
Sampling and testing shall be conducted in accordance with appropriate
methods established in 40 CFR 136.
All businesses and properties that are required to have a grease
interceptor shall have a written grease control plan in accordance
with the following requirements. Applications for the grease control
plan shall be submitted to the Township for review.
A.
New establishments.
(1)
All new establishments which require a grease interceptor shall operate
under an approved grease control plan. Approval of the grease control
plan must be obtained prior to submission of applications for Health
Department plan review, construction permits and sewer connection
permits.
(2)
The grease control plan shall be signed and sealed by a licensed
design professional and shall include, at a minimum: a completed West
Windsor Township Application for grease control plan, detailed plans,
equipment listings, equipment specifications, calculations, supporting
documentation and operational directives. The plan shall include all
grease-related features and components planned for the operation.
(3)
The approved grease control plan shall be maintained on-site and
be made immediately available to Township officials upon request.
Operational maintenance records shall be retained on-site for three
years.
(4)
Grease interceptors shall be designed and installed in accordance
with the manufacturer's specifications, the current PDI guidance documents,
the National Standard Plumbing Code in effect at the date of application
for plumbing permits for the project and West Windsor Township's best
management practices for grease control for nonresidential properties.
EGIs shall be designed by a professional engineer and shall meet the
standards set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-8.1.
(5)
Any drain that may potentially receive FOG waste must be directed
through an approved grease interceptor. This includes but is not limited
to those leading from three-basin sinks, meat/poultry/fish food preparation
sinks, scullery sinks, pot wash sinks, floor drains and troughs, soup
kettles, woks, hood drains, dishwashers, prerinse stations and existing
food grinders.
(6)
Grease recovery units, active grease removal components, or alternate
technologies for grease control may be permitted if the applicant
can demonstrate and certify that the discharge limitations set forth
in this article can be achieved.
(7)
Grease interceptors shall be designed and located to facilitate easy
access for cleaning and inspection. Access openings, lids, and inspection
ports shall not be obstructed.
(8)
A prerinse station must be installed immediately adjacent to every
automatic dishwasher and shall direct wastewater through a strainer
prior to release to the grease interceptor or grease recovery unit.
(9)
New establishments which are heavy grease generators shall be required
to install an EGI. These include but are not limited to establishments
that operate fixtures similar in nature to a fryer, grill, charbroiler,
rotisserie, griddle, wok, or whose menu reflects foods with a high
grease or fat content and/or that serve a large population such as
a school, hospital, food court, conference center, or similar facility.
The Township may waive this requirement if the applicant presents
sufficient convincing data to demonstrate that the discharge of FOG
into the sewers will be prevented through alternative means.
(10)
EGIs shall be installed entirely on the owner's property.
(11)
Grease interceptors shall be sized in accordance with manufacturer's
specifications, the current PDI guidance documents, the National Standard
Plumbing Code in effect at the date of application for plumbing permits
for the project and West Windsor Township's best management practices
for grease control for retail food establishments. Design requirements
and sizing formulas are intended as a guide in determining grease
interceptor sizes and shall be considered the minimum sanitary sewer
protection against prohibited FOG discharge. In approving a design
for a grease interceptor, the Township does not accept liability for
the failure of a system to adequately limit concentrations of FOG
or to prevent prohibited discharges of FOG. It shall be the responsibility
of the owner to ensure at all times that the appropriate level of
treatment and maintenance is provided to comply with this article.
(12)
Nonmonolithic tanks functioning as EGIs in which the seam is
below the liquid level shall be designed, installed and inspected
under the direction of a licensed professional engineer. Written,
signed and sealed leak testing results shall be submitted prior to
operation of the unit.
B.
Existing establishments. Existing establishments which do not have
a Township-approved grease control plan shall develop and implement
a written grease control plan in accordance with the requirements
of this article. Existing establishments shall submit a grease control
plan to the Township within 180 days from the effective date of this
article. The grease control plan shall at a minimum include:
(1)
A schematic or plan showing the location of the existing grease interceptor(s)
or related equipment, including all drains and food-related equipment
that are tributaries to the grease interceptor.
(2)
A listing of all food-related equipment on-site that may potentially
discharge FOG, including, but not limited to, the three-basin sinks,
meat/poultry/fish food preparation sinks, scullery sinks, pot wash
sinks, floor drains and troughs, soup kettles, woks, hood drains,
dishwashers, prerinse stations, and food/garbage grinders and disposals.
(3)
Design specifications on the grease interceptor(s), including but
not limited to the manufacturer, model number, certification, and
grease retention capacity.
(4)
Maintenance records, including contracts for professional servicing,
cleaning logs, and reclamation histories.
(5)
Manufacturer details and maintenance logs and contracts on all chemical
additives, alarms, pump systems, filters or similar technologies installed
in association with grease control at the establishment.
(6)
Existing establishments may be required to comply with the grease
control plan approval process for new establishments as set forth
above if there is a change of ownership, the establishment undergoes
renovation, or there are documented violations of this article.
C.
Multiuse properties.
(1)
The owner of all nonresidential properties that have one or more
FOG-generating establishments must have a grease control plan as set
forth in this section. Multiuse properties include but are not limited
to shopping centers, malls, retail centers, office parks, and professional
centers.
(2)
Multiuse properties that have existing FOG-generating establishments
shall submit a grease control plan to the Township within 180 days
from the effective date of this article.
(3)
Grease control plan.
(a)
The grease control plan for existing and proposed multiuse properties
shall as a minimum include the following:
[1]
Documentation signed and sealed by a licensed design professional.
[2]
A site plan locating sewer laterals, connections, manholes,
inspection ports, monitoring pits, EGIs, and related elevations; locations
housing EGIs, grease retention capacities for EGIs and supporting
calculations.
[3]
Maintenance plans, self-inspection schedules and related documentation
for grease control of the property.
[4]
Written rules and requirements for FOG-discharging establishments
located on the property.
[5]
Contact names and phone numbers for grease-related emergencies.
[6]
Manufacturer's documentation and maintenance logs for all chemical
additives, alarms, pumps, filters or similar technologies installed
in association with FOG control on the property.
(b)
The Township may waive or relax any of these items for existing
properties when, in its opinion, the release of FOG into the sewer
is not likely to occur or where the establishment has demonstrated
that the information is not available.
A.
A monitoring pit as shown in Figure 1, shown below, shall be provided
downstream of the EGI outlet and as close as possible to the public
sewer main but prior to connection of an additional discharger.
B.
When IGIs are the sole means of grease control for a new establishment,
the installation of a monitoring pit may be required by the Township.
C.
New multi-use properties with two or more FOG-generating establishments
shall provide a monitoring pit.
D.
Monitoring pits shall be designed and constructed in accordance with
the specifications in Figure 1. Monitoring pits shall be located on
private property and downstream of all FOG discharges to be observed
and prior to but as close as possible to the municipal sewer connection.
E.
Figure 1, entitled "Monitoring Pit Detail," is provided below for
clarification.
 |
A.
The use of chemical additives such as enzymes, emulsifiers, or similar
chemicals that will liquefy FOG are prohibited from use where they
may be discharged into grease waste sewer lines or grease interceptors.
B.
Bioremediation media which have been approved by the Stony Brook
Regional Sewerage Authority may be used for grease control. Bioremediation
media shall only be used with approved FOG disposal systems, ASME
A112.14.4. These systems shall be designed and installed under the
direction of a licensed professional engineer. In no case will the
additives negate the requirement for a grease interceptor. The Township
may prohibit the use of specific additives if they may cause adverse
effects to any component of the sewer system.
A.
Good repair. Grease interceptors, monitoring pits, grease recovery
units and all associated grease control equipment shall be maintained
in good repair and sound operating condition.
B.
Cleaning. Grease interceptors shall be maintained in an efficient
operating condition by the periodic removal of accumulated grease,
scum, oil, or other floatable substances and solids deposited in the
interceptor. Cleaning intervals shall be frequent enough such that
grease does not bypass the interceptor. At no time shall the accumulated
grease waste within the interceptor be permitted to exceed 25% of
the wetted height of the grease interceptor, as measured from the
bottom of the device to the invert of the outlet pipe. IGIs shall
be cleaned a minimum of one time per month. EGIs shall be cleaned
a minimum of one time every three months. Time-interval dependent
cleanings can be waived or adjusted if the facility can demonstrate
through documentation that the discharge requirements can be met through
an alternative schedule.
(1)
The cleaning of grease interceptors, sewer lines and related equipment
shall be performed in a manner that will not permit the discharge
of FOG into the sewer system operated by West Windsor Township.
(2)
Solidified FOG that has accumulated in sewer lines on the owner's
property shall be removed in a manner approved by the West Windsor
Township Department of Public Works as set forth in the Township's
best management practices and under no circumstances shall be permitted
to be released downstream into the Township's sewer system.
C.
Notification of sewer line cleaning. Property owners shall notify
the Township Department of Public Works prior to jetting or cleaning
of the sewer lines external to a structure. Property/Business owners
shall notify the Township Department of Public Works 48 hours prior
to any routine cleaning operation. Emergency cleanings due to blockages
shall be reported to the Township Department of Public Works prior
to commencing the cleaning operation.
D.
Safety. Confined space entry associated with the cleaning of sewer
lines on private property shall be conducted in a safe manner and
comply with OSHA standards, 29 CFR 1910.146. The Department of Emergency
Services shall be notified in accordance with the guidelines set forth
in this article for activities involving confined space entry.
E.
Records. Written documentation of grease interceptor maintenance
and repairs shall be kept on-site for three years. A maintenance log
shall be kept which includes at a minimum the following information:
date and time of cleaning, quantity of grease removed, results of
visual interior self-inspections, disposition of the waste, and name
of individual or company performing the maintenance.
F.
Multiuse properties. Owners of multiuse properties that are required
to have a grease control plan shall maintain the following documentations:
logs with dates of sewer line cleanings, dates and locations of grease-related
blockages, name and contact information for professional services,
receipts for professional cleaning services, logs of sewer maintenance
efforts, and self-inspection records of FOG-generating establishments.
All requested documentation shall be made available to the Township
upon request.
G.
Education. All kitchen employees whose job responsibilities may impact
the grease control plan must be trained on the requirements of the
facility's plan. A written verification of training shall be retained
by the facility during the employee's term of employment with the
facility and for three years thereafter.
H.
Posting. Drains that are not directed through a grease interceptor
and are located in high grease handling areas of commercial kitchens
shall be affixed with a nonabsorbent posting stating "No Grease."
A.
Authorized representatives of the Township, including but not limited
to personnel of the Department of Public Works, Health Department,
Plumbing Subcode Official, and Office of the Township Engineer or
designated representatives, shall be permitted to enter and inspect
all properties that are required to have a grease control plan. This
right of investigation and inspection shall include the right to measure,
observe, monitor, video (with a sewer camera if deemed necessary by
the inspector), photograph, sample, test, record, review and make
copies of all pertinent documents.
B.
The owner of the property or establishment shall maintain on-site
the tools necessary to gain access to grease interceptors, monitoring
pits and inspection ports.
In the event it is determined that a blockage or interference
of the Township sewer system is the result of the discharge from any
FOG-generating property, all costs incurred by the Township will be
charged to the owner and/or tenant. Such costs may include, but are
not limited to, costs of investigating the source of and clearing
the blockage/interference; damages to sewer lines and pump stations;
laboratory testing; administrative, legal and engineering costs, cleanup
of pollution to surrounding soils or water and reimbursement of any
penalties imposed by regulatory agencies.
A.
In locations where the property owner differs from the business owner,
both parties shall be jointly and separately responsible for ensuring
that prohibited items are not discharged into the sewer system.
C.
If a violation results from a prohibited discharge or grease blockage
in the Township's sewer system, the Township may require design improvements
in addition to the penalties assessed.
D.
If a prohibited discharge and/or blockage/interference is a repeat
violation, the Township may require the installation of an audiovisual
alarm system equipped with a means of recording and identifying when
the storage capacity which allows for efficient operation of the grease
interceptor system has been exceeded.
E.
If a prohibited discharge and/or blockage occurs two or more times
within a twelve-month period, the violator will be required, under
the direction of a licensed design professional, to investigate the
source of the prohibited discharge and implement an improved grease
control plan to prevent future prohibited releases. The written improved
grease control plan shall be submitted to the Township within 30 calendar
days of receipt of the notice of violation for approval. Remedial
management plans shall be implemented immediately.
F.
Upon written notification by the Township of mandated design improvements
due to an illegal release of FOG into the sewer system or a documented
grease blockage or interference, the owner/operator shall install
and maintain said improvements within 90 days. Failure to comply within
the allotted time period shall be considered a violation of this article.
