[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
The purpose of this program is to reduce the amount of fats, oils and grease ("FOG") entering the Borough of Pottstown ("Borough") wastewater collection system in order to comply with the Clean Water Act of 1977 and the general pretreatment regulations (40 CFR Part 403). This program provides for the regulation of FOG contributors to the publicly owned treatment works ("POTW") through the issuance of permits, inspections, sampling and enforcement. The requirements within this program shall be applied, but not limited to, all food-producing facilities within and out of the Borough that discharge effluent to be treated by the Pottstown POTW.
[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
The following terms and phrases shall have the designated meanings in the context of this program. All other terms shall be as defined in § 102 of this Chapter 18.
CCTV
Closed-circuit television.
CLASS 1 PRODUCER
Any producer who has an external oil and grease interceptor on the sewer line.
CLASS 2 PRODUCER
Any producer who has an internal grease trap.
CLASS 3 PRODUCER
Any producer who has only a grease barrel on site.
EXEMPT
Any producer that produces nominal amounts of FOG.
FOG
Fats, oils and grease created as a by-product of cooking.
FOG ADMINISTRATOR
The Pottstown POTW Superintendent and/or any duly authorized agent of the Pottstown POTW Superintendent.
FOG HANDLING EQUIPMENT
Any grease interceptor, grease trap, and/or grease barrel.
FOOD-PRODUCING FACILITY (FPF)
Any establishment that contributes, directly or indirectly, wastewater containing FOG to the sewer system. This includes, but is not limited to, restaurants, schools, private clubs, delis, churches and day-care centers.
HOTSPOT
Areas in the sewer system that have experienced blockages and/or require more frequent than normal cleaning.
OIL AND GREASE INTERCEPTOR
An apparatus that collects and contains the FOG and allows water to be discharged.
POTW
Publicly owned treatment works.
SIGNIFICANT NONCOMPLIANCE
Any gross neglect or disregard for the rules and regulations of this Part, including but not limited to grease overflow, FOG-related environmental contamination, or redirecting FOG from the POTW.
[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
1. 
The following regulations apply to any FPF contributing to the Borough of Pottstown POTW, and the FPF is responsible for ensuring that is in compliance with these regulations at all times:
A. 
Each FPF must have a FOG permit in order to discharge to the POTW. The FOG Administrator shall receive all FOG permit applications and issue appropriate renewal permits every three years. All permit applications must be returned within two weeks.
B. 
No FPF shall contribute, or cause to contribute, any FOG to the POTW. An oil and grease limitation of 100 mg/l shall apply to the discharge from the FPF. At the discretion of the FOG Administrator, sampling by the Borough of the discharge shall occur when the FPF is not complying with the requirements of the program. The FPF shall be responsible for providing an adequate sampling port on the grease trap. The FPF shall be responsible for the costs required for the analytical laboratory to perform the analysis of any sample. The FPF is also responsible for ensuring that the FPF is back in compliance with these regulations.
C. 
All FOG handling equipment shall be installed and properly and continuously maintained in a satisfactory and effective operational manner by the owner at the owner's expense. The FPF is responsible for cleaning and/or having the applicable fog handling equipment cleaned on a regular basis so as not to contribute FOG to the POTW. The FPF is responsible for ensuring that if an outside grease hauler is used, the FOG handling equipment is cleaned properly and completely.
The frequency of the cleaning of FOG handling equipment shall be in accordance with the "25% Rule," as determined by the FOG Administrator and directed in the FOG permit. The "25% Rule" requires that the depth of FOG (floating and settled) in a trap shall not be equal to or greater than 25% of the total operating depth of the trap. The operating depth of a trap is determined by measuring the internal depth from the outlet water elevation to the bottom of the trap. In application of this rule, the depth of floating FOG shall not be greater than 20% of total operating depth of a trap, since 5% of the FOG is generally settled at the bottom of the trap. The cleaning frequency shall also be determined by the size of the oil and grease interceptor and inspection of the sewer lines.
D. 
An existing FPF which currently has internal FOG handling equipment shall be required to clean and maintain the FOG handling equipment in an efficient manner. The following is prohibited from being discharged to FOG handling equipment:
(1) 
Wastewater with a temperature greater than 140° F.
(2) 
Wastewater from a food grinder/garbage disposal.
(3) 
Any use of enzymes or other grease solvents, emulsifiers, grease-consuming bacteria, etc., is prohibited and shall not be considered acceptable grease trap maintenance practice.
(4) 
Dishwasher discharge that travels less than 10 feet prior to entering internal FOG handling equipment.
E. 
Whenever any FPFs are newly built or renovated, or any FPFs experience a change in ownership, each FPF shall install a properly sized oil and grease interceptor, approved by the FOG Administrator, on the sewer line from the facility, in accordance with the these regulations and the Plumbing and Drainage Institute Standards, International Plumbing Code, or other applicable method. After a thirty-day grace period, the FPF shall be fined $50 each day the oil and grease interceptor is not installed.
With respect to design features, an external oil and grease interceptor shall, at minimum, have a baffle to separate the trap into two compartments, a manhole to access and inspect the influent and a sampling box on the effluent line to access, inspect and sample the effluent. The interceptor shall have cleanouts and be located for easy access for pumpout and inspection.
With respect to design features, an internal oil and grease interceptor shall, at minimum, have a baffle and a viewing port to inspect the effluent.
F. 
All oil and grease interceptor sizing shall be in accordance with the Plumbing and Drainage Institute Standards, International Plumbing Code, or other applicable method. A copy of the current Uniform Plumbing Code Formula - Grease Interceptor Sizing Worksheet is attached hereto as Exhibit "A."[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said exhibit is included as an attachment to this chapter.
G. 
At the discretion of the FOG Administrator, each FPF is required to have an employee present during FOG inspections. The FOG Administrator is not responsible for faulty equipment or damage sustained during inspections. The FPF has the option of opening its FOG handling equipment for each inspection. The FPF is required to provide tools and materials to open all fog handling equipment if the FOG Administrator does not have the required tools and materials.
H. 
In all cases, the FOG Administrator may at his/her discretion increase or decrease the frequency of routine inspections for the FPF. The FOG Administrator may take into account a FPF's willingness to comply with the FOG Program. FPFs which consistently comply with the requirements of the FOG Program may be permitted to reduce the number of inspections per year, at the discretion of the FOG Administrator. FPFs violating any of the previous requirements, however, shall be subject to more frequent inspections and monetary penalties, as well as sampling of the discharge and any Administrative Orders.
I. 
An oil and grease interceptor which overflows into the sewer line or on the sink discharge line is strictly prohibited. In such case, the FPF shall be responsible for the subsequent containment, cleanup and disposal of the overflow material. It is the responsibility of the FPF to immediately telephone the POTW of the incident (610-970-6540). The notification shall include the location of the overflow, the type of material, the volume and corrective actions. Within five days of the overflow, the FPF shall submit to the Borough receipts of the spill cleanup.
J. 
The FPF must keep on site a current oil and grease interceptor cleaning log as provided by the Borough if cleaning is performed in-house. Included on the cleaning log shall be the following information: date, time, who did the cleaning, volume of waste disposed of and location of disposal. Any oil and grease interceptor being serviced by an outside hauler must have cleaning manifests on site available for inspection.
K. 
The FPF is responsible for any blockages in the FPF's lateral line. The FPF shall have to pay to have the blockage removed. If the blockage causes a restriction or overflow in the Borough of Pottstown sewer line and it can be proven that the FPF caused the blockage, then the FPF will incur the cost of removing the blockage, cleaning up the overflow and penalty from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
L. 
Surrounding municipalities contributing to the Borough of Pottstown POTW shall have the option of performing the required inspections of any FPF in their respective municipalities or allowing the Borough of Pottstown FOG Administrator to complete the inspections.
[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
1. 
All FPFs shall be classified and inspected by the FOG Administrator in the following way:
A. 
Hotspot: The FPF shall be inspected by the Borough Pottstown Wastewater Collection Department using CCTV.
B. 
Class 1 Producer: The inspection frequency shall be at least two times per year by the FOG Administrator and at least one time per year by the Borough of Pottstown Wastewater Collection Department. Manifests must be sent to the Borough of Pottstown Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) for the remaining quarter.
C. 
Class 2 Producer: The inspection frequency shall be at least two times per year by the FOG Administrator.
D. 
Class 3 Producer: The inspection frequency shall be at least one time per year by the FOG Administrator.
E. 
Exempt: No inspections are needed. The facility update shall be sent to the FOG Administrator at the beginning of each permit cycle.
[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
All FOG program fees shall be payable monthly. All bills are the responsibility of the FPF and must be paid within 30 days. Bills remaining unpaid after the due date will be charged additional interest in accordance with the Borough of Pottstown Finance Department regulations. The rates and/or fees shall initially be as provided for in the attached Exhibit "B";[1] however, any change hereafter in the rate and/or fees charged shall be made by a resolution adopted by the Pottstown Borough Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said exhibit is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
1. 
The Borough shall suspend any FOG permit for which the FPF does not adhere to the requirements of the program. Once the permit is suspended, the FPF shall not discharge to the POTW until the permit is reinstated. The permit shall remain suspended until the FPF shows proof that the noncomplying requirement was eliminated. The following shall be the methods of enforcement:
A. 
Notice of Violation (NOV): Necessary when the FPF has violated any part of the FOG permit, this Part, and/or the FOG program, the Borough may serve the FPF with a notice of violation specifically citing the nature of the violation. NOVs follow the regular calendar year and are reported to the DEP and EPA yearly through the MIPP Report.
B. 
Monetary Penalty: When the FPF fails to adhere to the requirements of any part of the FOG permit, this Part, and/or the FOG program on numerous occasions, penalties shall range from a specific fee to correct an action to costs involved to have an oil and grease interceptor cleaned.
C. 
Administrative Order: When a violation occurs, the Borough may subject the FPF to an order to correct the violation within a specific time frame.
[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
1. 
In addition to all other remedies available pursuant to this chapter, the Borough shall have the right to issue a notice of violation ("NOV") and/or impose a penalty, as hereinafter set forth, for a violation of any requirements of the any part of the FOG permit, this Part, and/or the FOG program. To assess a penalty, the following factors shall be considered:
A. 
Damage to the air, water, and land of the Borough and surrounding municipalities.
B. 
Damage and/or harm to the WWTP or POTW and their personnel.
C. 
Past violations; compliance history.
D. 
The producer's willingness and efficiency to comply; response to the NOV in a timely manner, notification to the Borough and quick, effective corrective action to eliminate the noncompliance.
E. 
The magnitude of the violation.
2. 
An FPF charged with any penalty shall have 30 days to pay the proposed penalty in full or appeal the penalty and/or the cause of the violation.
3. 
The following is a schedule of violations and the maximum penalty to be assessed:
A. 
Significant Noncompliance and Grease Overflow.
(1) 
Satisfactory Level 1. The FPF properly notified the FOG Administrator of the violation, adhered to the cleaning schedule written in the FOG permit and made a major effort to eliminate the violation: $300.
(2) 
Satisfactory Level 2. The FPF did not properly notify the FOG Administrator of the violation, but adhered to the cleaning schedule written in the FOG permit and made a major effort to eliminate the violation: $400.
(3) 
Unsatisfactory Level 3. The FPF properly notified the FOG Administrator of the violation and made a major effort to eliminate the violation, but did not adhere to the cleaning schedule written in the FOG permit: $500.
(4) 
Unsatisfactory Level 4. The FPF made a major effort to eliminate the violation, but did not properly notify the FOG Administrator of the violation and did not adhere to the cleaning schedule written in the FOG permit: $600.
B. 
Log not maintained according to FOG permit or manifests not provided for internal oil and grease interceptors:
(1) 
First offense: $50.
(2) 
Second offense: $100.
(3) 
Third offense: $150.
(4) 
Fourth offense: $200.
C. 
Manifests not provided proving external oil and grease interceptors were not cleaned according to FOG permit:
(1) 
First offense: $150.
(2) 
Second offense: $300.
(3) 
Third offense: $450.
(4) 
Fourth offense: $600.
D. 
Failure to allow access to FOG handling equipment in a timely manner: $50.
E. 
Failure to respond to correspondence in a timely manner by e-mail, telephone, or mail: $25.
[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
The FOG Administrator shall have the power to establish appropriate rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the FOG program.
[Ord. 2149, 4/11/2016]
Any appeal under this Part, including a monetary penalty or other action by the Borough, shall be governed by the procedure described in § 701, Subsection 3, Right to Appeal, of Part 7, Penalty Costs, of this chapter.