The discharge of fats, oils, waxes, or greases shall be subject
to the provisions below.
(a) Statement of objectives.
(1)
It is well documented that the discharge of fats, oils, waxes,
or greases into the sewer system causes blockages of the sewer lines,
increases the need for and cost associated with sewer maintenance,
and impedes sewage treatment at the wastewater treatment plant.
(2)
Discharges of fats, oils, waxes, and grease are harmful to the
sanitary sewerage system. It is therefore necessary to regulate discharges
of these substances for the protection of the sewer system, the environment,
and the public health.
(3)
The objective of this section is to prevent the discharge to
the municipal sanitary sewage system of any water or waste containing
excessive quantities of fats, oils, waxes, or greases.
(b) Prohibited discharges.
(1)
Waters or wastes containing fat, wax, grease, or oil of vegetable
or animal origin in excess of 300 milligrams per liter, or other substances
which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32°
Fahrenheit and 150° Fahrenheit (0° Celsius to 65° Celsius).
Waters or wastes containing such substances (excluding normal household
waste) shall exclude all visible, floatable oil.
(2)
The use of chemical, biological or physical means (such as temperature
variation, solvents, enzymes, emulsifying agents, mechanical mixers)
to bypass or release fats, waxes, oils or greases into the wastewater
system is prohibited, unless approved by the City Engineer.
(3)
Subject to the written approval of the City, a chemical or biological
agent may be added to convert the fats, wax, oil, and grease in a
trap to a substance not regulated by this chapter, if the resulting
discharge from the trap will not cause or contribute to an obstruction
or blockage in the sewer or otherwise violate this chapter. Unless
so converted, the fat, wax, oil, and grease contents of a grease trap
shall not be discharged to the sewer system. If the concentration
for any fats, oils, or grease exceeds 300 milligrams per liter after
treatment, the City may, in its discretion, increase the discharge
concentration limit on a case-by-case basis and apply a monetary charge
for the increase.
(c) Prohibited methods of discharge. The fats, oils, waxes, and greases prohibited in Subsection
(b) shall not be discharged into the sewer system by any means. Specifically prohibited methods of discharge include, but are not limited to:
(1)
Disposal of waste cooking oil into drainage or sewerage pipes.
(2)
Discharge of wastewater from dishwashers to any grease trap
except as required by the plumbing code.
(3)
Discharge of wastewater in excess of 150° Fahrenheit to
any grease control device.
(4)
Discharge of wastes from toilets, urinals, wash basins, and
other fixtures containing fecal materials to sewer lines intended
for grease receptor service.
(5)
Discharge of any FOG and solid materials removed from the grease
trap to the sewer system.
(d) Enforcement. These provisions shall be enforced according to the
following procedures.
(1)
Sampling and analysis. The City may conduct sampling and analysis
and/or may require the owner/operator of the facility generating FOG
to conduct testing to quantify the representative concentration of
FOG in sewer discharges. All sampling, testing, and analysis must
be conducted according to one or more of the following procedures:
a.
All samplings and analyses of the characteristics of water and
wastes required to conform to this chapter shall be performed in accordance
with the most recent edition of the Standard Methods, unless required
otherwise by the City, MWRA, Environmental Protection Agency, or Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection.
b.
Sample analysis required by this chapter may be performed by
an independent laboratory currently certified by the DEP for the parameters
being sampled and analyzed.
c.
Samples to be analyzed may be collected at locations designated
by the City by methods acceptable to, and at a frequency determined
by, the City and agreed to by the FOG contributor/operator/owner.
Grab samples will be acceptable for FOG analysis.
d.
The City may require a user to submit a complete data package,
including chain of custody records, raw data, and quality assurance/quality
control related results, with a report required by the City. The City
may require that discharge monitoring reports be submitted on paper
copy or by electronic means.
(2)
Noncompliance. Failure of a property owner or user to comply
with these requirements shall result in the following penalties.
a.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, or a
corresponding rule, regulation, order, or permit condition shall forfeit
and pay to the City a fine or penalty of $300 for each violation in
accordance with authority granted by MGL c. 83, § 10, as
then in effect. For the purposes of this section, each day of a continuous
violation shall be deemed to be a separate violation. If a violation
is intermittent, each occurrence shall be deemed to be a separate
violation. The City Council, for good cause shown upon petition, may
waive in whole or in part any fines imposed pursuant to this section.
b.
The authorized enforcement agency shall be the City FOG Inspector,
Board of Health, or Plumbing Inspector as determined by City ordinance
and/or regulation.
c.
The first notice of noncompliance received by an individual
or establishment shall allow the violator to remedy the violation
through modifications to the applicable plumbing system or modifications
to their operations and maintenance procedures.
d.
If a user is found in violation of this chapter, Section
16-51 or
16-54, three or more times in a calendar year, measured January 1 to December 31, the authorized enforcement agency may require the user to install a fitting within the plumbing line to allow access for additional testing. The sampling location and plumbing fitting shall be determined by the Engineering Department. The user in violation shall be required to pay for the installation and maintenance of the sampling location.
[Ord. No. 24075A, § 16.43, 11-14-1977]
Where preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities are
provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously
in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at the owner's
expense. Preliminary treatment facilities include grease and oil traps.