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Township of Montgomery, PA
Montgomery County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (9) Index
No unauthorized persons (i.e., persons other than personnel of MTMSA) shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the MTMSA Manager.
There shall be three classes of building sewer permits: for residential service; for commercial service; and for industrial service. In all cases, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form furnished by MTMSA. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications, or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of MTMSA. A permit and inspection fee for a residential, commercial and industrial building sewer permit shall be paid to MTMSA at the time the application is filed. Permit and inspection fees for sewer permits shall be in such amounts as may be established from time to time by MTMSA through resolution. No property, building or structure or use thereof, other than that described in the building sewer permit, shall at any time be connected with or attached to a public sewer.
All costs and expenses incidental to the installation, connection, and maintenance of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner or user, who shall indemnify MTMSA and Montgomery Township from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be caused by the installation of the building sewer.
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building or any part of any building as may be determined by MTMSA.
Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, upon examination and test by MTMSA, to meet all requirements of this Part 1.
[Amended 2-11-2013 by Ord. No. 13-269]
The size, slope, alignment, materials of construction of a building sewer, lateral and appurtenant facilities, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe, jointing, testing, and backfilling the trench shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing codes and/or other applicable rules and regulations of the MTMSA and Montgomery Township. In the event of any inconsistencies between the rules and regulations of the MTMSA and Montgomery Township and the International Plumbing Code, the rules and regulations of the MTMSA and Montgomery Township shall control.
[Amended 2-11-2013 by Ord. No. 13-269]
A. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FOOD SERVICE FACILITIES
Those establishments engaged in activities of preparing, serving, or otherwise making available for consumption foodstuffs and that use one or more of the following preparation activities: cooking by frying (all methods), baking (all methods), grilling, sauteing, rotisserie cooking, broiling (all methods), boiling, blanching, roasting, toasting, or poaching. Also included are infrared heating, searing, barbecuing, and any other food preparation activity that produces a hot, nondrinkable food product in or on a receptacle that requires washing. These facilities include restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, motels, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, grocery stores, churches, camps, caterers, manufacturing plants, or any other industrial or commercial establishments which discharge, or are likely to discharge, grease into the public sewer system.
GREASE
Material composed primarily of fats, oil, and grease from animal or vegetable sources. The term "fats, oil and grease" shall be deemed as grease by definition. Grease does not include petroleum-based products.
GREASE INTERCEPTOR
A device for separating and retaining waterborne greases and grease complexes prior to the wastewater exiting the interceptor and entering the public sewer system. These devices also serve to collect settlable solids, generated by and from food preparation activities, prior to the wastewater exiting the interceptor and entering the public sewer system.
OIL/WATER SEPARATOR
A device that is specifically designed and manufactured to separate oil from water and permits the oil to be collected and removed on a regular basis so as to prevent it from being discharged into the public sewer system.
B. 
Control plan for grease and food waste.
(1) 
Any person who constructs, renovates or expands a food service facility shall be required to submit to MTMSA a grease and food waste control plan that will effectively control the discharge of undesirable materials into the public sewer system.
(2) 
Any owner of an existing food service facility shall also be required to submit a grease and food waste control plan that will effectively control the discharge of undesirable materials into the public sewer system.
C. 
Grease interceptor installation, connection and location requirements.
(1) 
Installation requirements. All owners of existing, proposed or newly renovated or expanded food service facilities within the MTMSA wastewater service area shall be required to install, at the owner's expense an approved, properly operated and maintained grease interceptor.
(2) 
Sanitary sewer flows. Sanitary sewer flows from toilets, urinals, lavatories, etc., shall not be discharged into the grease interceptor. These flows shall be conveyed separately to the sanitary sewer service lateral.
(3) 
Floor drains. Only floor drains which discharge or have the potential to discharge grease shall be connected to a grease interceptor.
(4) 
Garbage grinders/disposers. Solid food waste products shall be disposed of through normal solid waste/garbage disposal means, and not the sanitary sewer system.
(5) 
Dishwashers. Commercial dishwashers must be connected to the grease interceptor. Dishwashers discharge soap and hot water which can melt grease and allow it to pass through an undersized grease interceptor. Interceptors must be sized accordingly to allow enough detention time to allow water to cool and grease to solidify and float to the top of the interceptor.
(6) 
Location. The grease interceptor shall be installed outside the building upstream from the sanitary sewer service lateral connection unless MTMSA allows an interior installation. This will allow easy access for inspection, cleaning and removal of the intercepted grease at any time. A grease interceptor may not be installed inside any part of a building without written approval by MTMSA.
D. 
Design criteria.
(1) 
Construction. Grease interceptors shall be constructed in accordance with the standards of the MTMSA and shall have a minimum of two compartments with fittings designed for grease retention. All grease-removal devices or technologies shall be subject to the written approval of MTMSA. Such approval shall be based on demonstrated removal efficiencies of the proposed technology.
(2) 
Access. Access to grease interceptors shall be available at all times, to allow for their maintenance and inspection. Access to grease traps shall be provided by two manholes (one on each compartment) terminating at finished grade with cast-iron frame and cover.
(3) 
Load-bearing capacity. In areas where additional weight loads may exist, the grease interceptor shall be designed to have adequate load-bearing capacity.
(4) 
Inlet and outlet piping. Wastewater discharging to a grease interceptor shall enter only through the inlet pipe of the interceptor. Each grease interceptor shall have only one inlet and one outlet pipe.
(5) 
Grease trap sizing. The required size of the grease interceptor shall be calculated using the EPA-2 model. All grease interceptors shall have a capacity of not less than 1,000 gallons nor exceed a capacity of 3,000 gallons. If the calculated required capacity exceeds 3,000 gallon, multiple units plumbed in series shall be installed.
E. 
Grease interceptor cleaning/maintenance.
(1) 
Cleaning/pumping. The owner of a food service facility shall,. at such owner's expense, maintain and keep in good repair all grease interceptors to assure the proper operation and efficiency thereof. Cleaning of grease interceptors shall include the complete removal of all contents, including floating materials, wastewater, and bottom sludge and solids. This work shall be performed by a qualified and licensed hauler. Decanting or discharging of removed waste back into the grease interceptor from which it was removed or any other grease trap, for the purpose of reducing the volume to be disposed, is prohibited. Cleaning shall also include a thorough inspection of the interceptor and its components. Any needed repairs shall be noted, and repairs shall be made at the owner's expense.
(2) 
Cleaning/pumping frequency. The grease interceptor must be cleaned/pumped out completely a minimum of once every four months, or more frequently as determined by MTMSA, as needed to prevent carryover of grease into the MTMSA sewer system.
(3) 
Disposal. All materials removed from each grease interceptor must be disposed of at a facility approved to receive such waste in accordance with the provisions of this program. In no way shall the pumpage be returned to any private or public portion of the public sewer system. All pumpage from grease interceptors must be tracked by a manifest, which confirms pumping, hauling and disposal of the waste. The owner of the food service facility must obtain and retain a copy of the original manifest from the hauler.
(4) 
Maintenance log. A grease interceptor cleaning/maintenance log, indicating each cleaning/pumping for the previous 24 months, shall be maintained for each food service facility by the owner thereof. This log shall include the date, time, amount pumped, hauler and disposal site and shall be kept in a conspicuous location for inspection. Said log shall be made available to MTMSA or its representative, upon request.
(5) 
Submittal of records.
(a) 
Each owner of a food service facility shall submit all cleaning and maintenance records to MTMSA. The maintenance records shall include the following information:
[1] 
Facility name, address, contact person and phone number;
[2] 
Company name, address, phone number and contact name of person responsible for performing the maintenance, cleaning, pumping or repair of grease interceptor;
[3] 
Types of maintenance performed;
[4] 
Dates maintenance was performed;
[5] 
Date of next scheduled maintenance; and
[6] 
Copies of manifests.
(b) 
The owner shall be required to submit maintenance records to MTMSA on a biannual basis (twice per year). Records shall be submitted by March 1 and September l of each year. The records shall be submitted to:
Manager
Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer Authority
1001 Stump Road
Montgomeryville, PA 18936
(6) 
The MTMSA will perform periodic inspections of food service facilities and shall notify the owner thereof any additional required maintenance or repairs. Upon written notification by the MTMSA, the owner shall be required to perform the specified maintenance within 14 calendar days. Upon inspection by the MTMSA, the owner may be required to install, at his expense, additional controls to provide a complete system which prevents discharges of undesirable materials into the public sewer system.
F. 
Additives. Any biological additive(s) placed into the grease interceptor or building discharge line, including but not limited to enzymes, commercially available bacteria, or other additives designed to absorb, purge, consume, treat or otherwise eliminate grease, shall require written approval by the MTMSA prior to use. The use of such additives shall in no way be considered as a substitution for the maintenance procedures and/or cleaning procedures required herein.
G. 
Chemical treatment. Chemical treatments such as drain cleaners, acid or other chemical solvents designed to dissolve or remove grease shall not be allowed to enter the grease interceptor.
H. 
Sand, soil and oil separators. All owners of car washes, truck washes, garages, service stations, car and truck maintenance facilities, fabricators, utility equipment shops and other facilities (as determined by the MTMSA) that have sources of sand, soil and oil shall install effective sand, soil and oil traps, interceptors and/or oil/water separators. These systems shall be sized to effectively remove sand, soil and oil at the expected flow rates. These systems shall be designed in accordance with the criteria established within the latest edition of the International Plumbing Code. These systems shall be, at the owner's expense, cleaned or pumped on a regular basis to prevent impact upon the MTMSA sewer system. Users whose systems are deemed to be ineffective by the MTMSA shall be asked to change the cleaning frequency and/or to increase the size of the system. Owners of washing facilities will be required to prevent the inflow of detergents and rainwater into the MTMSA sewer system. Oil/water separator installations shall be required at facilities that accumulate petroleum oils and greases.
I. 
Laundries. Owners of commercial laundries shall equip them with an interceptor with a wire basket or similar device, removable for cleaning, that prevents passage into the MTMSA sewer system of solids 1/2 inch or larger in size, such as rags, strings, buttons, or other solids detrimental to said system.
J. 
Bottling establishments. Bottling plants shall discharge wastewater into an interceptor that will provide for the separation of broken glass or other solids before discharging into the MTMSA sewer system.
K. 
Permit requirement. Every person who is required to install a grease interceptor or a sand, soil and oil separator shall apply for and be issued a permit setting forth required specifications for said interceptor and separator and cleaning, maintenance, disposal and reporting requirements.
L. 
Cost reimbursement. If MTMSA is required to repair and/or clean out its sewer lines as a result of a stoppage resulting from a poorly maintained grease interceptor, and/or sand, soil and oil separator, the owner thereof shall be required to refund the labor, equipment, materials and overhead costs incurred by MTMSA and any fines incurred by MTMSA due to any sanitary sewer overflow caused by the stoppage. Additionally, the owner shall also pay the reasonable costs and fees incurred by the MTMSA by having to engage the services of its consulting engineers and solicitor in connection with the administration of the requirements of this section.
M. 
Inspection. MTMSA or its representatives shall have the right at reasonable times to inspect any grease interceptor or sand, soil and oil separator.
N. 
Alteration of control methods. MTMSA reserves the right to request additional control measures if existing control equipment is shown to be insufficient to protect the MTMSA sewer system from interference due to the discharge of grease, sand, soil, oil or any other undesirable materials.
Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be lifted by a method approved by MTMSA and discharged to the building sewer.
No person shall make connection of sump pumps, roof downspouts, foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a POTW unless such connection is approved in writing by MTMSA for purposes of disposal of polluted surface drainage.
The connection of the building sewer to the lateral installed on the POTW collection system shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing codes or other applicable standards set forth in MTMSA's Standard Specifications for the Construction of Sanitary Sewers, Force Mains, Pump Stations, and Wastewater Treatment Plants, latest edition. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight, and verified by proper testing. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by MTMSA before installation.
The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the MTMSA Manager when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the POTW. In the event that the applicant installs the lateral, he shall notify the MTMSA Manager when the lateral is ready for inspection before the trench is backfilled. The connection to the public sewer and testing shall be made under the supervision of the MTMSA Manager or his representative.
All safety measures during construction or installation of sewer facilities by an owner shall be the sole responsibility of the owner and his agents and contractors and shall conform to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights, so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to MTMSA and Montgomery Township.
No excavation, construction, or connection work shall be commenced within the Montgomery Township or MTMSA right-of-way until the owner, his agents and/or independent contractor shall comply with the regulations and requirements of the MTMSA, including but not limited to: obtaining necessary permit or permits applicable to said work, paying all required tapping fees and connection fees, entering into a tapping fee and development agreement which shall set forth terms relating but not limited to indemnification of MTMSA, insurance coverage, and the applicant's being responsible for any damages to person or property in connection with any such work.
The term "owner," as used herein, shall be deemed to include the owner or owners in fee simple, lessees of the premises, occupiers of the premises, users, and all other parties having a use or interest in the premises and occupying the same with or without the consent and permission of the owner of the fee title.
Sanitary sewers installed with unused points of connection for building sewers shall have said points of connection capped for watertight integrity prior to connection of the building sewer. The method of capping shall be one approved by the MTMSA Manager.