Township of Muhlenberg, PA Discharges to Community Sewage Disposal Systems

No individual, partnership, company, association, society, corporation or other group or entity (hereinafter "person") shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described wastes, waters or substances into any community sewage disposal system operated by the Authority:

Any liquid or vapor having temperature higher than 150° F.;

Any water or waste containing more than 100 ppm by weight of fats, oils or greases;

Any liquids, solids or gases which by reason of their nature or quantity are, or may be, sufficient, either alone or by interaction with other substances, to cause fire or explosion or be injurious in any other way to the sanitary sewer system or the treatment plant or to the operation of same. At no time shall two successive readings on an explosion hazard meter at the point of discharge into the system (or at any point in the system) be more than 5%, nor any single reading over 10%, of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the meter. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides, and sulfides and any other substances which the Township, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or EPA has notified the user is a fire hazard or a hazard to the system;

Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, shall be capable of creating a public nuisance or hazard to life or of preventing entry into any sewer or sewage treatment plant for maintenance and repair;

Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, bones, feathers, tar, plastic, wood, paunch manure, butchers offal, whole blood, bentonite, lye, building materials, rubber, hair, leather, porcelain, china, ceramic wastes, asphalt, paint, waxes or any other solid or viscous substance which shall be capable of causing obstruction to the flow of any sewer or other interference with the proper operation of the community sewage disposal system or sewage treatment plant;

Any water or waste having a pH lower than 6.0 or higher than 9.0 or having any corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures or equipment of the community sewage disposal system or sewage treatment plant or to personnel engaged in operation and maintenance thereof;

Any water or waste containing any toxic or poisonous substance in quantity sufficient to constitute a hazard to humans or animals or to interfere with the biochemical processes of the sewage treatment plant or that will pass through the sewage treatment plant in such condition so that it will exceed state, federal or other existing valid requirements for the receiving stream;

Any water or waste containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense shall be required to handle such water or waste at the sewage treatment plant;

Any toxic radioactive isotopes, except by special permission of this Township;

Any drainage from building construction;

Any garbage that has not been ground to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely in suspension under flow conditions normally prevailing in the sanitary sewers, with no particles under any circumstances greater than 1/2 inch in any dimension;

Any waste, water or substance containing color from any source that, when diluted with distilled water 1:10, will have a luminescence of 10% or better and a purity of 90% or less at its dominant wave length established by the tristimulus method;

Any waste, water or substance having a chlorine demand in excess of 12 mg/l;

Any waste, water or substance prohibited by any permit issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or any other federal agency;

Any waste, water or substance containing wastes which are not amenable to biological treatment or reduction in existing treatment facilities, specifically nonbiodegradable complex carbon compounds;

Any waters which are used for the purpose of diluting wastes which would otherwise exceed applicable maximum concentration limitations;

Ammonia nitrogen in such an amount that would cause the Authority or owner or operator of the community sewage disposal system to be in noncompliance with regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;

Wastes containing more than 10 milligrams per liter of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, or any of the halogens;

Roof drainage, cellar, surface water, waste from hydrants or groundwater from underground drainage fields. (The sewer system is intended to convey sanitary sewage and permitted wastes only.)

Stormwater, surface water, foundation drain water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, drainage cooling water or unpolluted industrial or unpolluted commercial process water. (All connections which would result in the discharge of infiltration or inflow are hereby specifically prohibited.)

§ 288-42 Gas stations and restaurants.

Gas stations, garages and other motor vehicle service or repair facilities discharging waste, water or other substances into community sewage disposal systems are required to provide oil interceptors and reclaimers approved by the Township in the proper location where the hazardous or volatile liquids are to be intercepted.

Restaurants discharging water, waste or other substances into community sewage disposal systems are required by the Township to provide grease interceptors of the type approved by the Township or as required by the National Standard Plumbing Code Illustrated, 2000.

After treatment or passage through the above traps and/or interceptors, the effluent discharged to a community sewage disposal system may not contain any of the substances listed in the prohibited discharges enumerated in § 288-41 above.

§ 288-43 Other establishments.

Grease, oil and sand interceptors and oil reclaimers shall be provided in any other buildings or establishments discharging waste, water or other substances into community sewage disposal systems when deemed necessary by the Township Code Official for the proper handling of liquid wastes, sand and other harmful ingredients. Hair traps shall be provided for all barbershops and beauty parlors.

§ 288-44 Installation, reporting and inspection.

[Amended 3-18-2013 by Ord. No. 520]

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

CONTINUOUS DISCHARGE

The use of any amenity, as described under Subsection B, which operates for seven continuous days. This category will include seasonal facilities which qualify for seven continuous days of operation. Furthermore, this category includes facilities which operate less than 24 hours per day and operate for at least one day during the weekend.

FIXTURE

Includes each plumbing fixture, appliance, apparatus or other equipment required to be connected to or discharged into a grease trap by any provision of this section.

GREASE INTERCEPTOR

An interceptor of at least 750 gallons' (2,839 liters') capacity to serve one or more fixtures (as defined herein) and which shall be remotely located.

GREASE TRAP

A device designed to retain grease from one to a maximum of four fixtures.

INTERMITTENT DISCHARGE

The use of any amenity as described under Subsection B which operates for five days or less.

Installation. When in the judgment of the Township Code Enforcement Officer or his/her assigned representative (the "Code Officer"), waste pretreatment is required at a facility within the Township, a grease trap, complying with the provisions of this section, shall be installed in the waste line leading from sinks, drains and other fixtures or equipment in facilities such as restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, cafeterias, bars and clubs, hotels, hospitals, sanitariums, factory or school kitchens, or other establishments where grease may be introduced into the drainage or sewage system in quantities that can effect line stoppage or hinder sewage treatment or private sewage disposal. The following condition shall be in effect:

(1)

No grease trap shall be installed which has an approved rate of flow of more than 55 gallons per minute (3.5 l/s), nor less than instantaneous flow of 20 gallons per minute (1.3 l/s), without the prior written approval of the Code Officer.

(2)

Each plumbing fixture or piece of equipment connected to a grease trap shall contain an approved vented flow control installed in a readily accessible and visible location. Flow-control devices shall be designed that the flow through such device or devices shall at no time be greater than the rated capacity of the grease trap. No flow-control device having adjustable or removable parts shall be approved. The vented flow-control device shall be located such that no system vent shall be between the flow control and the grease trap inlet. The vent or air inlet of the flow-control device shall connect with the sanitary drainage vent system as elsewhere required by acceptable industry standards or shall terminate through the roof of the building and shall not terminate to the free atmosphere inside the building. Exception: listed grease traps with approved-type flow controls or restricting devices may be installed in an accessible location in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

(3)

Each grease trap required by this section shall have an approved rate of flow which is not less than that given in the table in § 288-44D(2)(a)[1] for the total number of connected fixtures. The total capacity in gallons (G) of fixtures discharging into any such grease trap shall not exceed 2 1/2 times the certified gpm (l/s) flow rate of the grease trap as per that table. Not more than four separate fixtures shall be connected to or discharged into any one grease trap.

(4)

Each fixture discharging into a grease trap shall be individually trapped and vented in an approved manner.

(5)

Grease traps shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the accumulated grease, fat or oil. No such collected grease, fat or oil shall be introduced into any drainage piping or public or private sewer.

(6)

No water-jacketed grease trap or grease interceptor shall be approved or installed.

(7)

Required grease interceptors, installed outdoors, shall comply with the provisions of in-ground grease interceptors.

(8)

Grease traps shall not be installed in food preparation areas of kitchens.

(9)

Grease interceptors shall be installed outside of the kitchen area in a location affording ease of maintenance and servicing.

(10)

Unless specifically required or permitted by the Code Officer, no food waste disposal unit or dishwasher shall be connected to or discharge into any grease trap.

(11)

A grease trap is not required for individual dwelling units or for any private living quarters.

Limitations. The owners/operators shall prohibit the entrance into their sewage system and subsequently to the City of Reading's sewage treatment plant of sewage containing more than 100 parts per million by weight of fats, oil or grease, as measured by Method 1664, Revision A: n-hexane extractable material (HEM; oil and grease) or more than 25 parts per million by weight of fat, oil or grease as measured by silica-gel-treated n-hexane extractable material (SGT-HEM; nonpolar material) by extraction and gravimetry.

Interceptor sizing.

(1)

Indoor grease trap/grease interceptor sizing. An indoor grease trap/interceptor can be used for capturing grease sediments connected to four fixtures or fewer. This is a mandatory measure for preventing the discharge of fats, oil or grease into the sanitary sewer system. A grease interceptor shall be sized based on a flow rate in gallons per minute (GPM). The owner/operator shall provide necessary calculations completed by a licensed professional engineer when determining and selecting the size of the grease interceptor. For basic guidance, the following steps should be used to determine the appropriate size for new indoor grease trap/interceptors:

(a)

Step 1: Determine the cubic size of connected fixture(s) or sink(s). To determine the sink volume, multiply the length, width and depth (L x W x D) of the sink by the number of sinks. All measurements must be in inches and not feet.

(b)

Step 2: Convert the cubic inches into gallons using the following conversion: 1 gallon = 231 cubic inches.

(c)

Step 3: Estimate the capacity of the sink(s) measured in Step 1. Usually, 75% of the sink(s) will be filled with water; the remaining 25% will be dishes, utensils, etc. Multiply that factor as a percentage (e.g., 75% = 0.75, 25% = 0.25, etc.) by the number of gallons calculated in Step 2. This will also serve as the flow rate discharging to the grease trap.

(d)

Step 4: Select a grease trap/interceptor that is the next size higher than the calculated flow rate. For example: if the calculated flow rate is 78 GPM, available interceptors are sized for 70 and 80 GPM; the most-appropriate choice is the latter, an 80-GPM device.

(2)

Outdoor grease trap/grease interceptor sizing. Outdoor in-ground grease interceptors are mandatory for restaurants and other food service facilities that produce large amounts of fat, oil and grease during food preparation. There are two methods when sizing an outdoor grease interceptor. The first is based on criteria established by proper wastewater analyses defining the content of fat, oil and grease. The owner/operator shall provide the necessary calculations completed by a licensed professional engineer when determining and selecting the size of a grease interceptor to meet the needs based on this method. The second is the application of the Manning Formula, which is described as follows:

(a)

The Manning Formula: Interceptor Size (in gallons) = Flow Rate (GPM)/sink or fixture multiplied by the sum of fixture Ratings plus the Discharge rate from any mechanical washers (i.e., dishwashers, glass washers, laundry machines, etc.) multiplied by a twenty-four-minute retention Time.

The summarized version being: I = [(Fr) x (R) + (D)] x (T)

[1]

Flow rate, measured in GPM, is determined based on the slope, pipe texture, and pipe diameter. The following rates are precalculated.

Pipe Diameter (inches)	Flow per Fixture (GPM)
1/2	0.80
1.0	5.0
1 1/2	15
2.0	33.0
2 1/2	59
3.0	93

[2]

Fixture ratings of grease-laden waste streams are predetermined values based on specific kitchen drainage points, such as sinks, wash basins, and floor drains. Essentially, these values represent factors by which the flow rate of a drainage pipe shall be used to determine the potential rate of water movement out of the fixture. Apply as demonstrated in the examples below.

Description	Estimated Flow Drain
Sink with 1 compartment	0.75
Sink with 2 or 3 compartments	1.0
Pre-rinse sink	0.5
Vegetable prep sink with 1 or 2 compartments	0.25
Can wash sink	0.25
Mop sink	0.25
Floor drain	0.00

[3]

The discharge rate from dishwashers, laundry machines, glass washers, etc., must be added to the Manning Formula calculation because of their potential for introducing large quantities of water down the drain in a short amount of time. The user's manual for these appliances should indicate the manufacturer's discharge rate in GPMs; contact the manufacturer to learn about specific equipment discharge.

[4]

The twenty-four-minute retention time is a precalculated amount of time that the licensed professional engineer has determined to be necessary for grease to separate from water. The licensed professional engineer shall demonstrate by calculation that the proposed design of the grease trap based on the capacity of the holding tank (grease separator) in relation to the influent shall maintain fat, oil and grease particulate content in the effluent at less than 100 parts per million (100 PPM).

Reporting. Owners and operators of gas stations, restaurants and other facilities required by this section to have grease and/or oil traps and/or interceptors shall be subject to biannual inspection by the Code Officer. Owners/operators shall submit certified quarterly reports (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31) each year in a form prescribed by the Code Officer, certifying that the grease and/or oil traps and/or interceptors have been cleaned. The report provided shall manifest the name of the person or contractor responsible for the work, the date of cleaning and the location where the material is being disposed. The report hereafter shall be referred to as the "quarterly report."

Inspection.

(1)

The Code Officer shall, biannually, inspect all such facilities' grease trap/interceptors and review the owner/operator's quarterly reports.

(2)

All grease trap/interceptors must be approved by the Code Officer and shall be located such that they are readily accessible for cleaning and inspection.

(3)

If any inspection or quarterly report indicates that prohibited discharges have occurred (§ 288-41) or that the grease trap/interceptor is substandard in performance, the Code Officer may, in addition to any other remedies, conduct additional inspections and/or require additional reports or tests as needed to correct the deficiencies.

(4)

Costs of all reports and any necessary additional inspections or tests shall be borne by the owner/operator of the facility.

Fees. The Township's annual fees, adopted by resolution, shall include two inspections per annum. The owner/operator shall pay the annual fees, adopted by resolution, to the Township within 30 days from the date of the notice that the same are due. If the fees are not paid within said thirty-day time period, the amount due shall be increased to be two times the original amount. If the same remains unpaid after 90 days from the date of the notice, the same shall constitute a violation of this section for which the penalties set forth in Subsection I below shall be enforced. The two inspections shall be considered regular maintenance inspections and shall be conducted on the assumption that the grease trap system is functioning to industry standards. In the event the Code Officer reports a malfunctioning grease trap system at said inspections, the owner/operator of the grease trap system must remedy this malfunction as directed by the Code Officer. Additional inspection charges may be assessed if any additional site inspections are deemed necessary as a result of a failed inspection. Such inspection charges shall be assessed as set forth by the Township in the resolution adopting the fee schedule.

Failure to report. The owner/operator of a facility equipped with a grease trap system shall provide a quarterly report as set forth hereinabove. Failure to provide any required quarterly report within 15 days from its due date shall constitute a violation of this section of the Township Code, and the owner/operator shall be assessed a fine of $250 for the first such offense and fines of $500 for each subsequent offense.

Violations. Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein, any person found to be violating the terms of this section of the Township Code shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000. Each day of noncompliance with this section of the Township Code shall be deemed to be a separate violation, and a fine not to exceed $1,000 may be issued for each day of the noncompliance. If a judgment is entered against any person for violating this section of the Township Code, and said person defaults in the payment of the fine or penalty imposed by said judgment, said person may be sentenced and committed to the County of Berks prison for a period not to exceed 30 days.

§ 288-45 Fees.

The Township may establish fees to be charged to the users of facilities requiring oil interceptors and/or grease traps to cover the administrative and inspection expenses incurred in the administration and/or enforcement of the provisions of this Part 5.

§ 288-46 Violations and penalties.

Any person, partnership, corporation or entity who or which has violated or permitted the violation of any provisions of this Part 5 shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township, pay a fine/judgment of not more than $600 per violation plus all court costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Township as a result thereof. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. All fines, judgments, costs and reasonable attorneys' fees imposed shall be enforceable and recoverable in the manner at the time provided by applicable law and shall be payable to the Township. In addition, the Township may compel the violator to cease using the sewer system until the condition causing the violation is corrected. The Township may compel violators to cease using the sewer system by directing the Authority to terminate water service (on written notice with a ten-day right to cure), with all usual and customary Authority charges for service termination and service reinstatement to be the responsibility of the violator.

§ 288-47 Nonexclusiveness of remedies.

The remedies provided herein are not intended to be exclusive. The Township reserves the right to take any and all action permitted by law against a person violating this Part 5.

Article X Maximum Allowable Industrial Loadings

[Adopted 1-20-2020 by Ord. No. 588]

§ 288-48 Maximum allowable industrial loadings.

The maximum allowable industrial loadings (MAILs) for the specified pollutants of concern, as approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are hereby established by the Township as set forth below. These MAILs are developed to protect against pass through and interference, and to protect sludge quality.

Parameter	Dailey Maximum MAIL¹, Lbs/Day
Arsenic	6.82
Cadmium	1.16
Chromium	15.28
Copper	8.19
Cyanide, Free	2.46
Cyanide, Total	14.50
Lead	4.35
Mercury	0.008
Molybdenum	6.67
Nickel	49.45
Phenolics, Total	9.51
Selenium	2.37
Silver	8.93
Zinc	30.29

¹	MAIL is defined as Maximum Allowable Industrial Loadings