The purpose of this article is to protect businesses and the
environment within the Town of Brookhaven from blockages of the District's
sanitary sewer system caused by grease, kitchen oils, and other substances
discharged from food establishments or industrial processes located
in the District.
A. Installation and maintenance of traps; storage and disposal of grease.
(1) Grease trap installation. The District may at any time require the
installation of an external grease trap at a food establishment or
industrial processor, as he/she may deem necessary to maintain any
particular building sewer pipe, any lateral sewer pipe, or sewer main
pipe free from obstructions caused by grease or oil emanating from
a food establishment or industrial processor.
(2) Food establishment. In every case where a food establishment is preparing
or selling food, a suitable external grease trap conforming to applicable
building and plumbing codes must be installed.
(3) Requirements. External grease traps must have a minimum capacity
of 1,500 gallons and shall be sized in accordance with the standards
set forth by SCDHS.
B. Grease trap maintenance. All grease traps shall be maintained by
the property owner at the property owners' expense. At a minimum,
the food establishment or its designee shall inspect grease traps
monthly; and shall have all grease traps cleaned before the amount
of grease exceeds 25% of the grease capacity of the grease trap or
once every three months for external grease traps, whichever comes
first. Written logs of inspections, cleaning and pumping shall be
filed with the District every 90 days.
C. Best management practices. Food preparation, manufacturing and wholesaling
establishments shall integrate best management practices to reduce
grease discharged to the sewer system. In addition to maintenance
of grease traps, best management practices include, but are not limited
to:
(1) Dry-wiping pots, vats, basins, pans, and dishes before putting them
in the dishwasher or sink;
(2) Collecting and disposing of used grease through a licensed septage
handler instead of pouring it down the drain;
(3) Capturing the grease in ventilation and exhaust hoods.
D. Storage of waste grease from food preparation. All waste grease and
other related wastes requiring storage at the food establishment as
a result of removal from grease traps or otherwise shall be collected
and stored in an appropriate container(s) (i.e., fifty-five-gallon
drums or such other suitable storage containers) in an approved location
at the food establishment. The container(s) shall be stored on an
impervious surface such as concrete or pavement. Containers shall
be either sealed or stored in a sheltered area and maintained to prevent
entry of precipitation and of animals. All waste grease and related
wastes shall be removed from the food establishment only by a permitted
septage handler. All grease containers and surrounding areas must
be kept in a sanitary condition at all times.
E. Disposal. All waste grease and related wastes shall be removed from
the food establishment only by a permitted septage handler. All material
removed from grease traps and hauling and disposal of grease and other
related waste shall be documented in a written record. The food establishment
is responsible for assuring that all waste grease and related wastes
are disposed of in accordance with all federal, state, and local disposal
regulations.
F. Inspection and recordkeeping.
(1) The Environmental Analysts, Engineering Inspector or their respective
designee may enter upon any premises at any reasonable time to inspect
for compliance.
(2) The grease traps shall be subject to a mandatory annual inspection
by the Environmental Analysts, Engineering Inspector or other designee
of the Town that shall enforce the provisions of this regulation.
Failure to timely file with the District the required cleaning logs
and invoices, or an incomplete reporting, shall require an inspection
in addition to the mandatory annual inspection.
(3) The cost of such additional inspection shall be, per inspection,
such amount as may be set by the Town resolution and payable by the
user.
(4) All records pertaining to purchasing, storage and removal of grease
and related products and waste products shall also be retained by
the food establishment on premises for no less than two years.
(5) Refusal to provide reasonable cooperation and access shall constitute
a violation of these regulations subject to enforcement as set forth
below.