The intent of this article is to establish consistent procedures and design standards to regulate wastewater discharges containing animal-based fats, oils, and greases, from establishments including, but not limited to, food service and food processing. The purpose of this program is to prevent excessive introduction of fats, oils and grease (FOG) into the sewer system and WRRF. If not properly regulated and maintained, FOG causes sanitary sewer overflows, hazardous conditions in the collection system, treatment plant inhibitions, increased treatment costs, fines, and other municipal infrastructure expenses.
Fats, oil, and grease interceptors shall be provided when, in the Director's opinion, they are necessary for the proper handling of wastewater containing fats, oil and grease; except that such interceptors shall not be required for residential dischargers. All FOG interception units shall be of a type and capacity approved by the WRRD and shall be so located to be easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Such FOG interceptors shall be inspected, cleaned, and repaired by the discharger at their expense in conformance with requirements of this chapter.
A. 
All food service and food processing establishments must have FOG-handling equipment that is operational and maintained. The City shall notify establishments in writing whose grease-handling facilities or methods are not adequately maintained to prevent floatable FOG from entering the City's collection system. (For example, a collapsed or deteriorated baffle wall, leaks, infiltration and inflow, improperly located components, and any other deficiencies that will prevent the grease interceptor from working properly).
B. 
Regularly scheduled maintenance of FOG-handling facilities and equipment is required to ensure adequate operation. All FOG interceptors must be cleaned, maintained, and repaired as needed, in compliance with the WRRD's FOG best management practices and technical specifications. All grease interceptors must be pumped out completely. Outside interceptors and small under-the-sink grease interceptors shall be pumped/cleaned based on size and grease production, in accordance with approved maintenance schedule.
C. 
All food service and food processing establishments' FOG handling facilities shall be subject to review, evaluation, and inspection by the Compliance Manager during normal working hours. Inspection results will be made available to facility owner, leaseholder, or operator.
D. 
Food service and food processing establishments whose operations cause or allow excessive FOG to discharge or accumulate in the City's collection system may be liable for costs related to line blockages, line cleanings, and line and pump repairs, etc., including all labor, materials, and equipment.
E. 
The introduction of emulsifying agents such as chemicals, solvents, or enzymes directly or indirectly into the FOG interceptor, other than what is considered typical business operational practices such as dishwashing or sanitation, is strictly prohibited. By the Director's approval, products which reduce FOG, such as bacteria, may be used in addition to the regular grease interceptor maintenance program, but will not be a consideration in determining grease interceptor sizing or maintenance frequency.
F. 
The discharger shall maintain a file onsite of records and other documents pertaining to the facility's FOG interceptor. The file contents shall include, but not be limited to, records of inspections, logs of pumping activities and receipts, logs of maintenance activities, hauler information, and disposal information. The file must be available at all times for inspection and review. Records must be maintained for a period of three years.
G. 
All wastewater from food preparation operations and/or washing and cleaning operations including but not limited to pot sinks, pre-rinse stations, hand sinks in kitchen and/or food preparation areas, work stations, soup kettles, braising pans, wok ranges, mop sinks, floor sinks, floor drains, and wastewater generated from exhaust fan hood cleaning operations, or any other fixtures required by the WRRD, must discharge to the FOG interceptor.
A. 
Food service and food processing establishments may be allowed to continue current operations without significant modifications until such time as:
(1) 
Remodeling of $1,000 value or higher is performed at the facility; and/or
(2) 
Change in ownership, and/or operators; and/or
(3) 
The facility's existing FOG control equipment is deemed to be of substandard size and/or design; and/or
(4) 
The facility is shown to be the cause of a FOG blockage in the City's sewer collection system; and/or
(5) 
The facility has a change of operation that will increase the quantity and/or frequency of FOG discharge; and/or
(6) 
Any other reason deemed by the City as appropriate for significant modifications including improperly installed equipment, equipment with missing flow controls, or nonfunctioning equipment.
B. 
FOG permit required.
(1) 
Prior to installation, discharger(s) must complete a FOG permit application specifying the proposed grease control equipment, with the following application items:
(a) 
Completed application form signed by property owner and tenant, if applicable.
(b) 
Plan(s) of facility showing proposed piping locations and fixtures to be piped into the grease control device(s).
(c) 
Specifications of proposed grease control device(s), such as manufacturers specifications.
(d) 
For food service establishments, copy of menu(s), anticipated number of meals to be served daily.
(e) 
Proposed maintenance schedule.
C. 
FOG permit review.
(1) 
The Compliance Manager (CM) shall be responsible for administration of FOG permit applications.
(2) 
Within 10 business days of receiving a complete application, the CM shall report to the applicant in writing whether the FOG control device(s) is appropriate for the proposal. The written response shall include the required maintenance schedule for the proposed FOG control unit(s).
A. 
Grease control equipment must remove FOG to a level at or below that which is required by this chapter as set forth in § 176-5.04.
B. 
Grease control equipment must meet and be installed in accordance with requirements of the Maine Uniform Plumbing Code.
C. 
New or replacement grease interceptor installations shall be of the automatic grease recovery unit (AGRU) type unless otherwise approved.
D. 
FOG interceptors shall be readily accessible for cleaning, maintenance, and inspections. They should be located exterior to the FOG point of discharge in a location approved by the WRRD.
E. 
FOG interceptors must be protected against siphonage, back-pressure, and air circulation throughout all parts of the drainage system by means of a vent pipe installed in accordance with the Maine Uniform Plumbing Code.
F. 
Proposed FOG interceptors and similar grease control device(s) shall meet or exceed the technical specifications published by the WRRD.
A. 
Sink water temperatures shall not exceed 140° F. if discharged into a FOG interceptor or AGRU.
B. 
Food grinders shall not be discharged through a FOG interceptor.
C. 
The use of emulsifying agents such as solvents, acids, caustics, and other toxic and/or hazardous chemicals, and petroleum products known to have uses as a declogger or degreaser is prohibited. Biological enzymes are prohibited unless approved by the Director.
A. 
The owner and/or operator of an establishment subject to these regulations shall check the FOG storage container and empty collected grease into a leak-proof container for storage prior to disposal. For passive grease interceptors (PGI), the lid should be removed for inspection and removal of collected FOG per required maintenance schedule.
B. 
The owners and/or operators of an establishment subject to these regulations shall open and inspect all AGRUs or PGIs per required maintenance schedule.
C. 
PGIs shall be completely cleaned out as needed, but at a minimum of once per month, or per required maintenance schedule. They may need to be cleaned out more frequently based on grease production and capacity.
D. 
The AGRU shall be completely cleaned out as needed, and per required maintenance schedule. Inlet/outlet pipes and baffles shall be inspected and maintained free of all caked-on FOG and residual waste.
E. 
FOG interceptors shall be inspected monthly by the owner(s) and shall be cleaned by a state-licensed liquid waste hauler whenever the level of grease is 25% of the effective depth of the trap and per required maintenance schedule. The owner(s) shall be responsible for the proper disposal by legal and environmentally safe methods of the captured material and shall maintain grease interceptor inspection records and the date, hauler name, quantity hauled and means of disposal on format provided by the WRRD.
F. 
No user shall cause or allow to be introduced into a FOG interceptor any chemical, bacterial, enzyme, or other additive, directly or indirectly, that interferes with the normal operation of the device or causes pass-through of prohibited substances.
A. 
Any establishment failing to comply with or violating any provision of this article shall be served by the City with written notice stating the nature of the failure or violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. Such person shall, within a time period stated in such notice, permanently cease or correct all such failures or violations.
B. 
Any establishment which causes a blockage in a sewer line shall be required to immediately shut down operations until such time as the blockage is removed. The establishment shall also be required to apply and receive approval from the WRRD prior to discharging any wastewater to the sewer system. The establishment shall be required to provide records of FOG control equipment maintenance, implement best management practices, and may be required to upgrade FOG control equipment to prevent a future blockage.
C. 
Any person who fails to abate or remedy their violation within the required time period, and who thereafter continues to violate these standards or an order of the WRRD as to such discharges shall be assessed a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day for each violation.
D. 
Failure to maintain FOG control equipment after notification.
(1) 
Whenever it is determined that the frequency of FOG interceptor pumping is inadequate, the City shall notify the discharger of the noncompliance with the FOG Program. If initial contact with the discharger is unsuccessful, a second attempt will be made within three days.
(2) 
If no contact can be made, the intent of the WRRD to have the FOG interceptor pumped at a specified date, generally 10 working days from the notice (if not pumped by the facility prior to the specified date), will be made through certified letter.
(3) 
Whenever the FOG interceptor is pumped by the WRRD or its contractor, the discharger shall be charged twice the cost of pumping and disposal.