(a) 
This article shall apply to all non-domestic users of the COTW, as defined in this article.
(b) 
Grease traps or grease interceptors shall not be required for residential users.
(c) 
Facilities generating fats, oils, or greases as a result of food manufacturing, processing, preparation, or food service shall install, use, and maintain appropriate grease traps or interceptors as required in this article. These facilities include but are not limited to restaurants, food manufacturers, food processors, hospitals, hotels and motels, prisons, nursing homes and any other facility preparing, serving, or otherwise making any foodstuff available for consumption.
(d) 
No user may intentionally or unintentionally allow the direct or indirect discharge of any petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, mineral oil, or any fats, oils, or greases of animal or vegetable origin into the COTW system in such amounts as to cause interference with the collection and treatment system, or as to cause pollutants to pass through the treatment works into the environment.
(Ordinance 061907-C, sec. 2, adopted 8/21/07)
Act.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
BOD.
The value of the 5-day test for biochemical oxygen demand, as described in the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
COD.
The value of the test for chemical oxygen demand, as described in the latest edition of Standards Methods of the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
COTW or city-owned treatment works.
A treatment works which is owned by a municipality as defined by section 502(4) of the Clean Water Act. This definition includes any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature. It also includes all sewers, pipes and other conveyances that convey wastewater to the COTW treatment plant. The term also means the municipality, as defined in section 502(4) of the Act, which has jurisdiction over the indirect discharges to and the discharges from such a treatment works. For purposes of this article, the terms “sanitary sewer system” and “COTW” may be used interchangeably, and where the context requires a person or representative of the COTW the city-designated code enforcement officer or public works director shall be deemed the representative.
EPA.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Fats, oils, and greases (FOG).
Organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. These substances are detectable and measurable using analytical test procedures established in 40 CFR 136, as may be amended from time to time. All are sometimes referred to herein as “grease” or “greases.”
Generator.
Any person who owns or operates a grease trap/grease interceptor, or whose act or process produces a grease trap waste.
Grease trap or interceptor.
A device designed to use differences in specific gravities to separate and retain light density liquids, waterborne fats, oils, and greases prior to the wastewater entering the sanitary sewer collection system. These devices also serve to collect settleable solids, generated by and from food preparation activities, prior to the water exiting the trap and entering the sanitary sewer collection system. Grease traps and interceptors are also referred to herein as “grease traps/interceptors.”
Grease trap waste.
Material collected in and from a grease trap/interceptor in the sanitary sewer service line of a commercial, institutional, or industrial food service or processing establishment, including the solids resulting from dewatering processes.
Indirect discharge or discharge.
The introduction of pollutants into a COTW from any non-domestic source.
Interference.
A discharge which alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources inhibits or disrupts the COTW, its treatment processes or operations or its sludge processes, use or disposal, or is a cause of a violation of the city’s TPDES permit.
pH.
The measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity of water, and is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration.
TCEQ.
The state commission on environmental quality, and its predecessor and successor agencies.
Transporter.
A person who is registered with and authorized by the TCEQ to transport sewage sludge, water treatment sludge, domestic septage, chemical toilet waste, grit trap waste, or grease trap waste in accordance with 30 Texas Administrative Code 312.142, as amended from time to time.
TSS.
The value of the test for total suspended solids, as described in the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
User.
Any person, including those located outside the jurisdictional limits of the city, who contributes, causes or permits the contribution or discharge of wastewater into the COTW, including persons who contribute such wastewater from mobile sources.
(Ordinance 061907-C, sec. 3, adopted 8/21/07)
(a) 
Installation.
(1) 
New facilities.
Food processing or food service facilities which are newly proposed or constructed, or existing facilities which will be expanded or renovated to include a food service facility, where such facility did not previously exist, shall be required to design, install, operate and maintain a grease trap/interceptor in accordance with locally adopted plumbing codes or other applicable ordinances.
(2) 
Existing facilities.
Existing grease traps/interceptors must be operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and in accordance with this article, unless specified in writing and approved by the COTW.
(3) 
Disposal of waste.
All grease trap/interceptor waste shall be properly disposed of at a facility in accordance with federal, state, or local regulations.
(b) 
Cleaning and maintenance.
(1) 
Grease traps and grease interceptors shall be maintained in an efficient operating condition at all times.
(2) 
Each grease trap pumped shall be fully evacuated unless the trap volume is greater than the tank capacity on the vacuum truck, in which case the transporter shall arrange for additional transportation capacity so that the trap is fully evacuated within a 24-hour period, in accordance with 30 Texas Administrative Code 312.143, as amended from time to time.
(c) 
Self-cleaning.
(1) 
Grease trap self-cleaning operators must receive approval from the COTW annually prior to removing grease from their own grease trap(s) provided:
(A) 
The grease trap is no more than fifty (50) gallons in liquid/operating capacity;
(B) 
Proper on-site material disposal methods are implemented (e.g., absorb liquids into solid form and dispose into trash);
(C) 
The local solid waste authority allows such practices;
(D) 
Grease trap waste is placed in a leak-proof, sealable container located on the premises and in an area for the transporter to pump out; and
(E) 
Detailed records on these activities are maintained.
(2) 
Grease trap self-cleaning operators must submit a completed self-cleaning request to the COTW for approval. The written request shall include the following information:
(A) 
Business name and street address;
(B) 
Grease trap/interceptor operator name, title, and phone number;
(C) 
Description of maintenance frequency, method of disposal, method of cleaning and size (in gallons) of the grease trap/interceptor; and
(D) 
Signed statement that the operator will maintain records of waste disposal and produce them for compliance inspections.
(3) 
Self-cleaners must adhere to all the requirements, procedures and detailed recordkeeping outlined in their approved application, to ensure compliance with this article. A maintenance log shall be kept by self-cleaning operators that indicates, at a minimum, the following information:
(A) 
Date the grease trap/interceptor was serviced;
(B) 
Name of the person or company servicing the grease trap/interceptor;
(C) 
Waste disposal method used;
(D) 
Gallons of grease removed and disposed of;
(E) 
Waste oil added to grease trap/interceptor waste; and
(F) 
Signature of the operator after each cleaning that certifies that all grease was removed and disposed of properly, the grease trap/interceptor was thoroughly cleaned, and all parts were replaced and in operable condition. A copy of this log shall be sent to the local authority within 15 days.
(4) 
Violations incurred by grease trap self-cleaners will be subject to enforcement action including fines and/or removal from the self-cleaner program.
(d) 
Cleaning schedule.
(1) 
Grease traps and grease interceptors shall be cleaned as often as necessary to ensure that sediment and floating materials do not accumulate to impair the efficiency of the grease trap/interceptor, to ensure the discharge is in compliance with local discharge limits, and to ensure no visible grease is observed in discharge.
(2) 
Grease traps and grease interceptors subject to these standards shall be completely evacuated a minimum of every ninety (90) days, or more frequently when:
(A) 
Twenty-five (25) percent or more of the wetted height of the grease trap or grease interceptor, as measured from the bottom of the device to the invert of the outlet pipe, contains floating materials, sediment, oils or greases;
(B) 
The discharge exceeds BOD, COD, TSS, FOG, pH, or other pollutant levels established by the COTW; or
(C) 
If there is a history of noncompliance.
(3) 
Any person who owns or operates a grease trap/interceptor may submit to the COTW a request in writing for an exception to the ninety (90) day pumping frequency of their grease trap/interceptor. The COTW may grant an extension for required cleaning frequency on a case-by-case basis when:
(A) 
The grease trap/interceptor owner/operator has demonstrated the specific trap/interceptor will produce an effluent, based on defensible analytical results, in consistent compliance with established local discharge limits such as BOD, TSS, FOG, or other parameters as determined by the COTW; or
(B) 
Less than twenty-five (25) percent of the wetted height of the grease trap or grease interceptor, as measured from the bottom of the device to the invert of the outlet pipe, contains floating materials, sediment, oils or greases.
(4) 
In any event, a grease trap and grease interceptor shall be fully evacuated, cleaned, and inspected at least once every 180 days, or more frequently if evidence of noncompliance is found. An inspection fee in accordance with the city's adopted fee schedule is payable to the city within 10 days of inspection.
(e) 
Manifest requirements.
(1) 
Each pump-out of a grease trap or interceptor must be accompanied by a manifest to be used for recordkeeping purposes.
(2) 
Persons who generate, collect and transport grease waste shall maintain a record of each individual collection and deposit. Such records shall be in the form of a manifest. The manifest shall include:
(A) 
Name, address, telephone, and commission registration number of the transporter;
(B) 
Name, signature, address, and phone number of the person who generated the waste and the date collected;
(C) 
Type and amount(s) of waste collected or transported;
(D) 
Name and signature(s) of the responsible person(s) collecting, transporting, and depositing the waste;
(E) 
Date and place where the waste was deposited;
(F) 
Identification (permit or site registration number, location, and operator) of the facility where the waste was deposited;
(G) 
Name and signature of the facility on-site representative acknowledging receipt of the waste and the amount of waste received;
(H) 
The volume of the grease waste received; and
(I) 
A consecutive numerical tracking number to assist transporters, waste generators, and regulating authorities in tracking the volume of grease transported.
(3) 
Manifests shall be divided into five parts and records shall be maintained as follows:
(A) 
One part of the manifest shall have the generator and transporter information completed and be given to the generator at the time of waste pickup.
(B) 
The remaining four parts of the manifest shall have all required information completely filled out and signed by the appropriate party before distribution of the manifest.
(C) 
One part of the manifest shall go to the receiving facility.
(D) 
One part shall go to the transporter, who shall retain a copy of all manifests showing the collection and disposition of waste.
(E) 
One copy of the manifest shall be returned by the transporter to the person who generated the wastes within 15 days after the waste is received at the disposal or processing facility.
(F) 
One part of the manifest shall go to the local authority within 15 days after the grease trap/interceptor has been serviced.
(4) 
Copies of manifests returned to the waste generator shall be retained for five (5) years and be readily available for review by the COTW.
(f) 
Use of alternative treatment methods.
(1) 
A person commits an offense if the person introduces, or causes, permits, or suffers the introduction of, any surfactant, solvent or emulsifier into a grease trap. Surfactants, solvents, and emulsifiers are materials which allow the grease to pass from the trap into the collection system, and include but are not limited to enzymes, soap, diesel, kerosene, terpenes, and other solvents.
(2) 
It is an affirmative defense to an enforcement of subsection (f)(1) of this section that the use of surfactants or soaps is incidental to normal kitchen hygiene operations.
(3) 
Bioremediation media may be used with the COTW’s approval if the person has proved to the satisfaction of the COTW that laboratory testing which is appropriate for the type of grease trap to be used has verified that:
(A) 
The media is a pure live bacterial product which is not inactivated by the use of domestic or commercial disinfectants and detergents, strong alkalis, acids, and/or water temperatures of 160 degrees F (71 degrees C).
(B) 
The use of the media does not reduce the buoyancy of the grease layer in the grease trap and does not increase the potential for oil and grease to be discharged to the sanitary sewer.
(C) 
The use of the bioremediation media does not cause foaming in the sanitary sewer.
(D) 
The BOD, COD, and TSS discharged to the sanitary sewer after use of the media does not exceed the BOD, COD, and TSS which would be discharged if the product were not being used and the grease trap was being properly maintained. pH levels must be between 5 and 11.
(4) 
All testing designed to satisfy the criteria set forth in subsection (f)(3) of this section shall be scientifically sound and statistically valid. All tests to determine oil and grease, TSS, BOD, COD, pH, and other pollutant levels shall use appropriate tests which have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the state commission on environmental quality and which are defined in title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, part 136, or title 30, Texas Administrative Code 319.11, as they are amended from time to time. Testing shall be open to inspection by the COTW, and shall meet the COTW’s approval.
(Ordinance 061907-C, sec. 4, adopted 8/21/07; Ordinance 09-2022C adopted 9/20/2021)
(a) 
If the COTW determines that a generator is responsible for a blockage of a collection system line, the generator shall owe a civil penalty of $1,000.00 for the first violation, $1,500.00 for a second violation, and $2,000.00 for the third violation within a two-year period. Continuous violations shall result in an increase in penalty by an additional $500.00 for each violation and may also result in termination of services.
(b) 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to a written warning for the first violation, a $1,000.00 civil penalty for the second violation, a $1,500.00 civil penalty for the third violation, and a $2,000.00 civil penalty for the fourth violation within a two-year period. Consistent violations will result in an increase in civil penalty by an additional $500.00 for each violation and may result in termination of services.
(c) 
Any person, connected to the COTW, who shall violate any of the provisions of this article or the technical codes adopted herein, or shall fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof, shall be deemed guilty of an offense and shall be liable for a fine not to exceed the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day the violation exists shall constitute a separate offense. Such penalty shall be in addition to all the other remedies provided herein. Allegations and evidence of culpable mental state are not required for proof of a violation of this article.
(Ordinance 061907-C, sec. 5, adopted 8/21/07)
(a) 
Emergency termination.
If an officer charged with enforcement of this article determines that a violation of this article constitutes an immediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare, and the owner, occupant, or person in control of the property (the “responsible party”) is absent or fails to immediately remedy the violation, the officer may terminate wastewater services to such property. The city administrator shall hold a hearing within 72 hours after termination of service to determine whether the responsible party violated this article, unless a later hearing date is requested by the responsible party or the responsible party is unable to be located, in which case the hearing shall be held as soon as possible. Promptly after terminating service, the officer charged with enforcement of this article shall give the responsible party written notice of the hearing by personal delivery or posting notice of the hearing on or near the front door of each building on the property. If it is determined at the hearing that the responsible party did not violate this article or that activity at the responsible party’s property did not cause blockage of a collection system line, as appropriate, the responsible party’s utilities shall be immediately reconnected without charge to the responsible party. If it is determined that the responsible party violated this article or activity at the responsible party’s property caused blockage of a collection system line, as appropriate, wastewater service shall not be reconnected until the responsible party remedies the violation of this article and pays all required reconnection fees. The city administrator’s decision may be appealed to the city council in writing within ten days of the city administrator’s decision.
(b) 
Nonemergency termination.
An officer charged with enforcement of this article who determines that a violation of this article is present may seek termination of wastewater service to the property at which the violation is present after notice and hearing as provided in this subsection. The officer charged with enforcement of this article shall give written notice of the violation of this article to the responsible party and the requirement that the violation be remedied within ten (10) days. If the responsible party fails to remedy the violation within the time specified in the notice, the officer charged with enforcement of this article may request a hearing by the city administrator regarding termination of service. Written notice of the time and date of the hearing shall be given to the responsible party at least ten days before the hearing date. Notices required by this subsection shall be delivered to the responsible party by in-person service, or by letter addressed to the responsible party at his/her post office address, or, if personal service may not be had or the responsible party’s address not be known, then notice may be given by publishing a brief summary of such notice at least once in the official newspaper of the city or by posting a notice on or near the front door of each building or on the property upon which the violation is present. If the city administrator determines that the responsible party is in violation of this article or activity at the responsible party’s property caused blockage of a collection system line, the city administrator may order wastewater service to such property be terminated. Wastewater service shall not be reconnected until the responsible party remedies the violation of this article and pays all required reconnection fees. The city administrator’s decision may be appealed to the city council in writing within ten days of the city administrator’s decision.
(Ordinance 061907-C, sec. 6, adopted 8/21/07)