(a) 
This article shall apply to all nondomestic users of the publicly owned treatment works (POTW), as defined in section 13.06.002 of this article.
(b) 
Grease traps or grease interceptors, grit interceptors, and oil/water separators 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 section 13.06.003. These facilities include but are not limited to restaurants, food manufacturers, food processors, hospitals, hotels and motels, prisons, nursing homes, day care centers, child care facilities, and any other facility preparing, serving, or otherwise making any foodstuff available for consumption.
(d) 
Grease traps and alternative grease removal devices are prohibited for new food service establishments, except for those facilities where:
(1) 
Inadequate space is available for the installation of a grease interceptor, and written approval from the pretreatment manager is received.
(2) 
Interior grease traps or alternative removal devices servicing grease discharge points such as the primary pot-washing sinks, the pre-rinse sink at dishwashing, the wok range station or the wet-type ventilation canopy in the cooking area are used as inside isolation and containment devices to supplement a grease interceptor that is located outside.
(3) 
Less than 40,000 gallons of water is consumed per month, and written approval from the pretreatment manager is received.
(e) 
Facilities discharging petroleum products, sand, grit, or other inorganic particles as a result of a commercial or industrial automobile service or washing establishment shall install, use and maintain appropriate grit interceptors or oil/water separators as required in section 13.06.003. These facilities include, but are not limited to, carwashes, automotive and body shops and other industrial or commercial facilities.
(f) 
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 POTW 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 442-10, sec. 2, adopted 8/17/10)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Act.
The federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.
Best management practices (BMPs).
Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the amount of pollution entering the sanitary sewer system.
BOD.
The value of the five-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 Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.
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, grit interceptor, or oil/water separator, or whose act or process produces fats, oils and greases, grease trap waste, grease interceptor waste, grit interceptor waste, or oil/water.
Grease trap or interceptor.
A device designed to use differences in specific gravities to separate and retain light density liquids and 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 POTW from any nondomestic source.
Interference.
A discharge which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge(s) from other sources, inhibits or disrupts the POTW, 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.
NELAC or National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference.
A cooperative association of states and federal agencies formed to establish and promote mutually acceptable performance standards for the operations of environmental laboratories. The standards cover both analytical testing of environmental samples and the laboratory accreditation process. The goal of NELAC is to foster the generation of environmental laboratory data of known and acceptable quality on which to base public health and environmental management decisions.
Oil/water separator.
A device designed to use the differences in specific gravities to separate and retain non-soluble, non-emulsified petroleum and allied petroleum products prior to the wastewater entering the sanitary sewer collection system.
Oil/water separator waste.
Petroleum or allied petroleum products collected in a separator in the sanitary sewer line of a commercial or industrial establishment.
Pass-through.
A discharge that exits the POTW into waters of the United States or of the state in quantities or concentrations which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the BPUB’s [sic] National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation).
Person.
Any individual, corporation (including a government corporation), organization, state or federal governmental subdivision or agency, political subdivision of a state, interstate agency or body, business, trust, partnership, association, firm, company, joint stock company, commission, or any other legal entity or their legal representatives, agents, or assigns. The masculine gender shall include the feminine, and the singular shall indicate the plural where indicated by the context.
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.
POTW or publicly owned treatment works.
A treatment works which is owned by a state or municipality as defined by section 502(4) of the 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 a POTW 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 “POTW” may be used interchangeably.
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 section 312.142.
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 POTW, including persons who contribute such wastewater from mobile sources.
(Ordinance 442-10, sec. 3, adopted 8/17/10)
(a) 
General requirements.
(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. Commercial and industrial automotive service and washing facilities which are newly proposed or constructed, or existing facilities which will be expanded or renovated to include an automotive service or washing facility, where such facility did not previously exist, shall be required to design, install, operate and maintain a grit interceptor or oil/water separator in accordance with locally adopted plumbing codes or other applicable ordinances. Grease traps/interceptors, grit interceptors and oil/water separators shall be installed and inspected prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
(2) 
Existing facilities.
Existing grease traps/interceptors, grit interceptors and oil/water separators 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 POTW.
(3) 
Undersized, inoperable or defective equipment.
Existing undersized, inoperable, or defective grease traps/interceptors, grit interceptors or oil/water separators may be required to be replaced, repaired or upgraded within a reasonable time.
(4) 
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) 
Maintenance.
(1) 
Grease traps/interceptors, grit interceptors and oil/water separators shall be maintained in an efficient operating condition at all times.
(2) 
Each grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator that is pumped shall be fully evacuated unless the trap or interceptor 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 TAC section 312.143.
(c) 
Self-cleaning.
(1) 
Grease trap self-cleaning operators must receive approval from the POTW annually prior to removing grease from their own grease trap(s) located inside a building, provided:
(A) 
The grease trap is no more than 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(s) 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 POTW 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, disposed of properly, the grease trap/interceptor was thoroughly cleaned, and that all parts were replaced and in operable condition.
(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/interceptors, grit interceptors and oil/water separators 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, grit interceptor or oil/water separator, to ensure the discharge is in compliance with local discharge limits, and to ensure no visible grease is observed in discharge.
(2) 
Grease traps/interceptors, grit interceptors and oil/water separators subject to these standards shall be completely evacuated a minimum of every 90 days or more frequently when:
(A) 
Twenty-five percent or more of the wetted height of the grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator, 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 POTW; or
(C) 
If there is a history of noncompliance.
(3) 
Any person who owns or operates a grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator may submit to the POTW a request in writing for an exception to the 90-day pumping frequency of their grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator. The POTW may grant an extension for required cleaning frequency on a case-by-case basis when:
(A) 
The grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator 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 POTW; or
(B) 
Less than 25 percent of the wetted height of the grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator, 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/interceptor, grit interceptor and oil/water separator shall be fully evacuated, cleaned and inspected at least once every 180 days.
(e) 
Manifest.
(1) 
Each pump-out of a grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator that is not self-cleaned as described in subsection (c) of this section 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) 
The name, address, telephone, and commission registration number of the transporter;
(B) 
The name, signature, address, and phone number of the person who generated the waste and the date collected;
(C) 
The type and amount(s) of waste collected or transported;
(D) 
The name and signature(s) of the responsible person(s) collecting, transporting, and depositing the waste;
(E) 
The 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) 
The 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 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 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 part 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.
(4) 
Copies of manifests returned to the waste generator shall be retained for five years and be readily available for review by the POTW.
(f) 
Alternative treatment.
(1) 
A person commits an offense if the person introduces, causes, permits, or suffers the introduction of any surfactant, solvent or emulsifier into a grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator. 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, terpene, and other solvents.
(2) 
It is an affirmative defense to and [sic] enforcement of subsection (f)(1) of this section that the use of reasonable amounts of surfactants or soaps is incidental to normal kitchen hygiene operations.
(3) 
Bioremediation media may be used with the POTW’s approval if the person has proved to the satisfaction of the POTW 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 Fahrenheit (71 degrees centigrade).
(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 five 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 EPA and the TCEQ and which are defined in 40 CFR 136 or 30 TAC section 319.11. Testing shall be open to inspection by the POTW, and shall meet the POTW’s approval.
(Ordinance 442-10, sec. 4, adopted 8/17/10)
The city shall have the power to administer and enforce provisions of this article as may be required by governing law. Any person violating any provision of this article is subject to suit for injunctive relief as well as prosecution for criminal violations. Any person violating any provision of this article, including the collection or disposal of grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator waste collection by companies not franchised by this article or the failure or refusal of a generator of grease trap/interceptor, grit interceptor or oil/water separator waste to use or pay for the collection and disposal services provided for herein, may be fined in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code per day, per customer. Each day that a provision of this article is violated shall constitute a separate offense.
An offense under this article is a misdemeanor. Nothing in this article shall be construed as a waiver of the city’s right to bring a civil action to enforce the provisions of this article and to seek remedies as allowed by law, including but not limited to the following:
(1) 
Injunctive relief to prevent specific conduct that violates this article or to require specific conduct that is necessary for compliance with this article;
(2) 
A civil penalty up to $1,000.00 a day when it is shown that the defendant was actually notified of the provisions of this article and after receiving notice committed acts in violation of this article or failed to take action necessary for compliance with this article; and
(3) 
Other available relief.
(Ordinance 442-10, sec. 5, adopted 8/17/10)