The purpose of this article is:
(1)
To prevent the introduction of wastewaters containing oil and grease
and/or solids in amounts which may cause stoppages or obstruction
of flow, or in any other way prevent or inhibit operation of the publicly
owned treatment works (POTW), including the sanitary sewer collection
system and the treatment plant.
(2)
To protect the environment, and the health, safety, and welfare of
the public and the POTW workers.
(3)
Set forth uniform requirements for the maintenance of grease traps,
grit traps, interceptors, and separators.
(Ordinance 142-12 adopted 11/29/12)
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation
of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure in five (5)
days at twenty (20) degrees Celsius.
Bacterial cultures, enzymes, or other media which are designed
to eliminate or reduce the need for the mechanical cleaning of grease
traps.
The City of Columbus, or its authorized representative, which,
for the purposes of implementation and enforcement of the grease and
grit trap program, shall normally mean representatives of water utilities.
All commercial food preparation and food service establishments
that may discharge grease including, but not limited to bakeries,
caterers, butcher shops, cafes, clubhouses, delicatessens, hospitals,
hotels, restaurants, schools, institutions, or similar places where
meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, fried foods or other foods
are prepared or served, but shall not apply to any residences not
used for the commercial preparation and sale of food items or to an
exempt establishment.
All commercial or industrial generators of liquid waste containing
petroleum-based oil and grease wastes, and inorganic solids including,
but not limited to, automotive or heavy machinery repair and/or washing
facilities. Those facilities monitored under the city’s federally
and state-approved pretreatment programs shall be exempted from the
provisions of this section.
The person in charge of water utilities for the city, or
his/her authorized representative.
A commercial establishment that:
Operates for a maximum duration of ten (10) days in connection
with an annual event such as a fair, circus, public exhibition, or
other public gathering.
Sells or serves prepackaged or precooked foods that would require
warming only or served without additional processing, no cooking.
Serves only snow cones, drinks, or ice cream products.
Bars and clubs serving drinks only where no food is prepared.
Produce markets without food grinders.
Grocery or convenience stores without food preparation, meat
cutting, or packaging, delicatessens, or bakeries.
Day care centers who primarily serve microwave dishes, using
single serve items.
Organic polar compounds derived from an 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.”
Any substance, whether solid or liquid, and whether animal,
vegetable, or fruit origin, intended to be used or commonly used as
a food for human consumption.
Any place where food is manufactured, packaged, produced,
processed, prepared, or served for commercial, public, or facility
resident consumption. The term includes any such place regardless
of whether there is a charge for food. The term does not included
private homes where food is prepared for individual consumption.
A person who causes, creates, generates, stores, or otherwise
produces liquid waste or owns property upon which liquid waste is
caused, created, generated, stored or produced, including but not
limited to grease trap wastes, grit trap waste, and food waste as
a byproduct of a domestic or nondomestic activity other than merely
as a result of mere residence at a nonbusiness location. “Generator”
as used in this section includes both a commercial grease generator
and a commercial/industrial grit generator.
A receptacle utilized by commercial or industrial generators
of liquid waste to intercept, collect, and restrict the passage of
organic, inorganic, greasy or fatty liquid, semi-liquid, and/or solid
wastes into both public and private sanitary sewers to which the receptacle
is directly or indirectly connected.
Any organic, inorganic, greasy or fatty liquid, semi-liquid,
and/or solid wastes collected by and ultimately removed from a grease
trap for proper disposal.
A receptacle utilized by commercial or industrial generators
of liquid waste to intercept, collect, and restrict the passage of
petroleum-based oil and grease wastes and inorganic or other solids
into private and public sanitary sewers to which the receptacle is
directly or indirectly connected.
Oil and grease wastes and inorganic solids generated by commercial,
industrial, automotive or heavy machinery repair and/or washing facilities
that are collected by and ultimately removed from a grit trap for
disposal.
The written, multi-part documentation detailing the generator
of the grease trap waste, who the transporter is, and the disposal
facility for the waste.
Publicly owned treatment works, the municipal wastewater
treatment system including the sanitary system.
An approved device or manhole installed in the facility sewer
specifically designed to facilitate sampling of the wastewater discharge.
System of pipes, conduit, manholes, and treatment facilities
owned or operated by the city which collect, transport, and treats
sanitary sewage, and to which storm, surface, and groundwaters are
not intentionally or normally admitted.
A truck equipped with a tank or other liquid holding container
designed to separate the grease portion from the waste removed from
a grease trap and to return the other liquid portion to the trap.
The total suspended matter that floats on the surface of
or is suspended in water, wastewater, or other liquid, and which is
removed by laboratory filtering.
(Ordinance 142-12 adopted 11/29/12)
(a)
It shall be unlawful for a generator to introduce, or cause to be
introduced, into a grease or grit trap or public sanitary sewer the
following:
(1)
A generator shall not allow any frying vats to discharge into a grease
trap, grit trap, or sanitary sewer or allow waste oil or grease to
discharge to any drain or grease trap, grit trap, separator, interceptor,
or sanitary sewer. Such waste shall be placed in a container specifically
designed to hold such waste and either utilized by industry or disposed
of at a suitable location.
(2)
A generator shall not discharge, or cause to be discharged, plastics,
paper, nonbiodegradable oils or other nonbiodegradable materials.
(3)
Any wastewaters with an oil and grease level in excess of 200 mg/l
or ppm.
(4)
Rainwater.
All grit traps shall have a roof covering
to prevent direct rainfall from entering sanitary sewers.
(b)
It shall be unlawful for a generator to divert wastewater around
a collection point into the sanitary sewer or to a storm drainage
system.
(c)
The use of separator trucks to pump grease traps and return the liquid
portion to the grease trap is prohibited.
(Ordinance 142-12 adopted 11/29/12)
(a)
A generator shall provide grease traps or grit traps when, in the
opinion of the city or its authorized representative, they are necessary
for the proper handling of wastewater.
(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 processing or food
service facility, where such facility did not previously exist, shall
be required to design, install, operate, and maintain a grease trap
in accordance with locally adopted plumbing codes or other applicable
ordinances. Grease traps shall be installed and inspected prior to
opening.
(2)
Existing facilities.
Existing grease traps must be operated
and maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations
and in accordance with the requirements of this article, unless specified
in writing and approved by the director. A change in ownership of
an existing facility or an expansion of an existing facility will
require verification in writing of the adequacy of an existing grease
trap. If any such grease trap at the existing facility is found to
be inadequate based upon the standards in this article, the existing
facility will be required to design, install, operate, and maintain
a grease trap in accordance with the standards in this article, locally
adopted plumbing codes, or other applicable ordinances.
(3)
Existing facilities without grease or grit traps.
If
the director, or the city’s authorized representative, finds
that there is a need for installation of sample ports, grease traps,
or grit traps on an existing establishment, the director may order
the installation of sampling ports, grease and/or grit traps on that
existing establishment. If the director orders such installation,
then the director shall serve notice of such order upon the grease
or grit generator. Within ten (10) days of receipt of such order,
the grease or grit generator may demand a hearing to review such order,
in which case the director shall schedule a hearing to review such
order within thirty (30) days of receiving the demand for review from
the grease or grit generator. If a hearing to review the order is
scheduled, the director shall serve notice of the hearing to review
such order upon the grease or grit generator at least ten (10) days
before the date of such hearing. At the hearing to review the order,
the grease or grit generator may present evidence, and the director
may make new finding and issue new orders concerning the subject of
the original hearing. After receiving notice of the order to install
or upgrade ports or traps on an existing establishment, it shall be
unlawful for a grease or grit generator to allow or cause any discharge
into the sanitary sewer not in compliance with such order.
(b)
Grease and grit traps shall be constructed to prevent fats, oils,
or greases from entering the sanitary sewer in concentrations greater
than 200 mg/l and shall be located so that they are easily accessible
for cleaning, maintenance, and inspection. The installation of grease
traps or grit traps shall comply with the requirements of the city’s
plumbing code. Sizing of grease and grit traps shall be determined
by the city or its authorized representative.
(1)
A one thousand (1,000) gallon interceptor shall be a minimum standard
for all cooking or food processing establishments. The city reserves
the right to make determinations of grease interceptor adequacy and
need, based on review of all relevant information regarding the proposed
grease interceptor performance, facility site inspection and building
plan review. The city may require an interceptor of larger capacity,
or repairs, modifications, or replacement of present traps.
(c)
A generator shall properly install a sample port or sample well for
ease in sampling the wastewater discharge from the grease trap. Sample
ports shall meet the following criteria:
(1)
The sample port shall be installed and maintained at the generator’s
expense;
(2)
The sample port shall be installed as close as possible to the connection
to the city sanitary sewer main within the bounds of the facility
property;
(3)
The port shall be installed according to the specifications obtained
from city water utilities. It shall be installed perpendicular to
the effluent flow to allow visual observation and sampling;
(4)
The port shall be accessible for monitoring authorities;
(5)
New facilities being constructed shall have the sampling port installed
before opening for business. Established generators shall have sample
ports installed when a new grease trap is installed or any improvements
to an old grease trap are made.
(d)
Cleaning and maintenance.
(1)
Grease traps and grit traps shall be maintained in an efficient operating
condition at all times.
(2)
Each grease trap pumped shall be fully evacuated unless 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 TAC #312.143.
(e)
Cleaning schedules.
(1)
Grease traps and grit traps 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 or grit trap; to ensure the
discharge is in compliance with local discharge limits; and to ensure
no visible grease or grit is observed in discharge.
(2)
Grease traps and grit traps subject to these standards shall be completely
evacuated a minimum of every (90) days, or more frequently when:
(A)
25 percent or more of the wetted height of the grease trap or grit
trap, as measured from the bottom of the device to the invert of the
outlet pipe, contains floating material, sediment, solids, oils or
greases;
(B)
The discharge of free or emulsified fats, oils or grease deposits
into the sanitary sewer lines obstruct flow;
(C)
Materials from grit traps are evident in sanitary sewer lines; or
(D)
There is a history of noncompliance.
(3)
Any person who owns or operates a grease trap or grit trap may submit
to the director a request in writing for an exception to the 90-day
pumping frequency of their grease trap or grit trap. The director
may grant an extension for the required cleaning frequency on a case-by-case
basis when:
(A)
The grease trap owner/operator has demonstrated the specific trap
will produce an effluent, based on defensible analytical results,
in consistent compliance with the established FOG parameters as determined
by the director; or
(B)
Less than 25 percent of the wetted height of the grease trap or grit
trap, as measured from the bottom of the device to the invert of the
outlet pipe, contains floating materials, sediment, solids, fats,
oils, or greases.
(4)
In any event, a grease trap or grit trap shall be fully evacuated,
cleaned, and inspected at least once every 180 days.
(f)
A manifest shall be generated every time the grease or grit trap
is pumped or cleaned. The generator shall sign a copy of the manifest
as well as the driver. It shall be the responsibility of the generator
to ensure they receive a copy of the manifest from the hauler after
the grease or grit trap has been cleaned and that they receive a final
copy of the manifest after the waste has been disposed of at the final
disposal site and the disposal facility has signed the manifest. A
copy of the completed manifest shall be sent to the city water utilities
every time the facility’s grease or grit trap is serviced. The
manifest must be submitted within twenty-one (21) days of the services
of the trap.
(g)
The generator shall keep copies of the completed grease or grit trap
waste manifests for three (3) years.
(h)
A generator shall have his trap serviced by a transporter having
a valid registration with the state.
(i)
Grease and grit traps shall be inspected for seepage into the surrounding
media whenever the trap has been pumped. The generator shall repair,
replace, or install apparatus and equipment as necessary to ensure
the proper operation and function of the trap.
(j)
A generator shall supervise the servicing of their grease or grit
traps and shall ensure they are completely emptied by the transporter
during such servicing. The transporter shall not return any material
to the grease or grit trap once the trap has been cleaned.
(k)
A generator shall clean up, or cause to be cleaned up, all spills
of liquid or solid waste and shall have the waste properly disposed
of by the transporter.
(l)
A generator that is located in a multi-user building may be required
to separate sanitary sewer flows from adjacent sites and install a
water sub-meter to measure individual water consumption or utilize
some other method approved by the director.
(m)
The cost of complying with all subsections of this section shall
be the responsibility of the property owner and their lessees. These
costs include, but are not limited to, any maintenance, analysis,
grease or grit trap cleaning, repair, replacement, or modification,
and installation of sample wells or ports.
(Ordinance 142-12 adopted 11/29/12)
(a)
It shall be unlawful for any generator to introduce, cause, or permit
the introduction of any bioremediation into a grease trap except authorized
by the city.
(b)
Bioremediation media may be used with the city’s approval if
a generator proves to the city’s satisfaction that:
(1)
The media will be pure, live, bacterial product and will not contain
any surfactants, emulsifiers, or substances which will act as a solvent
for fats, oils, or greases;
(2)
The amount of oil and grease discharge to the sanitary sewer after
the use of the media will not exceed the discharge limits for oil
and grease of 200 mg/l;
(3)
The pH of the discharge will not be less than 6.0 or greater than
11.0;
(4)
The use of media will not reduce the buoyancy of the grease layer
in the grease trap and will not increase the potential of oil and
grease to be discharged to the sanitary sewer;
(5)
The media will not be destroyed by the use of domestic or commercial
disinfectants and detergents or hot water;
(6)
Any waste pumped from the grease or grit trap after the use of the
media must be acceptable at disposal sites for the waste;
(7)
The use of the bioremediation media will not cause foaming in the
sanitary sewer.
(Ordinance 142-12 adopted 11/29/12)
(a)
It shall be unlawful for a generator to refuse the city or their
authorized representative to enter their premises during business
hours to determine whether the generator is complying with all the
requirements of this article. A generator shall allow the city or
their authorized representative access to all parts of the premises
for the purposes of inspection, sampling, records examination, copying,
and the performance of all other duties.
(b)
If the city or their authorized representative have been refused
access to a building, structure, or property, or any part thereof,
and is able to demonstrate probable cause to believe there may be
a violation of this section, or that there is a need to inspect and/or
sample as part of a routine inspection and sampling program of the
city designed to verify compliance with this section, to protect the
overall public health, safety, and welfare of the community, or to
protect the wastewater collection system or POTW, then the city may
seek issuance of a search warrant from any court of competent jurisdiction.
(Ordinance 142-12 adopted 11/29/12)
(a)
If the city determines that a generator is responsible for a blockage
of a collection system line, the generator shall owe a civil penalty
of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the first violation, one thousand
dollars ($1,000.00) for the second violation, one thousand five hundred
dollars ($1,500.00) for the third violation within a two-year period.
Continuous violations shall result in an increase in a penalty by
five hundred dollars ($500.00) and may result in termination of services.
The determination shall be made by inspecting the grease or grit traps
in the area, noting their condition, and taking wastewater discharge
samples from the sample ports. Those facilities which have discharges
with an oil and grease above 300 mg/l, or have not had their grease
or grit traps pumped out quarterly, (or the documentation to prove
the pumping of the grease or grit traps was not necessary) shall be
responsible for the blockage.
(b)
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall
be subject to a written warning for the first violation, a five hundred
[dollars] ($500.00) civil penalty for the second violation, a one
thousand dollars ($1,000.00) civil penalty for the third violation,
and a one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) civil penalty
for the fourth violation within a two-year period. Consistent violations
will result in a five hundred [dollars] ($500.00) increase in a civil
penalty and may result in termination of services.
(c)
The city may suspend water service and/or wastewater service to a
generator to stop an actual or threatened discharge which presents
or may present an imminent or substantial endangerment to the health
or welfare of persons, to the environment, or causes interference
to the POTW and/or sanitary sewer system. Service may also be suspended
if the generator refuses to abide by this section or pay any penalty
issued.
(d)
If a generator is penalized, they may file a written appeal to the
water utilities’ director. The appeal must include evidence
proving that the generator did not violate this section and the appeal
must be filed within five (5) days of the generator receiving the
penalty. The decision of the water utilities’ director shall
be final.
(Ordinance 142-12 adopted 11/29/12)
The technical standards set out in this section shall be automatically
adjusted to conform to any amendment to state or federal law which
changes such standards. The technical standards applicable to generators
in the city shall always be the same as the standards for such generators
established by state or federal law.
(Ordinance 142-12 adopted 11/29/12)
