This article sets forth uniform requirements for users of the publicly owned treatment works for the town, to capture and dispose of fats, oils, and grease and enables the town to comply with all applicable state and federal laws, including the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C., § 1251, et seq.; and the general pretreatment regulations, title 40 C.F.R. part 403. The objectives of this article are:
(1) 
To prevent the introduction of fats, oils, and grease into the publicly owned treatment works that will interfere with its operation;
(2) 
To prevent the introduction of fats, oils, and grease into the publicly owned treatment works that could pass through the publicly owned treatment works, inadequately treated, into receiving waters, or otherwise interfere or be incompatible with the publicly owned treatment works;
(3) 
To prevent sanitary sewer overflow, in which wastewater flows out of a manhole cover and along the ground, and can then contaminate the ground, local water bodies, and any property the wastewater comes into contact with;
(4) 
To promote reuse and recycling of waste grease from the publicly owned treatment works;
(5) 
To enable the town to comply with federal, state and local pollutant discharge limits; and
(6) 
To establish fees for the recovery of costs resulting from the program established herein.
(Ordinance 23-0126A adopted 1/26/2023)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Act.
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. 1251, et. seq.
Authority.
The POTW or its duly authorized representative, either of which are the authorized agent of the town.
Fats, oils, and grease.
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 grease trap waste.
Grease trap or interceptor or grease trap/interceptor or grease interceptor.
A pretreatment device that is installed in a sanitary drainage system to intercept non-petroleum fats, oils, and grease from wastewater. The definition includes the interceptor and all of its parts, above ground and below ground, along with all lids, caps, and cleanouts that connect directly to the interceptor. This device is designed to use differences in specific gravities to separate and retain light density liquids, waterborne fats, oils, and grease 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 trap waste.
Material collected in and from a grease trap or 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 non-domestic source.
Interference.
A discharge which alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges 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 town's TPDES permit.
POTW or publicly owned treatment works.
A treatment works as defined by section 502(4) of the Clean Water Act which is owned in this instance by the Town of Northlake. 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 "authority" and "POTW" may be used interchangeably.
Transporter.
A person who is registered with and authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 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.
User.
Any person, including those located outside the jurisdictional limits of the town, who contributes, causes, or permits the contribution or discharge of wastewater into the POTW, including persons who contribute such wastewater from mobile sources.
(Ordinance 23-0126A adopted 1/26/2023)
(a) 
This article shall apply to all non-domestic users of the POTW.
(b) 
Grease traps shall not be required for residential users.
(c) 
Facilities generating fats, oils, and grease as a result of food manufacturing, processing, preparation, or food service shall install, use, and maintain appropriate grease traps as required in this article. These facilities include but are not limited to restaurants, food manufacturers, food processors, hospitals, hotels and motels, grocery stores, 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 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 23-0126A adopted 1/26/2023)
(a) 
Installations.
(1) 
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 in accordance with town plumbing codes or other applicable ordinances. Grease traps shall be installed and inspected prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
(2) 
Existing grease traps must be operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and in accordance with federal and state laws, and with town ordinances unless specified in writing and approved by the authority. Any person who owns or operates grease traps prior to the effective date of this article that do not comply with the regulations herein shall have sixty (60) days from the effective date to bring said grease traps into compliance with this article.
(3) 
All grease trap waste shall be properly disposed of at a facility in accordance with all applicable laws, including but not limited to federal, state, or local regulations.
(b) 
Cleaning and maintenance.
(1) 
Grease traps shall be maintained in an efficient operating condition at all times. All exterior openings of the grease trap shall have properly fitting covers and caps. Covers and caps shall remain in place during normal use and shall be easily removable for inspection and sampling purposes. The user shall be responsible for prompt replacement or repair of any defective, damaged, or inoperable components of the grease trap.
(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.
(c) 
Cleaning schedules.
(1) 
Grease 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, to ensure the discharge complies with local discharge limits, and to ensure no visible grease is observed in discharge.
(2) 
Grease traps subject to these standards shall be completely evacuated a minimum of every ninety (90) days, or more frequently when:
(A) 
Twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the wetted height of the grease trap, as measured from the bottom of the device to the invert of the outlet pipe, contains floating materials, sediment, oils or greases;
(B) 
Liquid discharged from the grease trap to the sanitary sewer exceeds pollutant levels established by the POTW; or
(C) 
There is a history of non-compliance.
(3) 
Any person who owns or operates a grease trap may submit to the authority a request in writing for an exception to the ninety (90) day pumping frequency of their grease trap. The authority may grant an extension for required cleaning frequency on a case-by-case basis when:
(A) 
The grease trap owner/operator has demonstrated the specific grease trap will produce an effluent, based on defensible analytical results, in consistent compliance with established local discharge limits based on parameters as determined by the authority; or
(B) 
Less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the wetted height of the grease trap, 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 shall be fully evacuated, cleaned, and inspected at least once every 180 days.
(d) 
Manifest requirements.
(1) 
Each pump-out of a grease trap must be accompanied by a manifest to be used for recordkeeping purposes.
(2) 
Persons who generate, collect, and transport grease trap waste shall maintain a record of each individual collection and deposit. Such records shall be in the form of the manifest, obtained from the liquid waste transporter. The manifest shall include:
(A) 
Name, addresses, telephone, and commission registration number of transporter;
(B) 
Name, signature, address, and phone number of the person who generated the grease trap waste and the date collected;
(C) 
Type and amount(s) of grease trap waste collected or transported;
(D) 
Name and signature(s) of responsible person(s) collecting, transporting, and depositing the grease trap waste;
(E) 
Date and place where the grease trap waste was deposited;
(F) 
Identification (permit or site registration number, location, and operator) of the facility where the grease trap waste was deposited;
(G) 
Name and signature of facility on-site representative acknowledging receipt of the grease trap waste and the amount of grease trap waste received;
(H) 
The volume of the grease trap waste received; and
(I) 
Consecutive numerical tracking number to assist transporters, waste generators, and regulating authorities in tracking the volume of grease trap waste 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 grease trap 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 of the manifest shall go to the transporter, who shall retain a copy of all manifests showing the collection and disposition of grease trap waste.
(E) 
One part of the manifest shall be returned by the transporter to the person who generated the grease trap waste within fifteen (15) days after the grease trap waste is received at the disposal or processing facility.
(F) 
One part of the manifest shall go to the local authority.
(Ordinance 23-0126A adopted 1/26/2023)
(a) 
The authority shall have the right to enter the premises of any user or potential user to determine whether the user is complying with all requirements of this article. Users shall allow the authority ready access to all parts of the premises for the purpose of inspection, sampling, records examination and copying, and the performance of any additional duties.
(b) 
The user shall, upon written or verbal request by the authority, be prepared to promptly remove any manhole covers, cleanout caps, or other temporary or permanent obstructions to allow safe and easy access to interceptors, grease traps, or other pretreatment devices for purposes of inspection and sampling. The user shall be responsible for closing and securing any cover, lid, or other appurtenance removed for purposes of inspection and sampling. The user shall be responsible for prompt replacement or repair of any defective, damaged, or inoperable components of the grease trap.
(c) 
Unreasonable delays in allowing the authority access to the user's premises shall be a violation of this article.
(Ordinance 23-0126A adopted 1/26/2023)
(a) 
If the authority 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 the second violation, and $2,000.00 for the third violation within a two-year period. Civil penalties shall be in addition to reimbursement to the town for all costs incurred by the town in responding to the blockage or overflow. More than three violations within a two-year period shall result in an increase in penalty by $500.00, up to a penalty of $4,000.00 for each offense for dumping of refuse, and may also result in termination of services.
(b) 
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to voluntary compliance 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. More than four violations within a two-year period will result in a $500.00 increase in civil penalty for each additional violation, up to a penalty of $4,000.00 for each offense for dumping of refuse, and may result in termination of service.
(Ordinance 23-0126A adopted 1/26/2023)