Unless otherwise defined herein, terms related to water quality shall be as adopted in the latest edition of Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation.
Other terms not herein defined are defined as being the same as set forth in the latest adopted applicable editions of the California State Codes applicable to building construction as adopted by the Huntington Beach Municipal Code or Huntington Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance.
Subject to the foregoing provisions, the following definitions shall apply in this chapter:
"Best management practices"
shall mean schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures and other management practices to prevent or reduce the introduction of FOG to the sewer facilities.
"Discharger"
shall mean any person who discharges or causes a discharge of wastewater directly or indirectly to a public sewer. Discharger shall mean the same as user.
"Establishment"
shall mean commercial or industrial establishments, including but not limited to retail food service establishments, that may discharge fats, oils and grease.
"FOG"
shall mean fats, oils and grease. Any substance such as a vegetable or animal product that is used in, or is a byproduct of, the cooking or food preparation process, and that turns or may turn viscous or solidifies with a change in temperature or other condition is included in this definition.
"Food grinder"
shall mean any device installed in the plumbing or sewage system for the purpose of grinding food waste or food preparation by products for the purpose of disposing it in the sewer system. Also means a garbage disposal.
"Food service establishment"
shall mean facilities defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 113285 or which has any process or device that uses or produces FOG, grease vapors, steam, fumes, smoke, or odors that are required to be removed by a Type I hood, as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 113285. A limited food preparation establishment is not considered a food service establishment nor are establishments that generate FOG when engaged only in reheating, hot holding or assembly of ready to eat food products and as a result, there is no wastewater discharge containing a significant amount of FOG. A limited food preparation establishment does not include any operation that changes the form, flavor, or consistency of food.
"Gravity grease interceptor (GGI) or grease trap"
shall mean a water-tight receptacle receiving and retaining waste containing fats, oils, and grease from food service establishments, and in all cases shall be located outside a place of business or any structure. Minimum size shall be 750 gallons. Additional sizing criteria are set forth by the current adopted plumbing code.
"Grease control device"
shall mean any gravity grease interceptor, hydromechanical grease trap or other approved mechanism, device, or process, which attaches to, or is applied to, wastewater plumbing fixtures and lines, the purpose of which is to trap or collect or treat FOG prior to it being discharged into the sewer system.
"Hydromechanical grease interceptor (HGI) or grease trap"
shall mean a water-tight receptacle receiving and retaining waste containing fats, oils and grease from food service establishments. The HGI is generally located inside a business or structure. Sizing criteria are set forth by the current adopted plumbing code.
"Infiltration"
shall mean water entering a sewer system, including sewer service connections, from the ground through such means as defective pipes, pipe joints, connections, or manhole walls.
"Inflow"
shall mean water entering a sewer system through a direct stormwater runoff connection to the sanitary sewer, which may cause an almost immediate increase in wastewater flows.
"Manifest"
shall mean that receipt which is retained by the generator of wastes for disposing recyclable wastes or liquid wastes as required by the City.
"New construction"
shall mean any structure planned or under construction for which a sewer connection permit has not been issued.
"New food service establishment"
shall mean any new or existing food service establishment that has undergone change in ownership or change in operation which would involve animal products in the cooking or food preparation process or as a byproduct of the cooking and preparation of food.
"Person"
shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation or public agency, including the State of California and the United States of America.
"Private sewer lateral"
shall mean that part of the sewer lateral that is solely owned and required to be maintained by the property owner.
"Remodeling"
shall mean a physical change or operational change causing the generation of the amount of FOG that exceeds the current amount of FOG discharge to the sewer system by the food service establishment in an amount that alone or collectively causes or creates a potential for sewer system overflows to occur; or exceeding a cost of $50,000.00 to food service establishments that requires a building permit, and involves any one or combination of the following:
1. 
Under slab plumbing in the food processing area;
2. 
A 30% increase in the net public seating area;
3. 
A 30% increase in the size of the kitchen area;
4. 
Any change in the size or type of food preparation equipment.
"Sample point"
shall mean a location approved by the City, from which wastewater can be collected that is representative in content and consistency of the entire flow of wastewater being sampled.
"Sampling facilities"
shall mean structure(s) provided at the user's expense for the City or user to measure and record wastewater constituent mass, concentrations, collect a representative sample, or provide access to plug or terminate the discharge.
"Sewer or sewer system"
shall mean any and all facilities used for collecting, conveying, pumping, treating, and disposing of wastewater and sludge. This definition includes but is not limited to any property belonging to the City used in the treatment, reclamation, reuse, transportation, or disposal of wastewater, or sludge.
"Sewer lateral"
shall mean a building sewer as defined in the latest edition of the California Plumbing Code. It is the wastewater connection between the building's wastewater facilities and a public sewer system.
"Sludge"
shall mean any solid, semisolid or liquid decant, subnate or supernate from a manufacturing process, utility service, or pretreatment facility.
"Waste"
shall mean sewage and any and all other waste substances, liquid, solid, gaseous or radioactive, associated with human habitation or of human or animal nature, including such wastes placed within containers of whatever nature prior to and for the purpose of disposal.
"Wastewater"
shall mean the liquid and water-carried wastes of the community and all constituents thereof, whether treated or untreated, discharged into or permitted to enter a public sewer.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
No establishment shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the sewer system FOG that accumulates and/or causes or contributes to blockages in the sewer system or at the sewer system lateral, which connects the establishment to the sewer system.
(3688-12/04)
The City's Director of Public Works and the Director of Planning and Building or his/her designee is responsible for enforcement of this chapter and for all determinations of compliance with it.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
The following prohibitions shall apply to food service establishments that generate FOG:
A. 
Installation of food grinders in the plumbing system of new construction of any food service establishments that generate FOG, is prohibited. Furthermore, all food grinders must be removed from existing food service establishments that generate FOG, as determined by the Director, within 90 days of written notice to remove.
B. 
Introduction of any additives into any establishment's wastewater system for the purpose of emulsifying FOG is prohibited.
C. 
Disposal of waste cooking oil into drainage pipes is prohibited. All waste cooking oils shall be collected and stored properly in receptacles such as barrels or drums for recycling or other acceptable methods of disposal.
D. 
Discharge of wastewater from dishwashers to any grease trap or grease interceptor is prohibited.
E. 
Discharge of wastewater with temperatures in excess of 140˚F to any grease control device, including grease traps and grease interceptors, is prohibited.
F. 
The use of biological additives for grease remediation or as a supplement to interceptor maintenance is prohibited, unless written approval from the Director is obtained.
G. 
Discharge of wastes from toilets, urinals, wash basins, and other fixtures containing fecal materials to sewer lines intended for grease interceptor service, or vice versa, is prohibited.
H. 
Discharge into the sewer system of any waste which has FOG as well as solid materials removed from the grease control device is prohibited. Grease removed from grease interceptors shall be wastehauled periodically as part of the operation and maintenance requirements for grease interceptors. Licensed wastehaulers or an approved recycling facility shall be used to dispose of FOG, including waste cooking oil.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any wastewater from any establishment, directly or indirectly into the sewer system without complying with this chapter.
(3688-12/04)
All food service establishments shall pay a monthly fee as set by resolution of the City Council to offset the costs of enforcing this chapter.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
A. 
All new food service establishments are required to install, operate and maintain an approved type and adequately sized grease control device necessary to maintain compliance with the objectives of this chapter. Existing food service establishments with no grease control device shall pay a FOG control fee surcharge, which shall be established by resolution of the City Council and shall be based on the estimated annual increase and costs of inspecting and monitoring the sewer system, resulting from the lack of a grease interceptor or grease-control device.
B. 
The grease control device shall be adequate to separate and remove FOG contained in wastewater discharges from any establishment prior to discharge to the sewer system consistent with the grease interceptor requirements of this chapter.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
Property owners of commercial properties or their official designee(s) shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the grease interceptor serving multiple establishments that are located on a single parcel or for paying the FOG fee surcharge if there is no grease interceptor.
(3688-12/04)
This section shall not be interpreted to allow new construction, remodeling or change in operations without an approved gravity grease interceptor unless it is determined by the Building and Safety Division of the Planning and Building Department that it is impossible or impracticable to install or operate a gravity grease control interceptor for the subject facility under the provisions of this chapter. In instances whereby a gravity grease interceptor is impossible or impractical to install or operate, a properly sized hydromechanical grease interceptor can be installed in lieu of a gravity grease interceptor.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
Establishments found to have contributed to a sewer blockage, sewer system overflow ("SSO"), or any sewer system interferences resulting from the discharge of wastewater or waste containing FOG, may be ordered to install and maintain a grease interceptor, and may be subject to a plan to abate the nuisance and prevent any future health hazards created by sewer line failures and blockages, SSOs or any other sewer system interferences. If the City must act to contain and/or clean up an SSO caused by blockage of a private or public sewer lateral or system, or at the request of the property owner or operator of the establishment, or because of the failure of the property owner or establishment to abate the condition causing a threat to the health, safety, welfare, or property of the public, or because of an unauthorized discharge of FOG, the City's costs for such abatement will be entirely borne by the property owner or operator of the establishment, and said cost will constitute a debt to the City and become due and payable upon the City's request for reimbursement of such costs. Food facilities that experience two or more SSOs within a one-year period or three within a five-year period may be required at the behest of the Director of Public Works to install a FOG pretreatment unit if the food establishment does not have one or upgrade to a larger unit to prevent future SSOs.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
Sewer system overflows may cause threat and injury to public health, safety, and welfare of life and property and are hereby declared public nuisances.
(3688-12/04)
All grease interceptors must comply with all relevant City ordinances, and the current edition of the California Plumbing Code, if applicable.
A. 
Grease interceptor sizing and installation shall conform to the current edition of the California Plumbing Code. Grease interceptors shall be constructed in accordance with the design approved by the City's Director of Planning and Building and shall have a minimum of two compartments with fittings designed for grease retention and a sampling box.
B. 
The grease interceptor shall be installed at a location where it shall be at all times easily accessible for inspection, cleaning, and removal of accumulated grease.
C. 
Access manholes, with a minimum diameter of 24 inches, shall be provided over each grease interceptor chamber and sanitary tee. The access manholes shall extend at least to finished grade and be designed and maintained to prevent water inflow or infiltration. The manholes shall also have readily removable covers to facilitate inspection, grease removal, and wastewater sampling activities.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
A. 
Grease interceptors shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the full content of the interceptor which includes wastewater, accumulated FOG, floating materials, sludge and solids.
B. 
All existing and newly installed grease interceptors shall be maintained in a manner consistent with a maintenance frequency approved by the Director pursuant to this section.
C. 
No FOG that has accumulated in a grease interceptor shall be allowed to pass into any sewer lateral, sewer system, storm drain, or public right-of-way during maintenance activities.
D. 
All establishments with grease interceptors may be required to submit data and information necessary to establish the maintenance frequency of the grease interceptors and shall be determined in one of the following methods:
1. 
Grease interceptors shall be fully pumped out and cleaned at a frequency such that the combined FOG and solids accumulation does not exceed 25% of the total liquid depth of the grease interceptor. This is to ensure that the minimum hydraulic retention time and required available volume is maintained to effectively intercept and retain FOG discharged to the sewer system.
2. 
All establishments with a grease interceptor shall maintain their grease interceptor not less than once every three months. Grease interceptors shall be fully pumped out and cleaned quarterly when the frequency described in paragraph 1 of this subsection has not been established. The maintenance frequency shall be adjusted when sufficient data have been obtained to establish an average frequency based on the requirements described in said paragraph. The City may change the maintenance frequency at any time to reflect changes in actual operating conditions. Based on the actual generation of FOG from an establishment, including food service establishments that generate FOG, the maintenance frequency may increase or decrease.
3. 
If the grease interceptor, at any time, contains FOG and solids accumulation that does not meet the requirements described in paragraph 1 of this subsection, any establishment, including food service establishments generating FOG, shall be required to have the grease interceptor serviced immediately, such that all fats, oils, grease, sludge, and other materials are completely removed from the grease interceptor. If deemed necessary, the Director may also increase the maintenance frequency of the grease interceptor from the current frequency.
4. 
Food service establishments that operate on a seasonal basis can apply for a variance in writing to the Director of Public Works from the minimum grease interceptor service requirements provided that records for the past year indicate FOG accumulation levels of less than 25% of the total hydraulic volume of the grease interceptor.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
A. 
The City may require establishments to construct and maintain in proper operating condition at the establishment's sole expense, flow monitoring, constituent monitoring and/or sampling facilities.
B. 
The location of the monitoring or metering facilities shall be subject to approval by the Director.
C. 
Establishments may also be required by the Director to submit waste analysis plans, contingency plans, and meet other necessary requirements to ensure proper operation and maintenance of the grease control device or grease interceptor and compliance with this chapter.
D. 
Establishments shall not increase the use of water or in any other manner attempt to dilute a discharge as a partial or complete substitute for treatment to achieve compliance with this chapter.
(3688-12/04)
A. 
All establishments shall implement best management practices in accordance with the requirements and guidelines established by the City in an effort to minimize the discharge of FOG to the sewer system.
B. 
All establishments shall be required, at a minimum, to comply with the following best management practices:
1. 
Installation of Drain Screens. Drain screens shall be installed on all sanitary sewer drainage pipes in food preparation and kitchen areas.
2. 
Segregation and Collection of Waste Cooking Oil. All employees must comply with all provisions of this chapter relating to segregation, disposal and recycling of FOG.
3. 
Disposal of Food Waste. All food waste shall be disposed of directly into the trash or garbage, and not in sinks or toilets.
4. 
Employee Training. Employees of the food service establishment shall be trained once every six months, and all new-hires must be trained within two weeks of employment, on the following subjects:
a. 
How to "dry wipe" pots, pans, dishware and work areas before washing to remove grease.
b. 
How to properly dispose of food waste and solids prior to disposal in trash bins or containers to prevent leaking and odors.
c. 
The location and use of absorption products to clean under fryer baskets and other locations where grease may be spilled or dripped.
d. 
How to properly dispose of grease or oils from cooking equipment into a grease receptacle such as a barrel or drum without spilling.
Training shall be documented and employee signatures retained indicating each employee's attendance and understanding of the practices reviewed. Training records shall be available for review at any reasonable time by the Director and/or his/her designee.
5. 
Maintenance of Kitchen Exhaust Filters. Filters shall be cleaned as frequently as necessary to be maintained in good operating condition. The wastewater generated from cleaning the exhaust filter shall be disposed of properly.
6. 
Kitchen Signage. Best management and waste minimization practices shall be posted conspicuously in the food preparation and dishwashing areas at all times.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
A. 
Monitoring for Compliance with Ordinance and Reporting Requirements.
1. 
The Director of Public Works may require of the establishment periodic reporting of the status of implementation of best management practices.
2. 
The Director of Public Works may require visual monitoring at the sole expense of the establishment which generates FOG to observe the actual conditions of any establishments, including food service establishments that generate FOG, sewer lateral and sewer lines downstream.
3. 
The Director of Public Works may require written reports from a certified laboratory for self-monitoring of wastewater constituents and FOG characteristics of the establishment needed for determining compliance with this chapter. Failure by the establishment to perform any required monitoring, or to submit monitoring reports required by the Director constitutes a violation of this chapter and be cause for the City to initiate all necessary tasks and analyses to determine the wastewater constituents and FOG characteristics for compliance with any conditions and requirements specified in this chapter. The establishment shall be responsible for any and all expenses of the City in undertaking such monitoring analyses and preparation of reports.
4. 
Other reports may be required such as compliance schedule progress reports, FOG control monitoring reports, and any other reports deemed reasonably appropriate by the Director to ensure compliance with this chapter.
B. 
Record Keeping Requirements. The establishment shall be required to keep all manifests, receipts and invoices of all cleaning, maintenance, grease removal of/from the grease control device, disposal carrier and disposal site location for no less than four years. The establishment shall, upon request, make the manifests, receipts and invoices available to the Director or his/her designee. These records may include:
1. 
A logbook of grease control device cleaning and maintenance practices.
2. 
A record of best management practices being implemented including employee training.
3. 
Copies of records and manifests of wastehauling interceptor contents and/or waste cooking oil disposal.
4. 
Records of sampling data and sludge height monitoring for FOG and solids accumulation in the grease interceptors.
5. 
Any other information deemed appropriate by the Director to ensure compliance with this chapter.
C. 
Falsifying Information or Tampering with Process. It shall be unlawful to make any false statement, representation, record, report, plan or other document that is filed with the City, or to tamper with or knowingly render inoperable any grease control device, monitoring device or method or access point required under this chapter.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
A. 
The Director of Public Works may inspect or order the inspection and sample the wastewater discharges of any establishment subject to this chapter to ascertain whether the intent of this chapter is being met and the establishment is complying with all requirements. The establishment shall allow the City access to the premises, during normal business hours, for purposes of inspecting the establishment's grease control devices or interceptor, reviewing the manifests, receipts and invoices relating to the cleaning, maintenance and inspection of the grease control devices or interceptor.
B. 
The Director of Public Works shall have the right to place or order the placement on the establishment's property or other locations as determined by the Director, such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling or metering operations. Where any establishment has security measures in force, the establishment shall make necessary arrangements so that representatives of the City shall be permitted to enter without delay for the purpose of performing their specific responsibilities.
C. 
Persons or occupants of premises where wastewater is created or discharged shall allow the Director of Public Works, or City representatives, reasonable access to all parts of the wastewater generating and disposal facilities for the purposes of inspection and sampling during all times the discharger's facility is open, operating, or any other reasonable time.
D. 
In order for the Director of Public Works to determine the wastewater characteristics of the discharger for purposes of determining the annual use charge, the establishment shall make available for inspection and copying by the City all notices, monitoring reports, waste manifests, and records including, but not limited to, those related to wastewater generation, and wastewater disposal. All such records shall be kept for a minimum of four years.
1. 
Sampling and inspection of any establishments, including food service establishments, that generate FOG shall be conducted in the time, place, manner, and frequency determined at the sole discretion of the Director.
2. 
Any sample taken from a sample point is considered to be representative of the discharge to the public sewer.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
No person shall interfere with, delay, resist or refuse entrance to City representatives attempting to inspect any facility involved directly or indirectly with a discharge of wastewater to the City's sewer system.
(3688-12/04)
A. 
In the event an establishment is unable to comply with any permit condition or provision of this chapter due to a breakdown of equipment, accidents, or human error or the establishment has reasonable opportunity to know that his/her/its discharge will exceed the discharge provisions of this chapter, the discharger shall immediately notify the Utilities Division of the Public Works Department. If the material discharged to the sewer has the potential to cause or result in sewer blockages or SSOs, the discharger shall immediately notify the local health department or county, and the City.
B. 
Confirmation of this notification shall be made in writing to the Director of Public Works no later than five working days from the date of the incident. The written notification shall state the date of the incident, the reasons for the discharge or spill, what steps were taken to immediately correct the problem, and what steps are being taken to prevent the problem from recurring.
C. 
Such notification shall not relieve the establishment of any expense, loss, damage or other liability which may be incurred as a result of damage or loss to the City or any other damage or loss to person or property; nor shall such notification relieve the establishment of any fees or other liability which may be imposed by this chapter or other applicable law.
(3688-12/04; 3979-7/13)
Any person who discharges a waste which causes or contributes to the City violating its discharge requirements established by any regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the City incurring additional expenses or suffering losses or damage to the facilities, shall be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by the City, including regulatory fines, penalties, and assessments made by other agencies or a court.
(3688-12/04)