A. 
It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to establish regulations for the disposal of grease and other insoluble waste discharges from every food service establishment (an "FSE") within the city.
B. 
The city council, in enacting the ordinance codified in this chapter, intends to provide for the maximum beneficial public use of the city's sewer system, to prevent blockages of that system and the accidental discharge of wastewater into the storm drain system or receiving waters of the state, to ensure the cost of maintaining the city's sewer system is equitably distributed among users, to clarify grease disposal requirements for existing food service establishments, and to promote public health and safety.
C. 
In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the most recently adopted California Plumbing Code, the provisions of this chapter shall govern.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)
As used in this chapter, the following terms are defined:
"Administrative authority"
shall mean the director of public works, the building official, or any other official(s) as designated by the city manager.
"Authorized inspector"
shall mean an inspector so designated by the administrative authority.
"Director"
shall mean the director of public works or other official as designated by the city manager.
"Food grinder"
shall mean any device installed for the purpose of disposing food waste in the public sewer system.
"FSE" "Food service establishment"
shall mean any food preparation establishment, restaurant, cafeteria, or any other establishment preparing food for consumption. Domestic homes are not considered food service establishments under this definition.
"Grease"
shall mean grease, or fatty or oily substances and other insoluble waste that turns or may turn viscous or solidifies with a change in temperature or other conditions.
"Grease interceptor"
shall mean an underground multi-compartment device installed outside a food service establishment of a size and design in compliance with the California Plumbing Code and approved by the city.
"Grease removal facility"
shall mean any grease interceptor, trap, drain, screen, or similar device that is designed or installed to reduce the amount of grease entering the wastewater system.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)
A. 
Grease/sand interceptors that are properly sized and constructed shall be required for all buildings that include an increase in plumbing fixture units, and prior to commencing business for all new food service establishments determined by the director to generate grease in quantities greater than that commonly found in domestic sewage. Where grease/sand interceptors are impossible or impractical to install, a grease trap shall be installed.
B. 
Grease/sand interceptors are required for all existing establishments where one or more of the following conditions exist:
1. 
A notice to repair has been issued for repair of the building sewer;
2. 
The establishment is unable to pass annual inspection without repeated violations;
3. 
The establishment is unable to complete implementation of best management practices as noted in the annual inspection report;
4. 
The establishment has violated any waste disposal requirements contained in the Municipal Code and where evidence of substantial grease is observed downstream of the establishment.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)
A. 
All new construction or remodels subject to a new conditional use permit for an FSE shall be required to either store waste grease on the inside of the building or outside in a secured enclosure that is covered, locked, and inside a secondary containment area or device large enough to store the same volume as the primary container. All storage containers shall be designed to prevent tipping and to provide a secure closing lid that shall remain closed at all times that the container is not being accessed. All containers that are used to transfer waste grease shall have a secured lid that prevents accidental spills during transfer.
B. 
All existing FSEs are required to either store waste grease on the inside of the building or outside in an area secure from vehicular driveways and parking in storage containers that are designed to prevent tipping and to provide a secure closing lid that shall remain closed at all times that the container is not being accessed. All containers that are used to transfer waste grease shall have a secured lid that prevents accidental spills during transfer.
C. 
All FSEs shall maintain the storage area using good housekeeping techniques to prevent the accumulation of waste grease deposits on the outside of grease containers and shall have an approved emergency spill kit available in close proximity to the storage facilities.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)
A. 
Food grinders shall be removed from all existing food service establishments by January 1, 2010.
B. 
After August 1, 2009, food grinders shall be prohibited in all new food service establishments.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)
A. 
General Provisions.
1. 
The installation of a proper interceptor shall be the responsibility of the user who applies for a permit connection and the user whose operations cause or contribute to the necessity for an interceptor.
2. 
Interceptors shall be installed, utilized, and properly maintained for continuous and efficient operation at all times and at the expense of the user.
3. 
Interceptors shall be inspected periodically to ensure compliance with these regulations.
4. 
The administration authority shall approve the type, capacity, and construction of all interceptors shared by multiple businesses can be utilized if specifically authorized by the director and upon evidence of legal operating and maintenance agreements between the involved property owners or users. Provisions shall provide for independent, unilateral operation by one or more parties of the agreement in the case where default by one party has occurred.
5. 
Interceptors no longer in use shall be abandoned in accordance with the California Plumbing Code.
B. 
Design.
1. 
Interceptors for food service establishments shall be sized and designed in compliance with the California Plumbing Code, unless otherwise specified herein.
2. 
Other factors that may influence the design include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
a. 
The type of facility (such as a restaurant, bakery, food processing factory, etc.);
b. 
The volume of the user's business or operation (such as number of meals served, number of seats, hours of operation, etc.);
c. 
The peak flow of processed wastewater discharged to the collection system;
d. 
Size and nature of facilities (including kitchen facilities) based on size, type, number of fixtures, and type of processing or cooking equipment used;
e. 
The type of service provided or operation undertaken (such as dine-in meal service versus carry-out meal service);
f. 
The type of foods or other materials used in cooking, processing or manufacturing operations conducted within the facility;
g. 
The overall potential for grease-laden discharges;
h. 
The existence of devices, procedures or processes designed to minimize the amount of fats, oil or grease from entering the collection system;
i. 
The location of the facility, if it is located in a known problem area; and
j. 
Any prior problems with the facility, such as blockages, violations, etc.
3. 
All interceptors shall be certified by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officers, or another listing agency approved by the director, and be plumbed according to the California Plumbing Code.
4. 
All grease interceptors shall include an effluent sample box of a type and size approved by the administrative authority.
5. 
Inspection by the administrative authority, or an authorized inspector, of installed interceptors and piping prior to backfilling is required. Piping shall meet the requirements of the California Plumbing Code.
6. 
Interceptors shall have a sanitary tee located inside the sample box on the discharge side of the sample box.
7. 
Interceptors shall have a cleanout installed after the sample box on the private lateral and at intervals required by the California Plumbing Code.
8. 
All manholes and sample boxes are to be installed a minimum of one-half inch above the finished grade with a concrete collar a minimum of eighteen inches around the manhole and sample box lids.
C. 
Interceptor Maintenance.
1. 
Any user who is required by the director or the ordinance codified in this chapter to install or operate an interceptor shall be required to adequately maintain the interceptor at the user's expense, so that the interceptor is in proper working order at all times. Maintenance shall include the complete removal of all contents, including floating materials, wastewater, sludge and solids. Decanting or discharging of removed waste back into the interceptor from which the waste was removed or into any other interceptor, for the purpose of reducing the volume to be hauled is prohibited.
2. 
Grease interceptors shall be cleaned out completely by a permitted waste hauler as necessary to assure that the interceptor will operate as designed at all times or as otherwise specified by the administrative authority.
3. 
The use of additives, directly or indirectly to the plumbing or sewer system, to emulsify grease and/or oil is specifically prohibited.
4. 
The use of biological additives as a supplement to interceptor maintenance, including the addition of microorganisms, may be authorized by the director and approval shall be obtained in writing prior to the use of such activities.
5. 
A maintenance log indicating each pumping of an interceptor for the previous twelve months and any other pertinent information shall be maintained by each establishment. This log shall include, but not be limited to, date, time, amount pumped, hauler, and disposal site, and the log shall be kept in a conspicuous location for inspection by the administrative authority or an authorized inspector during normal business hours.
6. 
All users must sign a waste manifest form before having a waste load transported by a permitted hauler. The user shall also keep copies of the manifest form for a period of three years, and make all manifest records available for inspection by the administrative authority during normal business hours.
7. 
All waste removed from an interceptor must be disposed at a facility permitted by the county of San Diego or applicable regulatory agencies to receive such waste. The pumpage shall not be returned to the public sewer system or manhole, any private wastewater system or storm drains.
8. 
All interceptors shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning, inspection and removal of intercepted waste.
9. 
Any fixture connected to a grease interceptor shall have a nonremovable, secured food strainer of such integrity to withstand daily operational usage.
D. 
Required Connections to Interceptors. All three-compartment sinks, scullery (preparation) sinks, floor drains, and mop sinks along a cook line, pre-wash sinks at dishwashing stations, and all other fixtures that contribute grease into the wastewater system shall be connected to an interceptor.
E. 
Prohibited Connections or Additives to Interceptors.
1. 
Final rinse discharge from automatic dishwasher shall not be connected to the interceptor.
2. 
The use of any additive, such as enzymes, surfactants or chemicals shall not be connected to any type of interceptor. Chemical additives, such as chlorinated solvents, or any other additives that causes the emulsification of grease, are strictly prohibited from use in any type of interceptor.
F. 
Plan Review.
1. 
Applicants or users shall be required to submit copies of detailed facility proposed interceptors, pretreatment facilities, spill containment facilities, and operating procedures, to the community development department. Facility plans shall also include site plans, floor plans, mechanical and plumbing plans, and details to show all wastewater plumbing, spill containment, and appurtenances by size, location, and elevation. The review of the plans and procedures shall in no way relieve the user of the responsibility of modifying the facilities or discharge, and to meet the requirements of this chapter or any requirements of other regulatory agencies.
2. 
All submitted drawings shall be prepared by a licensed and registered professional engineer. Any false information or misleading calculations submitted shall be the responsibility of the user.
3. 
The design, location and procedures for operation and maintenance of a required interceptor shall be approved by the administrative authority. Such approval shall be obtained prior to the user's connection of the facility to the public wastewater system.
4. 
No food service establishment or other identified user shall be constructed except according to plans and specifications approved by the administrative authority.
5. 
Approved plans and specifications shall not be changed or altered without written approval by the administrative authority.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)
Best management practices (each, a "BMP," in any combination, "BMPs") as listed below shall be utilized by the FSE and shall be subject to periodic verification and approval by the administrative authority. If at any time the FSE is found to be in noncompliance with this requirement with regard to all of the BMPs below, such noncompliance shall be deemed a violation.
A. 
Drain Screens.
1. 
Drain screens shall be installed on all drainage pipes in food preparation areas for existing food service establishments by January 1, 2010.
2. 
After August 1, 2009, drain screens shall be installed on all drainage pipes in food preparation areas for all new food service establishments deemed by the director to generate grease.
B. 
Waste Cooking Oil.
1. 
All waste cooking oil shall be collected and stored properly in recycling bins, barrels or drums.
2. 
Such recycling bins, barrels or drums shall be maintained appropriately to ensure they do not leak.
3. 
Licensed haulers or an approved recycling facility must be used to dispose of waste cooking oil. A log of such activities will be completed and maintained in plain visible site for inspection by the administrative authority. All manifests for disposal of waste products will be complete and inserted into the log.
C. 
Food Waste. All food waste shall be placed in enclosed plastic bags and disposed of directly into the trash or garbage, and not in sinks.
D. 
Employee Training.
1. 
Employees of the food service establishment shall be trained by March 1, 2009, and twice each calendar year thereafter, 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 in enclosed plastic bags 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, and how to use absorption products to clean if spills occur; and
d. 
How to properly dispose of grease or oils from cooking equipment into grease bins, barrels or drums without spilling.
2. 
Training shall be documented and employee signatures retained indicating each employee's attendance and understanding of the practices.
3. 
Training records shall be available for review at any reasonable time by the authorized inspector.
E. 
Kitchen exhaust filters shall be cleaned as frequently as necessary to be maintained in good operating condition, but in no event less than one time per month.
F. 
All best management practices shall be posted conspicuously in the food preparation and dishwashing areas at all times.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)
Food service establishments shall be open and available for inspection by an authorized inspector at all times during normal business hours to ensure that the operation and maintenance of the food service establishment complies with the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)
A. 
Violations of this chapter may result in fines and/or penalties.
B. 
Failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter may result in one or more of the following:
1. 
Notices of noncompliance may be issued with a specified period of correction;
2. 
Administrative citations may be issued for violations in the amounts and manner set forth in Chapter 1.14 of this code;
3. 
A criminal complaint may be filed in accordance with Chapter 1.24 of this code;
4. 
Sewer service may be determined a public nuisance as described in Section 13.16.030, and disconnected from the city's sewerage works upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
C. 
Appeals of Fines, Penalties or Requirements to Install Grease Interceptors.
1. 
Unless otherwise provided in this code, appeals of civil or administrative fines, penalties, or other corrective actions shall be submitted to the city manager within thirty days after the food service establishment has been notified of the penalty and/or corrective actions. The decision of the city manager shall be in writing.
2. 
The decision of the city manager can be appealed to the city council by submitting a written request to the city clerk within fifteen days of the issuance of the city manager's decision, and payment of the appropriate fee, as set by resolution of the city council.
3. 
Upon appeal, the appellant shall, upon written request to the city manager, be provided within fifteen days of said request, at reasonable cost to the appellant, copies of all reports, data or other documentary evidence upon which the citation is based.
(Ord. 4930 § 10, 2009)