§ 17-73. Grease trap and interceptor installation, maintenance, record-keeping and removal

(a) No later than one (1) year after adoption of this section, all users shall install grease traps or interceptors designed to limit the introduction, contribution and discharge of greases into the town's wastewater collection system or POTW. Grease traps and interceptors with appropriate sampling or inspection points shall be installed at the user's expense whenever any user operates a commercial, industrial, or institutional cooking establishment. Grease traps and interceptors must have a minimum capacity of one thousand (1,000) gallons or more as required to effect a grease concentration maximum of two hundred (200) mg/l.

(b) Alternative methods of compliance may be approved by the town if the user demonstrates that compliance with this section is impossible or impractical at the time of adoption of this section as a result of limited space. However, any such proposed alternative method of compliance will be required to meet the performance criteria specified in paragraph (a), and the user must adequately demonstrate to the satisfaction of the town that the proposed alternative method will satisfy those performance criteria. In addition, any such alternative method must be cleaned at a more frequent interval than is required of grease traps and interceptors under paragraph (e). Prior to approval of any such proposed alternative method of compliance, documentation of the proposed method's actual performance criteria must be submitted to the town's enforcement official or public utilities director for review and approval.

(c) Grease traps and interceptors may also be required in other facilities, as deemed necessary by the town's designated enforcement official or public utilities director.

(d) Upon the prior written approval of the public utilities director, non-cooking establishments may be exempted from the requirements of this section after an inspection of the subject premises and submission of adequate supporting documentation, as deemed necessary in the sole and absolute discretion of the public utilities director. At a minimum, such supporting documentation shall include: blueprints of the subject premises, a full and detailed description of the operations and activities at the subject premises, and a full and detailed list of all potential sources of grease at the subject premises.

(e) Users shall empty and service grease traps and interceptors to comply with the performance criteria in paragraph (a) as often as necessary, but in any event no longer than every sixty (60) days. The town may require a specific schedule if deemed necessary by the public utilities director. Under-the-counter types of grease traps and interceptors shall be cleaned at least daily, and shall comply with the performance criteria in paragraph (a). There shall be no reintroduction of wastewater back into the grease trap or interceptor unless and until said wastewater has been proven to contain two hundred (200) mg/l or less of grease. Under no circumstances shall the sludge or scum layer be reintroduced or discharged into the town's wastewater collection system or POTW.

(f) Users shall supply (i) an adequate sampling point downstream of the grease trap or interceptor, prior to mixing with other sanitary flows, and (ii) an accessible entry into each chamber of the grease trap or interceptor. The minimum requirement for the sampling point shall be a four-inch vertical clean-out. The town shall have the right to inspect at any time and without prior notice.

(g) Users shall retain detailed records on-site for a minimum of three (3) years reflecting all maintenance carried out pursuant to this section. At a minimum, such records shall contain the following information: date of service, name of the employee involved, and a receipt reflecting all services rendered by the waste hauler providing the service.

(h) Users are required to keep the grease trap or interceptor free of inorganic solids such as grit, towels, gloves, cigarettes, eating utensils, etc., which could clog or settle in the trap or interceptor, thereby reducing the effective volume or capacity of the trap or interceptor.

(i) Users are required to ensure that all waste material removed from grease traps and interceptors is disposed of in a manner that complies with all federal, state and local statutes, rules, regulations, policies and ordinances.

(j) Except as provided herein, for a period of one (1) year following the adoption of this section, no enforcement actions will be taken under this section for failure to achieve the performance criteria specified in paragraph (a) of this Code. If, during such period, (i) an obstruction of any of the town's sanitary sewer main(s) occurs and causes a sewer overflow, spill, leak or other event with any environmental impact, and (ii) such overflow, spill, leak or other event may be attributed in part or in whole to a particular user, then the town will seek enforcement action under the sewer use ordinance, and/or the pretreatment enforcement plan. For purposes of this section, an overflow, spill, leak or other event shall be deemed to have an environmental impact when (i) such overflow or other event involves an amount of wastewater equal to or in excess of one thousand (1,000) gallons, or (ii) any amount of wastewater reaches any body of surface water.

(Ord. of 8-21-07)