La Palma Municipal Code Div. 4 Facilities Requirements

(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 FOG Control Program Manager and shall have a minimum of two compartments with three standpipes and a manhole lid access over each standpipe for inspection access. An additional manhole will be required for the sample box. All four manholes must remain accessible for inspection at any time.

(b) The City's FOG Control Program Manager will consider other designs of Grease Interceptors if the location is a factor to sewer line installation, and such alternative may only be installed if first approved by the FOG Control Program Manager in writing.

(c) 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.

(d) 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 the finished grade and shall 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.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

(a) Grease interceptors shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the full content of the interceptor. The term "full content" shall include wastewater, accumulated FOG, floating materials, sludge and solids.

(b) Grease interceptors shall be maintained in a manner consistent with a maintenance frequency approved by the FOG Control Program Manager. The maintenance frequency 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 percent of the total liquid depth of the grease interceptor (25-percent rule). 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) Grease interceptors shall be maintained not less than once every six months based on the effective date of the FOG wastewater discharge permit.

(3) Grease interceptors shall adhere to a pumping schedule and be fully pumped out and cleaned on a quarterly basis beginning from the effective date of the FOG wastewater discharge permit when the frequency described in subsection (b)(1) of this section has not been established. The maintenance frequency shall be adjusted when sufficient data has been obtained to establish an average frequency based on the requirements described in subsection (b)(1) of this section and guidelines adopted pursuant to the FOG control program. The City may change the maintenance frequency at any time to reflect changes in actual operating conditions in accordance with the FOG control program.

(4) If the grease interceptor, at any time, contains FOG and solids accumulation that do not meet the requirements described in subsection (b)(1) of this section, the discharge establishment shall be required to have the grease interceptor serviced immediately to remove the full content of the grease interceptor.

(5) All grease interceptors will be pumped and maintained by a permitted FOG pumper who disposes of the waste at a licensed facility. The facilities designated permitted pumper(s) will provide the paying facility with a pumping report documenting FOG percentage, state of interceptor, missing/broken parts, and before and after pumping photos to show interior chambers. The reports will be kept for a minimum of two years and must be provided to the City upon request.

(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) Discharge establishments with grease interceptors may be required to submit data and information necessary to establish that required maintenance has been conducted.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

(a) Discharge establishments may be required to install grease traps in the waste line leading from drains, sinks, and other fixtures or equipment where grease may be introduced into the sewer system in quantities that can cause blockage.

(b) Sizing and installation of grease traps shall conform to the current edition of the California Plumbing Code.

(c) Grease traps shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by removing accumulated grease on a daily basis.

(d) Grease traps shall be maintained free of all food residues and any FOG waste removed during the cleaning and scraping process.

(e) Grease traps shall be inspected periodically to check for leaking seams and pipes and for effective operation of the baffles and flow regulating device. Grease traps and their baffles shall be maintained free of all built up FOG and waste. Removable baffles shall be removed and cleaned during the maintenance process.

(f) Dishwashers and food waste disposal units shall not be connected to or discharged into any grease trap.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

(a) The City may require discharge establishments to construct and maintain flow monitoring, constituent monitoring, and/or sampling facilities.

(b) The location of the monitoring or metering facilities shall be subject to approval by the FOG Control Program Manager.

(c) Discharge establishments may be required to provide immediate, clear, safe, and uninterrupted access to the FOG Control Program Manager or inspectors to all monitoring and metering facilities.

(d) Discharge establishments may be required by the FOG Control Program Manager to submit waste analysis plans, contingency plans, and meet other necessary requirements to ensure proper operation and maintenance of the grease control device and compliance with this article.

(e) No discharge establishment shall 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 article.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)

(a) Generally. Each discharge establishment shall implement best management practices in accordance with the requirements and guidelines established by the City under its FOG control program in an effort to minimize the discharge of FOG to the sewer system.

(b) Compliance preconditions. All discharge establishments shall be required, at a minimum, to comply with the following best management practices, where applicable:

(1) Installation of drain screens. Drain screens shall be installed on all drainage pipes in food preparation areas.

(2) Segregation and collection of waste cooking oil. All waste cooking oil shall be collected and stored properly in recycling receptacles such as barrels or drums. Such recycling receptacles shall be maintained properly to ensure that they do not leak. Licensed waste haulers or an approved recycling facility must be used to dispose of waste cooking oil. All records of waste hauler collections will be kept onsite for inspection for a minimum of two years.

(3) Employee training. All FOG training shall be documented and employee signatures shall be retained for a period of not less than two years indicating the attendance of each employee and a description of the practices reviewed. Training records shall be available for review at any reasonable time by the FOG Control Program Manager or an inspector. All employees of the discharge establishment shall be trained twice each calendar year on the following:

a. "Dry wiping" pots, pans, dishware, and work areas before washing to remove grease;

b. Properly disposing food waste and solids in an enclosed plastic bag prior to disposal in trash bins or containers to prevent leaking and odors;

c. Using absorbent products to clean under fryer baskets and other locations where grease may be spilled or dripped;

d. Properly disposing grease or oils from cooking equipment into a grease receptacle such as a barrel or drum without spilling.

(4) Maintenance of kitchen exhaust filters. Exhaust filters and hoods shall be cleaned as frequently as necessary to be maintained in good operating condition. The wastewater generated from cleaning the exhaust systems shall be disposed of properly. All records of the cleaning will be kept onsite for inspection for a minimum of two years.

(5) Kitchen signage. Best management and waste minimization practices as provided by the City shall be posted conspicuously in the food preparation and dishwashing areas at all times.

(Ord. No. 2022-13, § 1, 12-13-2022)