Lompoc Municipal Code Art. IX Fats, Oils, and Grease Control Program

No FSE may discharge or cause to be discharged into the sewer system FOG that may accumulate or cause or contribute to blockages in the sewer system or at the sewer system lateral that connects the FSE to the sewer system.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

A. All FSEs that discharge more than a de minimis amount of FOG in their wastewater sent to the sewer system must install a FOG control device that meets City standards and specifications. Restaurants and other food service establishments that discharge a de minimis amount of FOG are those engaged only in reheating, hot holding, assembly, or mixing of ready-to-eat food products. The City may issue any FSE that discharges wastewater to the sewer system a discharge permit to control such discharges pursuant to the requirements and procedures specified in this section at Article II Wastewater Discharge Permits.

B. FOG control devices must be maintained in efficient operating condition in accordance with the FOG Control Program.

C. All FOG removed from a FOG control device must be waste hauled and disposed of at an approved location and in a proper manner.

D. The owner and/or operator of an establishment subject to these regulations shall open and inspect all FOG interceptors on a monthly basis to determine the need for servicing/cleanouts. FOG interceptor cleanouts, in which the interceptor is fully pumped and cleaned out, shall be scheduled based on the 25% Rule, or, at minimum, once every three months, whichever is more frequent. The purpose of using the 25% Rule as a cleanout benchmark is to ensure that the minimum hydraulic retention time and required available hydraulic volume are maintained to effectively intercept and retain FOG from being discharged to the public sewer. Partial pumps of interceptor contents or on-site pump and treatment of interceptor contents is not allowed due to reintroduction of fats, oils and grease to the interceptor and pursuant to the regulations at 40 CFR 403.5(b)(8).

E. If the FOG interceptor, at any time, contains FOG and solids accumulation exceeding the requirements described in Subsection D of this Section, the facility shall be required by the Director to have the FOG interceptor pumped and cleaned as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours following issuance of an order to clean by the Director, unless otherwise specified by the Director.

F. The Director may require any FSE with a FOG interceptor to submit data and information necessary to establish the required maintenance frequency of the FOG interceptor.

G. The Director may change the required maintenance frequency at any time to reflect changes in actual operating conditions when sufficient data has been obtained and validated to warrant a different frequency based on the requirements described in Subsection D of this Section or other guidelines adopted by the City pursuant to the FOG control program. The required maintenance frequency may increase or decrease based on the actual generation of FOG from the FSE but shall not be less frequent than once every three months unless specific written authorization from the Director is obtained.

H. The Director may direct City staff or a City contractor to pump and clean an FSE's FOG interceptor if the FSE has failed to comply with the terms of this chapter. The FSE jointly and severally with the property owner shall be responsible for any and all expenses of the City in undertaking such work and such expenses are deemed a debt of the owner of the pertinent FSE and the property owner to the City, enforceable and collectable as provided by law.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

For properties at which multiple FSEs that discharge wastewater to the sewer system are operated on a single parcel, each FSE operator is individually and separately responsible for installation and maintenance of the FOG interceptor serving the FSE and for compliance with this Section. Furthermore, owners of commercial properties at which multiple FSEs that discharge wastewater to the sewer system are operated on a single parcel are responsible for ensuring FOG interceptor compliance by each FSE on the parcel. Such operators and property owners can comply with this section by installing and maintaining a FOG interceptor or FOG interceptors serving multiple FSEs upon approval by the Director and on such terms and conditions that the Director may establish.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

Each FSE that discharges wastewater to the sewer system must implement the Best Management Practices specified in the City's FOG Control Program in its operation to minimize the discharge of FOG to the sewer system.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

A. FOG Discharge Monitoring and Reporting Requirements.

1. The Director may require periodic reporting of the status of implementation of Best Management Practices.

2. The Director may require visual and other monitoring at the sole expense of the FSE that discharges wastewater to the sewer system to observe the actual conditions of the FSE's side sewer and sewer lines downstream.

3. The Director may require reports for self-monitoring of wastewater constituents and FOG characteristics of the FSE needed for determining compliance with FOG Control Program requirements or this Article. Monitoring reports of the analyses of wastewater constituents and FOG characteristics must be in a manner and form approved by the Director and must be submitted upon request of the Director.

4. The Director may require other reports 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 Section.

B. Record Keeping Requirements. An FSE that discharges wastewater to the sewer system must keep on its premises all documents identified by the City relating to its compliance with this Section, including logs, receipts and invoices of all cleaning, maintenance, FOG removal from the FOG control device, disposal carrier, and disposal site location for at least three years. The FSE must, upon request, make such logs, receipts, and invoices available to any City representative or inspector. These records may include:

1. A logbook of FOG interceptor, or other FOG 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 waste hauling interceptor contents.

4. Records of sampling data and sludge height monitoring for FOG and solids accumulation in the FOG interceptors.

5. Any other information deemed appropriate by the Director to ensure compliance with this section.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

A. The City may inspect or order the inspection and sampling of any FSE's wastewater discharge to ascertain whether the requirements of this Article and any applicable FOG Control Program requirements are being met.

B. All FSEs must allow City personnel and representatives access to the FSE's premises, during normal business hours, for purposes of inspecting FOG control devices, and reviewing the manifests, receipts and invoices relating to the cleaning, maintenance and inspection of any FOG control device. No person may interfere with, delay, resist, or refuse entrance to City representatives attempting to inspect any FSE or facility involved directly or indirectly with a discharge of wastewater to the City's sewer system.

C. The Director may order the placement on any FSE's premises or such other locations as determined by the Director, such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling or metering operations. Where an FSE has security measures in force, the FSE must make necessary arrangements so that representatives of the City are permitted to enter without delay for the purpose of performing their specific responsibilities.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

No person may make any false statement, representation, record, report, plan, or other document that is filed with the City, or to tamper with or alter, or knowingly render inoperable, any FOG control device, monitoring device, or method or access point required under this Article.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

A. In the event an FSE that discharges wastewater to the sewer system is unable to comply with any FOG Control Program condition due to a breakdown of equipment, accidents, or human error, or the FSE has reasonable opportunity to know that its discharge will exceed the discharge provisions of the FOG Control Program or this section, the FSE must immediately notify the City.

B. Confirmation of this notification must be made in writing to the City no later than five working days from the date of the incident. The written notification must 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 will not relieve the FSE 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 will such notification relieve the FSE of any other liability which may be imposed by this section or other applicable law or FOG Control Program requirement.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

A. The City, by order of the Director, may physically terminate sewer service and cause the termination of any water service to any FSE connected to the sewer system, as follows:

1. Upon an emergency suspension order; or

2. Upon the failure of an FSE to immediately cease the discharge, whether direct or indirect, to the City's sewer facilities after notice has been given and a reasonable opportunity to comply with this Article.

B. All costs for physical termination of services must be paid by the owner or operator of the FSE as well as all costs for reinstating service.

C. During the period of such disconnection, habitation of such premises will constitute a public nuisance and the City may cause proceedings to be brought for the abatement of the occupancy of such premises during the period of such disconnection. In such event, and as a condition of reconnection, the owner or operator of such premises must reimburse the City for all reasonable attorney's fees and costs of suit arising such abatement action.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

Violations of this Article are subject to the procedures, penalties and remedies set out in this section in addition to any other penalties or remedies available to the City under this Code or applicable law.

(Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)