San Marino Municipal Code Art. 15 Fats, Oils and Greases

The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the following meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:

AUTHORIZED ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: The director of planning and building or his or her designee.

FOG DISPOSAL SYSTEM: A plumbing appurtenance or appliance that is installed in a sanitary drainage system to intercept fats, oils and greases from a wastewater discharge, including a gravity grease interceptor or hydromechanical grease interceptor.

FATS, OILS AND GREASES OR FOG: Nonpetroleum organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. The substances are detectable and measurable using analytical procedures established in part 136 of title 40 of the United States code of federal regulations, as may be amended from time to time.

FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT: A facility engaged in preparing food for consumption by the public such as a restaurant, bakery, commercial kitchen, caterer, hotel, school, religious institution, hospital, prison, correctional facility, or care institution.

GRAVITY GREASE INTERCEPTOR: A plumbing appurtenance or appliance that is installed in a sanitary drainage system to intercept fats, oils and greases from a wastewater discharge and is identified by volume, thirty (30) minute retention time, baffle(s), a minimum of two (2) compartments, a minimum total volume of seven hundred fifty (750) gallons, and gravity separation.

GREASE REMOVAL DEVICE: Any hydromechanical grease interceptor that automatically and mechanically removes fats, oils and greases from the interceptor, the control of which is either automatic or manually initiated.

HYDROMECHANICAL GREASE INTERCEPTOR: A plumbing appurtenance or appliance that is installed in a sanitary drainage system to intercept fats, oils and greases from a wastewater discharge and is identified by flow rate and separation and retention efficiency. The design incorporates air entrainment, hydromechanical separation, interior baffling, and/or barriers in combination or separately, and one of the following:

A. External flow control, with air intake (vent): Directly connected.

B. External flow control, without air intake (vent): Directly connected.

C. Without external flow control: Directly connected.

D. Without external flow control: Indirectly connected. (Ord. 0-09-1213, 4-24-2009)

Wastewater discharge originating at food service establishments from fixtures and equipment which may contain fats, oils and greases, including, but not limited to, scullery sinks, pot and pan sinks, soup kettles, automatic vent cleaning devices, and floor drains located in areas where FOG containing materials may exist, shall be drained into the sanitary waste system only through a FOG disposal system. Multiple FOG disposal systems may be required to satisfy the requirements of this section. The authorized enforcement officer may waive this requirement for specific fixtures upon determination that compliance may create a health hazard and/or be impeded by a physical constraint that is impractical to overcome when retrofitting an existing facility. (Ord. 0-09-1213, 4-24-2009)

FOG disposal systems shall be installed in areas that are at all times easily accessible for inspection, cleaning, maintenance, and removal of the recovered fats, oils and greases in a manner that does not require entry into a food or utensil handling area as follows:

A. Hydromechanical grease interceptors shall not be installed in a food or utensil handling area unless specifically approved by the authorized enforcement officer. Plumbing fixtures and equipment connected to such device shall be provided with an approved type of flow control so that the total flow through the device or devices shall not be greater than the rated flow of the FOG disposal system.

B. Grease removal devices shall be installed as provided for hydromechanical grease interceptors in subsection A of this section with the additional provision that the storage of removed fats, oils and greases also be outside food and utensil handling areas in a secure location that protects against the accidental spill of grease into floor drains, parking lots, catch basins, storm drains, sidewalks, streets, or gutters and is protected from inundation by stormwater flows.

C. Gravity grease interceptors shall be installed outside of the structure containing the kitchen, food or utensil handling area(s) in a location affording ease of inspection, maintenance and servicing without entry to the structure unless otherwise approved by the director and the health officer. Such devices shall be designed and sized to retain fats, oils and greases until accumulations can be removed by pumping the interceptor. When so required by the authorized enforcement officer, gravity grease interceptors shall be equipped with an approved sample box. (Ord. 0-09-1213, 4-24-2009)

Existing FOG disposal systems may remain in service provided such systems are properly maintained to effectively reduce FOG discharges, are operating within original design parameters, and have not been altered in a manner not approved by the authorized enforcement officer. Such authorization does not preclude the authorized enforcement officer from establishing discharge limitations which may require the modification, enlargement, addition or replacement of a FOG disposal system to protect the sanitary sewer system from blockages or overflows. (Ord. 0-09-1213, 4-24-2009)

No person shall place, throw, discharge or deposit, or cause or permit to be placed, thrown, discharged or deposited in any public sewer or main line sewer any water or sewage, or liquid waste of any kind containing fats, oils and greases which clog, obstruct or fill the same, or which may in any way damage or interfere with or prevent the effective use thereof, or which may necessitate or require frequent repair, cleaning out or flushing of such sewer to render the same operative. (Ord. 0-09-1213, 4-24-2009)