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Food Service Establishments and FOG




SUMMARY:
 
On June 6th, 1991, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the State of Utah Division of Water Quality approved the St. George City Pretreatment Program.  The St. George City Pretreatment Program has been delegated primary responsibility for enforcing against discharges prohibited by 40 CFR 403.5 and applying and enforcing any national Pretreatment Standards established by the United States EPA in accordance with Section 307(b) and (c) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as amended by the Water Quality Act (WQA), of 1987.  The General Pretreatment Regulations set responsibilities for federal, state, local government, industry, and the public to achieve the National Pretreatment Program Objectives.  
 
Publicly Owned Treatment Works, (POTW) collect wastewater from homes, commercial buildings, and industrial/commercial facilities and/or locations.  This wastewater leaves these locations through a complex series of underground sewer lines called the sanitary wastewater collections system.  The collection system transports wastewater to the POTW in Bloomington called the St. George Regional Water Reclamation Facility (SGRWRF).  Once the wastewater enters the SGRWRF, it is directed through a series of treatment technologies effectively removing harmful organisms and other contaminants.  Generally, POTW's are designed to treat domestic sewage only.  The SGRWRF is no exception to this point.  However, as with other cities, the SGRWRF also receives wastewater from industrial and commercial sources, (non-domestic).
 
The General Pretreatment Standards and Regulations establish legal responsibilities of Federal, State, Local government, industry, and the public to implement applicable Pretreatment Standards.  The Pretreatment Standards protect the SGRWRF from pollutants which may pass through or interfere with the SGRWRF treatment processes or which may contaminate the beneficial use of the SGRWRF sewage sludge, (i.e. Biosolids).
 
"Pretreatment" is also defined in Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR) Subsection 403.
 
 
DEFINITIONS: (Ord. 8-4-14.2)
 
Food Service Establishment (FSE): Any building, vehicle, place, or structure, or any room or division in a building, vehicle, place, or structure, where: (A) food is prepared, served, or sold for immediate consumption on or in the vicinity of the premises; (B) called for or taken out by customers; or (C) prepared prior to being delivered to another location for consumption.
 
Grease Interceptor: A structure or device designed for the purpose of removing and preventing fats, oils, and grease from entering the sanitary sewer collection system.  These devices are belowground units in outside areas with a minimum capacity of one thousand (1,000) gallons.
 
 
8-4-14.3:  Interceptor and Trap Installation Specifications:

A. Grease and sand/oil interceptors, as described by the international plumbing code (IPC), shall be required of any commercial user when the SGRWRF determines they are necessary for the proper handling of wastewater containing FOGS in excessive amounts, except such interceptors shall not be required for residential dwelling units.

B. Any commercial user utilizing a three (3) compartment sink shall be required to have either a grease interceptor or grease trap installed at its own expense and shall be required to comply with maintaining the device as outlined in the St. George city pretreatment operating plan.

C. All construction plans for interceptors shall be submitted to SGRWRF for review and approval prior to installation. All interceptors shall be of a type, construction, and capacity approved by SGRWRF.

D. All interceptors shall be constructed of impervious materials capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature. They shall be of substantial construction, watertight, and equipped with easily removable covers which are gas and watertight.

E. All newly constructed commercial structures, strip malls, multi-tenant planned occupied buildings, or planned unoccupied buildings, shall install independent six-inch (6") wastewater discharge lines stubbed out within each designated future food establishment unit. If a new source commercial structure, strip mall, or multi-tenant building has planned occupancy by one or more businesses that do not generate FOG, and therefore do not need a grease interceptor, and the owner of the structure does not facilitate the installation of independent six-inch (6") wastewater discharge line and install a common interceptor, then no future food establishments shall be permitted, unless facilities are retrofitted for independent lines.

F. All newly constructed “stand-alone” commercial structures, strip malls, multi-tenant planned occupied buildings, where a three (3) compartment sink will be utilized, will be required to install a grease interceptor.

G. All existing commercial or industrial businesses shall have one year to install an interceptor upon notification by SGRWRF, where required by SGRWRF standards

H.    Interceptors for businesses that have closed shall be dewatered and cleaned by the owner of said establishment.  A representative of SGRWRF may inspect and verify this process has been completed to the satisfaction of SGRWRF.

I.     Grease traps are only allowed in place of grease interceptors when in the opinion of the manager it is physically impossible to install a grease interceptor outside of the building or business.  As such, a variance request from the owner or lessee of the property must be made to SGRWRF with a certification letter from a duly licensed Utah plumber or engineer.  (Ord. 2016-11-005, 11-10-2016)

 

8-4-14.9: Recordkeeping Requirements:

The following records shall be maintained for no less than three (3) years, and the commercial user shall make them available to the pretreatment coordinator, or designee:

A.     A record or logbook of interceptor or trap cleaning and maintenance practices and activities.  The record or logbook shall include:

        1. Dates cleaned;

        2. Name of waste hauler;

        3. Any observations concerning the effectiveness of the interceptor or trap in controlling FOGS; and 

        4. Any other maintenance performed on the trap or interceptor;

B.     A record or logbook of FSE kitchen Best Management Practices (BMPs) being implemented including employee training;

C.     Any other information deemed appropriate by the pretreatment coordinator to ensure compliance with this chapter; and

D.     Records of any spills and/or cleaning of the lateral or sewer system.  (Ord. 2016-11-005, 11-10-2016)

 
When applying for a business license to operate a Food Service Establishment (including all Food Trucks), your facility will need to complete the applicable documentation and return it to the SGRWRF Pretreatment Department via email, by completing one of the online forms located at the top of this page,  fax or via mail to the following address:
 
 
SGRWRF
Attn: Pretreatment Department
3780 W. 1550 W. 
St. George, Utah 84790
 
Juliette Curtis / Pretreatment Coordinator: (435) 627-4284
fax: (435) 634-5846