NCS000407_FOG's Ordinance_20200526

MOUNT
HoLLY
FATS, OILS AND GREASES ORDINANCE
ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ONAPRIL 14, 2014

CITY OF MOUNT HOLLY NC
FATS, OILS, & GREASE (FOG) CONTROL ORDINANCE
In an effort to curb sanitary sewer overflows (SSO's) from grease accumulation in its
sanitary sewer mains, the City of Mount Holly adopted, at its public meeting on
April 14, 2014 a revised Fats, Oils, & Grease (FOG) Ordinance. Any nonresidential facility
connected to the City of Mount Holly sanitary sewer collection and treatment system
involved in the preparation or serving of foods will be subject to the conditions of this
ordinance.
City of Mount Holly — FATS, OILS, AND GREASE CONTROL ORDINANCE
Adopted by City Council: April 14, 2014
A. Scope and Purpose
To aid in the prevention of sanitary sewer blockages and obstructions from the
contributions and accumulation of fats, oils, and greases into the City of Mount Holly
sewer system from industrial, commercial, and institutional establishments, particularly
food preparation and servingfacilities.
B. Definitions
Fats, Oils, and Greases — Organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant
sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. These substances are
detectable and measureable using analytical test procedures in 40 CFR 136, as may be
amended from time to time. All are sometimes referred to herein as "Grease " or
"Greases ".
Grease Trap or Interceptor —A device for separating and retaining waterborne
Greases and Grease complexes prior to the wastewater exiting the trap and entering the
sanitary sewer collection and treatment system. These devices also serve to collect
settleable solids, generated by and from food preparation activities, prior to the water
exiting the trap and entering the sanitary sewer collection and treatment system. Grease
Traps and Interceptors are sometimes referred to herein as "Grease Interceptors ".

Cooking Establishments — Those establishments primarily engaged in activities of
preparing, serving, or otherwise making available for consumption foodstuffs and that
use one or more of the following preparation activities: cooking by frying (all methods),
baking (all methods), grilling, sauteing, rotisserie cooking, broiling (all methods),
boiling, blanching, roasting, toasting, or poaching. Also included are infrared heating,
searing, barbecuing, and any other food preparation activity that produces hot, non -
drinkable food product in or on a receptacle that requires washing. Such definition
normally includes any establishment that has a food service license.
Non -Cooking Establishments — Those establishments primarily engaged in the
preparation of precooked foodstuffs that do not include any form of cooping. These
include cold dairy frozen foodstuffs preparation and serving establishments. Such
definition normally includes any establishment that has a food service license.
Minimum Design Capacity — The design features of a Grease Interceptor and its ability
or volume required to effectively arrest and retain Greases from grease -laden
wastewaters discharged to the sanitary sewer system.
User — Any person, including those located outside the jurisdictional limits of the City,
who contributes, causes or permits the contribution of discharge of wastewater into the
Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), including persons who contribute such
wastewater from mobile sources, such as those who discharge hauled wastewater.
Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator — The City of Mount Holly employee responsible for
the enforcement of all provisions and regulations pertaining to the FOG (Fats, Oils, &
Grease) Control Ordinance.
C. Grease Interceptor Maintenance, Record Keeping, and Grease Removal
1. Grease Interceptors shall be installed by Users as required by the City of Mount Holly
Sewer Use Ordinance -Section 2.10 (c). Grease Interceptors shall be installed at the
User's expense, when such User operates a Cooking Establishment. Grease
Interceptors may also be required in non -cooking or cold dairy and frozen foodstuffs
establishments and other industrial, commercial, or institutional establishments when
they are deemed necessary by the City of Mount Holly Pretreatment/FOG
Coordinator for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing Grease.

2. No user shall allow wastewater discharge concentration from subject Grease
Interceptor to exceed 250 milligrams per liter, as identified by EPA analytical method
1664.
3. All Grease Interceptors/Traps shall be designed, installed, and located in accordance
with the City of Mount Holly Standard Details and Specifications and will allow for
complete access to inspection, cleaning, maintenance, etc. All outdoor grease
interceptors shall have a locking mechanism on all manhole covers as deemed
acceptable by the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator. No Grease Interceptor shall be less
than 1000 gallons or greater than 1500 gallons. When required capacity exceeds 1500
gallons then smaller Grease Interceptors installed in series shall be required. There
shall be one exception: if a new or existing facility is limited by space and cannot
feasibly install a 1000 gallon Grease Interceptor, then an under the counter Grease
Trap with a minimum rating of fifteen (15) gallons per minute with a Grease retention
capacity of thirty (30) pounds may be installed with approval from the Utility
Director or Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator.
4. All Grease Interceptors shall be subject to review, evaluation, and inspection by the
Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator during normal working hours. Results of inspections
will be made available to facility owner, lease holder or operator. The
Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator may make recommendations for correction and
improvement.
5. All such Grease Interceptors shall be serviced and emptied of accumulated waste
content as required in order to maintain Minimum Design Capacity or effective
volume of the Grease Interceptor, but not to exceed every ninety (90) days. In floor
and under-the-counter Grease Traps shall be cleaned not less than every thirty (30)
days.
6. Users who are required to pass water through a Grease Interceptor shall:
a. Provide a minimum hydraulic retention time of twenty-four (24) minutes at actual
peak flow of twelve (12) minutes at the calculated theoretical peak flow rate as
predicted by the Uniform Plumbing Code fixture criteria, between the influent and
effluent baffles with twenty (20) percent of the total volume of the Grease
Interceptor being allowed for sludge to settle and accumulate, identified hereafter
as "Sludge Pocket".
b. Remove any accumulated Grease Cap and Sludge Pocket as required, but at
intervals not to exceed ninety (90) days for all outdoor Grease Interceptors and
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thirty (30) days for all indoor units at the User's expense. Grease Interceptors
shall be kept free of inorganic solid materials such as grit, rocks, sand, gravel,
eating utensils, shells, cigarettes, towels, rags, etc., which could settle into the
Sludge Pocket and thereby reduce the effective volume of the Grease Interceptor.
c. Accept the following conditions: If any skimmed or pumped wastes removed
from the Grease Interceptor are treated in any fashion on site and reintroduced
back into the Grease Interceptor as an activity of and after said onsite treatment,
the User shall be responsible for the attainment of established Grease numerical
limit consistent with and contained in Section (C) Number (2) on all discharges of
wastewater from said Grease Interceptor into the City of Mount Holly sanitary
sewer collection and treatment system.
d. Operate the Grease Interceptor in a manner so as to maintain the device such that
attainment of the grease limit is consistently achieved. "Consistent" shall mean
any wastewater sample taken from said Grease Interceptor shall be subject to
terms of numerical limit attainment described in Section (C) Number (2). If an
establishment desires to use an alternative to an out -of -building Grease
Interceptor, because of documented space restraints, the request for an alternative
location shall contain the following information:
1. Location of City sewer main and easement in relation to available
exterior space outside building.
2. Existing plumbing at or in a site that uses common plumbing for
all services at that site.
e. Understand and agree that: The use of chemicals, grease solvents, emulsifiers, or
thermal sources to temporarily dissolve fats, oils, and grease in lieu of physical
cleaning is not considered acceptable grease trap maintenance practice and is
prohibited.
f. Understand and agree that: The use of enzymes and special bacteria formulations
to reduce grease trap accumulations may be allowed in certain cases. A temporary
approval may be given for a maximum of six (6) months to prove their
effectiveness. Pump out frequency may be reduced at the discretion of the
Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator if products used prove to be effective. The burden
of documenting these findings is the responsibility of the discharger and will
require monthly service reports detailing the service provided and products used.
If inspection by the Pretreatment staff determines this treatment to be
unsatisfactory, normal pumping frequency shall be resumed as provided for
elsewhere in this document.
g. Understand and agree that: Garbage grinders shall not be discharged into grease
removal device. Special approval of garbage grinders by the Pretreatment /FOG
Coordinator will be determined on a case by case basis and must discharge
directly into the sewer system. (It is not recommended that garbage

grinders/disposals be used in commercial food establishments due to the amount
of solid waste that is discharged into the sewer collection system. The debris
creates sewer blockages and increased maintenance and repair of the wastewater
plant and equipment.)
h. Dishwashers shall not discharge into "under-the-counter" Grease traps or
underground Interceptors less than 1500 gallon capacity. If the trap is sized to
provide the manufacturers recommended detention time and the trap is located far
enough away from the dishwasher to allow cooling of the water to less than 110
degrees F, the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator may grant an exception. A request
shall be made to the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator, and only after approval has
been given can the dishwasher be installed accordingly. All wastewater from the
dishwasher's pre -rinse station must be discharged into the grease removal system.
i. Understand and agree that: The Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator reserves the right
to make determinations of Grease Interceptor adequacy and need, based on review
of all relevant information regarding Grease Interceptor performance, facility site
and building plan review and to require repairs to, modifications, or replacement
of such traps.
j. Understand and agree that: The Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator will conduct
facility inspections at a minimum of once every quarter or otherwise at his/her
discretion. Every effort will be made to schedule inspections at a time that will be
convenient to the management staff of said facility. The Pretreatment Staff will
coordinate with the User during regular quarterly pumping to inspect the
condition of the Grease Interceptor walls, bottom, top, cover, inlet and outlet
pipes, and baffles.
k. Understand and agree that: Disposal of fryer oil into the city sewer system or
storm water system is specifically prohibited. The City of Mount Holly strongly
encourages the recycling of used cooking oil. Facility owners may contact the
Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator for a list of Renderers/Haulers.
7. The User shall submit a Grease Interceptor Maintenance Log form provided by the
City to the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator at the time of each inspection. The User
shall maintain a written record of Grease Interceptor maintenance for a period of
three (3) years. All such records shall be made available for inspection by
Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator upon request. The following information must be
maintained: receipt for job performed signed by contractor, clean out date, owner or
manager of the facility, name and license number of firm performing the clean out,
disposal method and final destination of material removed.

S. No non -grease laden sources are allowed to be connected to sewer lines intended for
Grease Interceptor service.
9. Except as provided herein, for a period of three (3) months following adoption of this
Ordinance, although installation and maintenance of Grease Interceptors will be
required, no enforcement actions will be pursued under this Ordinance for failure to
achieve limits on Grease discharges from said Grease Interceptors. If, during this
three (3) month period an obstruction of a City sewer main(s) occurs or a sewer lift
station problem occurs that causes a sewer overflow to the extent that an impact on
the environment is realized and that said overflow or failure of the sanitary sewer
collection system to convey sewage can be attributed in part or in whole to an
accumulation of Grease from your establishment in the City's sewer main(s) or lift
station, the City of Mount Holly will take appropriate enforcement actions and may
hold responsible the User liable for costs related to service calls for sewer line
blockages, line cleaning, line and pump repairs, fines, etc. including all labor,
materials, and equipment. Failure to pay all service related charges may also be
grounds for sewer service discontinuance.
10. Grease Interceptor access manholes, with a minimum diameter of 24 inches, shall be
provided over each chamber and sanitary tee. The access manholes shall extend at
least to finished grade and be designed and maintained to prevent water inflow and
infiltration. The manholes shall also have readily removable covers to facilitate
inspection, Grease removal, and wastewater sampling activities.
D. Existing Facilities
1. All existing Cooking Establishments (or renovated or expanded establishments) shall
have Grease Interceptors approved by the City of Mount Holly Pretreatment/FOG
Coordinator. Cooking Establishments without Grease Interceptors will be given a
deadline not to exceed one (1) year from the date of ratification of this Ordinance.
2. Failure to comply will be considered a violation of the City of Mount Holly Fats,
Oils, and Grease Ordinance and such facilities may be subject to penalties and
corrective actions. Said installations shall meet the same requirements for design as
new facilities.
3. In the event a Cooking Establishment's Grease Interceptor is either under -designed or
substandard in accordance with this policy the owner(s) will be notified in writing of
the deficiencies and improvements, and given a compliance deadline not to exceed
six (6) months to conform to the requirements of this policy.

E. New Facilities
1. All new Cooking Establishments shall be required to install a minimum 1000 gallon
outdoor Grease Interceptor.
2. No new Food Service Establishments will be allowed to initiate operations until an
adequate Grease Interceptor is installed and approved by the City of Mount Holly.
3. Site plans must be submitted for all new Food Service Establishments. Site plans
must be signed and sealed by a North Carolina licensed professional engineer to
certify the plan meets all requirements of this Ordinance.
F. Variances
1. Variances to the design and maintenance requirements contained herein may be
requested. The User must submit sufficient documentation as required by the Utility
Director or Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator that explains the need to vary from design
or maintenance requirements. The City will notify in writing of acceptance or denial
of variance request. The City reserves the right to revoke the variance when deemed
necessary.
G. Violations and Penalties
1. Any User who does not install Grease handling equipment or does not have the
equipment inspected and approved by the Pretreatment /FOG Coordinator shall be in
violation of this Ordinance. The responsibility for enforcement of these regulations
shall be vested in the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator and he/she is authorized to issue
notices of violations, compliance schedules, impose fines and penalties as provided
elsewhere in this document for violations of these regulations.
2. It shall be a violation of this Ordinance for any User to allow fats, oils, or greases to
enter the City of Mount Holly wastewater collection or treatment system, in excess of
the limits outlined in Section (C) Number (2), because of Grease Interceptors or other
Grease handling facilities being inadequately serviced or maintained.
3. Grease Interceptors shall be inspected at the City's discretion. Users shall allow the
Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator ready access at all reasonable times to all parts of the
premises for the purpose of inspection, sampling, and records examination. The City
shall have the right to set up on the User's property such devices as are necessary to

conduct sampling, inspection, and compliance monitoring operations. Denial of the
City's access to the User's property shall be deemed a violation of this Ordinance.
4. Users receiving unsatisfactory evaluations during inspections shall be sampled at the
Grease Interceptor discharge by the Pretreatment/FOG Coordinator and said sample
shall be analyzed by a certified laboratory for oil and grease. Users shall be charged a
fee to cover the cost of sample analysis. Any user found to be in violation shall be
notified in writing of any noncompliance and will be required to provide a schedule
whereby corrections will be accomplished. In addition, a re -sample fee may be
charged to the User for each additional sample collected and analyzed until the User
has re-established compliance with this Ordinance.
5. Users whose operations cause or allow excessive grease to discharge or accumulate in
the City of Mount Holly wastewater collection and treatment system may be liable to
the City for costs related to service calls for sewer line blockages, line cleaning, line
and pump repairs, etc. including all labor, materials, and equipment. Failure to pay all
service related charges may also be grounds for sewer service discontinuance.
H. Fees
1. Any User that is subject to sampling by Pretreatment personnel will be assessed the
cost for any analytical testing fees.
I. Fine Schedule
"Users have the right to appeal fines by contacting the City of Mount Holly Utility Director.
1. Minor Violation
lst Offense:
Inspection Hindrance (equipment related)
(Notice of Non -Compliance)
Failure to maintain on -site records
(Notice of Non -Compliance)
Failure to pump grease and maintain records
(Notice of Non -Compliance)
2"d Offense:
Inspection Hindrance (equipment related) $50.00 (Notice of Violation)
Failure to maintain on -site records $50.00 (Notice of Violation)
Failure to pump grease and maintain records $150.00 (Notice of Violation)

P Offense:
Inspection Hindrance (equipment related) $200.00 (Notice of Violation)
Failure to maintain on -site records $200.00 (Notice of Violation)
Failure to pump grease and maintain records $500.00 (Notice of Violation)
4d' Offense:
Inspection Hindrance (equipment related) Sewer Service Discontinued
Failure to maintain on -site records Sewer Service Discontinued
Failure to pump grease and maintain records Sewer Service Discontinued
2. Intermediate Violation
"Failure to maintain necessary equipment (T's, grease trap not watertight, baffles, etc.)
I" Offense $100.00 (Notice of Violation)
2u1 Offense $200.00 (Notice of Violation)
Yd Offense $500.00 (Notice of Violation)
41" Offense
3. Major 111olation
1" Offense
Source of sewer blockage
Source of sanitary sewer overflow
Falsification of records
2nd Offense
Source of sewer blockage
Source of sanitary sewer overflow
Falsification of records
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Sewer Service Discontinued
$500.00 (Notice of Violation)
$500.00 (Notice of Violation)
$500.00 (Notice of Violation)
$1000.00 (Notice of Violation)
$1000.00 (Notice of Violation)
$1000.00 (Notice of Violation)

3'a Offense
Source of sewer blockage
Source of sanitary sewer overflow
Falsification of records
4a' Offense
Source of sewer blockage
Source of sanitary sewer overflow
Falsification of records
Me& of Revision
$1500.00 (Notice of Violation)
$1500.00 (Notice of Violation)
$1500.00 (Notice of Violation)
Sewer Service Discontinued
Sewer Service Discontinued
Sewer Service Discontinued
The City of Mount Holly reserves the right to revise this ordinance as conditions warrant.
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