All grease interceptors must be approved by the LFUCG Division of Water Quality prior to installation. This is to ensure that the interceptor meets sizing requirements and construction standards, and conforms to plumbing codes. The following information must be submitted to Division of Water Quality, Compliance and Monitoring section, to obtain approval and be issued a grease interceptor permit.
- Proposed interceptor location
- Proposed size of grease interceptor
- Detailed drawing of interceptor and piping
- Number and type of fixtures proposed to be attached
After approval, the facility will be issued a grease interceptor permit and the grease interceptor can be installed. The Division of Water Quality will inspect the grease interceptor after installation is complete. The grease interceptor permit must be kept on file at the facility.
Design requirements:
As per LFUCG ordinance requirements, grease interceptors shall be constructed of impervious materials capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperatures, shall be of substantial construction, watertight and equipped with easily removable covers. The interceptor shall contain a baffle system, which adequately diverts and slows the flow to avoid short-circuiting. Interceptors located in roadways or parking lots should be traffic rated.
Maintenance:
Grease interceptors should be cleaned on a regular basis to ensure efficient operation. The Division of Water Quality requires that external grease interceptors be cleaned no less than once every six months. The necessary frequency of cleaning will vary greatly depending on the nature of the establishment. Factors such as types of food, cooking methods, cleaning techniques, carry-out verses dine-in, all will determine volume of grease discharged. Facilities with high grease loadings may have to clean their interceptors as often as monthly. Facilities with under-sized internal grease interceptors are required to clean at least weekly or possibly even daily. Many of the techniques found in the Best Management Practices section of this manual should be helpful in the reduction of grease discharges, and thus reduced the frequency of grease interceptors cleanings.
To properly clean a grease interceptor, the entire contents (liquids and solids) must be pumped out. Leaving accumulated solids in the bottom of grease interceptors can lead to short circuiting and reduced retention times, as well as, very unpleasant odors.
Maintenance of external large capacity grease interceptors should be performed by qualified grease or septic haulers. These services typically will empty the entire contents with a pumper truck and haul the grease and sludge to an approved disposal site. A list of local septic/grease haulers is available on our website. Smaller under counter grease interceptors can be cleaned by in-house staff. Refer to manufacturers cleaning procedure as cleaning methods may vary with type of unit.
The Division of Water Quality requires that cleaning events be recorded and kept on file.
Record keeping:
Maintenance and cleaning events must be recorded in written form and kept on file on site. Receipts or manifests from private pumping septic and grease haulers should indicate destination of hauled waste, i.e. Town Branch WWTP, Lexington KY. The records shall be made available to LFUCG Division of Water Quality inspectors upon request. Maintenance records shall contain the following information:
- Date of Maintenance
- Person performing maintenance
- Estimated volume of grease removed
- Disposal location, Example: Grease recycle bin, Town Branch WWTP, etc.
- Manager’s signature or initials for verification
- A copy of the FOG Permit issued by the Division of Water Quality shall be kept on file at the facility the permit has been issued to.