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| Residual fats, oils and grease (FOG) is a by-product from food service establishments. Typically, FOG enters a facility’s plumbing system from ware washing, floor cleaning, and equipment sanitation. Sanitary sewer systems are neither designed nor equipped to handle the FOG that can accumulate on the interior of the sewer collection system pipes from improperly maintained discharges. These accumulations may cause a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO). A SSO is the unintentional flow of untreated sewage onto the ground or into a facility, home, or waterway. SSOs create a health risk to the public, damage property, and pollute our environment.<\/p>\n Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How to Properly Clean your Small<\/strong><\/p>\n Grease Trap<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span>(units under 50 gallons)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Tool & Materials<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. A large trash can<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. 2 or 3 trash can liners\/bags (thick or heavy duty)<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. Absorbent material (Floor dry available at auto parts store or clay kitty litter)<\/strong><\/p>\n 4. Proper hand tools and safety equipment to open trap<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n a. hex head wrench (allen wrench), screw driver\/small pry bar, scraper, rubber gloves and safety<\/strong><\/p>\n glasses<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 5. Tools for removing contents<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n a. scoop of some type<\/strong><\/p>\n b. scraper (for cleaning the internal parts)<\/strong><\/p>\n c. wet\/dry vacuum (optional)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 6. Towels\/rags<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s begin:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Prepare your work area (clear area of debris, bleach bottles, and other cleaners).<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. Line the trash can with the garbage bags.<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. Add absorbent material (floor dry or kitty litter) into the lined trash can. This will soak up the<\/strong><\/p>\n water and liquid waste making transport of waste to the dumpster cleaner and safer.<\/strong><\/p>\n Dig in:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Remove the lid of the grease trap.<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. Observe the manner in which the internal parts are installed because you\u2019ll have to re-install<\/strong><\/p>\n them properly when you finish cleaning the trap.<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. Begin removing contents of the grease trap by dipping or vacuuming the waste products<\/strong><\/p>\n from the inside of the grease trap<\/strong><\/p>\n 4. Remove all contents until grease trap is empty<\/strong><\/p>\n 5. Do NOT use hot water, degreasers, or soaps to clean the interior of the trap.<\/strong><\/p>\n 6. Scrape all the inside walls, baffles, and screens to insure movement of water through unit.<\/strong><\/p>\n 7. Inspect and note condition of tank, baffle and all removable parts. Schedule repairs or<\/strong><\/p>\n replacement as needed.<\/strong><\/p>\n 8. Make sure the grease trap has been properly reassembled (all internal parts are in their<\/strong><\/p>\n proper place).<\/strong><\/p>\n 9. Examine the gasket for damage. Replace if necessary \u2013 never use tube silicone as a gasket<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 10. Clean and re-install rubber gasket and reposition lid on tank. Ensure all screws and holddowns<\/strong><\/p>\n are in place and properly tightened.<\/strong><\/p>\n 11. Ensure enough absorbent material has been placed in bag to soak up all excess liquids.<\/strong><\/p>\n Add more if needed. Securely tie the bag of waste closed so that it does not leak.<\/strong><\/p>\n 12. Place bag in the garbage (solid waste) dumpster or designated receptacle. It is illegal to<\/strong><\/p>\n dump grease trap or kitchen waste into storm drains, ponds or outdoor areas.<\/strong><\/p>\n Document and report your maintenance as required by Industrial Pretreatment Regulation:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Complete an entry on the small trap maintenance log to be kept onsite.<\/strong><\/p>\n 2. Complete an entry on the small trap pump-out report which should be mailed in monthly.<\/strong><\/p>\n Cleaning your Grease Trap frequently is \u201ca good thing\u201d for the following reasons:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Fewer smells and odors \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span>The longer waste is trapped the stronger the odors it generates<\/strong><\/span><\/span>2. Longer trap life \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/font><\/font><\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/font><\/span>Rotting foods create acids which eat away at the internal components and tank.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best management practices (BMP) are designed to help facilities comply with environmental<\/strong><\/p>\n regulations and prevent pollution. This BMP contains a set of operating procedures and<\/strong><\/p>\n guidelines designed to reduce the amount of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) discharged to the<\/strong><\/p>\n JEA Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW). The development of this BMP is intended<\/strong><\/p>\n to reduce the amount FOG introduced to the JEA sanitary sewer system and protect the public<\/strong><\/p>\n health and environment from the hazards presented by sanitary sewer overflows.<\/strong><\/p>\n As part of the Clean Water Act, the National Pretreatment Regulation (40CFR 403) was<\/strong><\/p>\n established to protect POTWs and the waterways in which they discharge. The<\/strong><\/p>\n Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delegates this responsibility to the State of Florida<\/strong><\/p>\n Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). In Jacksonville, FL, the State has delegated<\/strong><\/p>\n local authority to JEA (an electric, water, and sewer utility). It is the responsibility of the JEA<\/strong><\/p>\n Industrial Pretreatment (IP) program to regulate non-residential discharges to the POTW.<\/strong><\/p>\n BMP guidelines are enforceable through the JEA Industrial Pretreatment Regulation.<\/strong><\/p>\n |