Item 8CAGENDA ITEM # 8C
AUGUST 25, 2008
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG) Program
SUBMITTED BY: Donna Kaluzniak, Utility Direct
DATE: July 31, 2008
BACKGROUND: Fat, oil and grease (FOG) cause major problems in sanitary sewer systems.
Unstopping grease-clogged sewers and repairing malfunctioning equipment costs the City thousands
of dollars each year.
Our City Code, as well as state and federal law, prohibits the discharge of FOG to our system. Food
service establishments, which include restaurants, delis, and church, school or community center
kitchens, are required to keep their grease traps and interceptors pumped out on a regular basis.
However, the City has not enforced this requirement in the past.
There are over 80 food service establishments in the City's service area, and they will be notified by
mail of the FOG program. The City will require food service establishments to pump out their grease
traps/interceptors every 90 days, or more frequently if necessary, and submit reports to the City.
The City will keep a list of contractors (piggybacked from JEA) that agree to complete the regulatory
paperwork for the food service establishments as they do their pump-outs. Restaurants and other
establishments can voluntarily use these contractors to lessen the administrative work load.
City staffwill perform random inspections to ensure the grease traps and interceptors are properly
maintained, and will monitor the pump-out records to ensure the work is being completed.
BUDGET: No funding or additional personnel are being requested for the program. As food service
establishments begin complying with the law, staff expects to see a cost savings for sewer-related
problems.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to implement the Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG) Program
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Atlantic Beach Fat, Oil and Grease Program Overview
REVIEWED BY CITY MANA~.GF.R: ~
AGENDA ITEM # 8C
AUGUST 25, 2008
City of Atlantic Beach FOG (Fat, Oil & Grease) Program
The Problem
Over 80 food service establishments (restaurants, cafeterias, delis, church kitchens, etc)
discharge to the Atlantic Beach sewer system. Fat, oil and grease (FOG) from the kitchens
blocks sewer pipes, coats pumps and wetwells, and causes sewer backups and overflows.
The City spent over $15,000 in FY07 unblocking grease-clogged sewers, cleaning out wetwells
and repairing pumps and equipment caked with grease.
In addition to the City's costs, sewer overflows can cause environmental damage and lead to
regulatory fines. And sewer backups are bad news for businesses and homeowners.
Restaurants are required by law to keep their grease traps clean and working properly.
However, without oversight, maintaining the grease trap and keeping up with the associated
paperwork is just one more thing on a busy business-owner's to-do list-and is most often
neglected.
The FOG Program
Atlantic Beach is implementing a FOG Program to reduce the discharge of grease to our sewer
system. JEA started a FOG Program in 2004, and by 2007 they reduced the overall number of
sanitary sewer events by about 50%. Atlantic Beach's program will closely parallel 1EA's and will
utilize JEA's Preferred Haulers.
We'll be working with professional haulers to offer Food Service Establishments (FSEs) an easier
way to implement the program. These "Preferred Haulers" are contractors that have proven
qualifications and voluntarily accept the reporting responsibilities for FSEs wishing to use their
services.
The Plan
Here are the steps we'll betaking:
• Register contractors that wish to be on the City's Preferred Hauler list
• Notify all FSEs in writing about the FOG Program requirements, and provide copies of
the required forms.
• Obtain registration forms from all FSEs.
• Set up a spreadsheet and filing system for reports.
• FSEs will be required to have a Plumber or Preferred Hauler Certify their grease
trap/interceptor to be in proper operating condition.
1
AGENDA ITEM # 8C
AUGUST 25, 2008
• FSEs will be required to pump out their grease traps/interceptors quarterly or more
often if grease level is over 25% of interceptor.
• Preferred Haulers will submit pumpout reports, or FSEs will submit if they do their own.
• City will perform random inspections; notify FSE and hauler of any problems.
• FSEs that fail to register for the program or fail to keep their grease traps/interceptors
properly cleaned and maintained will be subject to code enforcement and the potential
for water cut-off. They may also be responsible for any damage or costs caused by the
grease discharge.
0 1St Offense -Verbal Warning
0 2"d Offense -Written Notice
0 3`d Offense -Referred to Code Enforcement
0 4th Offense -Possible Interruption of Service
Proposed Schedule:
Activity Proposed Completion Date
Register Preferred Haulers 9/1/08
Notify FSEs about Program and Provide Forms and Preferred
Hauler List
9/15/08
Hold educational workshops for FSEs September 2008
Require FSEs to send in Registration Forms 9/30/08
Require FSEs to submit Grease Trap/Interceptor Certification by 11/1/08
Require first pump-out report by 11/1/08
Begin schedule of pump-outs quarterly or more frequently if
grease level is >25% of trap/interceptor volume 2/1/09
2