§ 102-75. City collection system.

(a)

Objective.

(1)

To prevent and minimize the introduction of pollutants into the City of Starke wastewater system that would otherwise be incompatible with the system. The primary concern is, also, to deter abnormal accumulation in the city collection system.

(2)

Wastes that may contain residual (trace amounts) or large quantities of sand, petroleum-based oil and grease shall be directed to a grease interceptor or trap.

(3)

General criteria:

a.

The discharge by a user of certain liquids and wastes may be prohibited or limited by provisions in this chapter or as deemed necessary by the sewer superintendent.

b.

The applied applications of oil, grease, and sand interceptors and oil/water separators shall be approved by the building official and/or sewer superintendent prior to installation.

c.

Sand, oil, and grease interceptors, and oil/water separators, shall be installed in a location that provides easy access for inspections, cleaning, and proper maintenance at all times.

d.

Oil, sand and grease interceptors and oil/water separators shall be installed according to the latest editions of the Florida Building Codes or as the city may deem necessary but not to supercede the building codes and standards.

e.

Nonresidential establishments that prepare process or serve food or food products shall have an approved sand, oil and grease interceptor. Nonresidential establishments, such as commercial laundries, car washes, and automotive related facilities that have the potential to discharge petroleum based oil and grease and sand shall have an approved oil/water separator, as appropriate.

f.

Oil, sand and grease interceptors shall be sized on an individual case-by-case basis.

g.

Multifamily dwellings, such as triplexes, quadraplexes, apartment complexes, apartment building or other areas of intensified dwelling which are found to be contributing sand, oil and grease in quantities sufficient to cause main line stoppages, lift station malfunction or the cause of increased maintenance on the collection system shall be directed to cease the discharging of sand, oil, and grease and install a grease interceptor at the owner/operator sole expense, as approved by the sewer superintendent.

h.

Oil, sand and grease interceptors and oil/water separators shall be installed solely at the user's expense. Also, the proper operation, maintenance and repair shall be done solely at his user's expense.

i.

The sewer superintendent or building official, at their discretion, may assign a non-residential to the grease ordinance program.

(b)

New facilities. Facilities which are newly proposed, constructed, expanded or renovated to include a food service facility shall be required to install an approved sand, oil, and grease interceptor or an oil/water separator prior to the opening or reopening of the respective facility if it is likely to discharge sand, oil, and/or grease.

(c)

Existing facilities. On or after the effective date of this chapter, all existing facilities that are in ownership of an existing sand, oil and grease interceptor and/or an oil/water separator shall assume appropriate reporting, maintenance, repairs, and responsibilities from this date forth.

(d)

Extension. Any request for extension must be made in writing to the sewer superintendent at least five working days prior to the compliance date set forth including the reason for the inability to comply with this section.

(e)

Maintenance.

(1)

Cleaning and maintenance shall be performed by the user. This will include the removal of all contents including the sludge bottom and solids.

(2)

Oil, sand and grease interceptors and oil/water separators shall be pumped out completely at six months (180-day) intervals or more frequently as needed to prevent the carryover from entering the collection system.

(3)

Under-the-sink sand, oil and grease traps shall be cleaned at a minimum of once per month or more frequent as deemed necessary to prevent the passing of grease and food particles to the city collection system.

(4)

Pumping frequency shall be determined by the sewer superintendent based on, but not limited to, flows, quantity of sand, oil and grease in the discharge, and hours of operation.

(5)

In no such way shall additives (such as emulsifiers, enzymes, and commercial bacteria) be added to any oil and grease interceptors and oil/water separators designed to eliminate grease and oils.

(6)

The flushing of any interceptors or separators with water exceeding 140 degrees Fahrenheit shall be strictly prohibited.

(7)

All maintenance of grease management devices, including disposal shall be performed at the user's expense.

(8)

Any discharging or back flushing of removed waste back into a city collection system point of entry, manhole, lift station, or otherwise, is strictly prohibited.

(f)

Reporting procedures. The pumping of interceptors and/or separators shall be traced by a manifest and the information shall be submitted to city hall, by mail or fax, within 72 hours of compliance for reporting purposes.

(g)

Enforcement.

(1)

The enforcement action shall be taken when a user violates one or more of the following:

a.

Reporting pumping activity;

b.

Properly maintain (cleaning and pumping) the interceptors/separators in accordance with this ordinance.

(2)

In the event a user requires corrective action, the user will be served with a written notice from the sewer superintendent and shall have 72 hours to complete the corrective action and submit appropriate documents to city hall by mail or fax.

(3)

Should a user violate or violate continuously, and/or fail to make corrective action, the sewer superintendent may pursue one or more of the following options:

a.

Have the sand, grease and oil interceptor/separator pumped and the charge planed on the user's monthly sewer bill,

b.

Assesses a reasonable fee per each violation;

c.

Terminate water and sewer service after exhausting appropriate efforts to resolve the issue and comply with the user.

(4)

The user shall pay all outstanding fees and penalties before utilities will be reinstated.

(5)

Any user that is found in violation of this ordinance shall be served written notice by the City of Starke, personally, or by registered mail or certified mail pertaining to the nature of the violation, corrective action, and reasonable amount of time to comply.

(6)

The sewer superintendent, at his discretion, may assign a non-residential user to comply with this ordinance.

(7)

If deemed necessary, any sample collection and/or laboratory analysis shall be, at the cost of the user, by city personnel or a certified laboratory. Copies of results and fees shall be forwarded to the user.

( Ord. No. 2015-0723, §§ 1—7, 8-4-2015 )

Cross reference

Chapter 42, Environment; chapter 54, health and sanitation; chapter 86, solid waste.