Grease Management Requirements
For Food Service Facilities Located Within
Johnson County Wastewater Districts
The Sewer Use Code regulates usage of the
wastewater system within the Johnson County Unified Wastewater
Districts (JCUWD). Effective January 1, 2003, a Grease Management Program was
approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
Revisions to the Code implement new grease management requirements for
food service facilities located within the JCUWD. These requirements
are designed to address problems with excessive grease discharges to the sewer
system that clog the wastewater lines, causing significant repair
costs and adverse impacts to the environment.
Many of the Code changes simply formalize grease management requirements
already being enforced through general authority in the Code.
The new Code is effective January 1, 2003.
The key elements of the grease management requirements in the new Code
are as follows:
Food service facilities are exempt from the numerical grease limitation
that other industrial users of the wastewater system must meet.
New food service facilities must install an exterior grease interceptor
unless they are only serving drinks or selling prepackaged food.
Low grease discharge facilities such as cold sandwich
shops may be eligible to apply for a waiver from the
requirement to install any grease control device. If
approved, the facility must still be permitted and
employees follow Best Management Practices.
Existing food service facilities without exterior grease interceptors
are grandfathered from the requirement to install one, unless grease
discharges are causing a problem in the wastewater system or the
facility modifies the menu or kitchen equipment in a way that may
cause a problem for the wastewater system.
Garbage disposals and interior grease traps are prohibited at new facilities.
Existing facilities are grandfathered unless they are causing a problem
for the wastewater system.
New exterior grease interceptors are required to meet design criteria.
Plans for new interceptors must be submitted and approved prior to
installation.
Exterior grease interceptors must meet operating requirements:
Interceptors must be pumped at least once every
90 days or more frequently if necessary. Alternative pumping
schedules will be considered if the facility demonstrates that the
proposed schedule meets certain criteria and is adequately
protective of the wastewater system.
A licensed sanitary disposal contractor
must be licensed by the Johnson County Environmental
Department and must be used to provide pumping, cleaning, and disposal
service for grease interceptors.
Facilities must maintain grease interceptor maintenance records on site for
inspection.
Grease interceptors must be adequately maintained and repaired
as necessary.
Food service facilities with exterior grease interceptors located within
the JCUWD boundaries are required to apply for and be issued an annual operating
permit.
Food service facilities with exterior grease interceptors located within
JCUWD are required to pay an annual $288.75 operating permit fee due
March 1 of each year. New facilities will pay a $288.75 grease interceptor
plan review fee that exempts them from the operating permit fee for that
year.
Food service facilities with exterior grease interceptors located within
JCUWD boundaries will be inspected at least annually for compliance with
the Code. Facilities will be notified in writing of any violations and
will be given a reasonable timeframe to return to compliance.
Facilities that have received a notice of violation of the grease management
requirements are subject to a graduated re-inspection fee of $100 to $300 if the
violation is not corrected within the timeframe specified in the
violation notice.
Ongoing and persistent violations of the grease interceptor requirements
are subject to Code enforcement tickets and a fine of $100 to $500 if
convicted.
There are about 1,700 food service facilities located within the JCUWD
boundaries. Of those, about 700 have exterior grease interceptors.
