Discussion of Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) manual and changes to the septage and grease receiving (Scavenger Waste) Program

Water Services is proposing two changes to the City Code. 

The first change will impact the food services industry with code changes to the requirements of oil/water separators and the adoption of a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) manual.  The desired outcome is adoption by resolution of the draft FOG Manual to clarify the design and size of oil/water separators and require an electronic tracking system to document interceptor pump-out schedules.

The second will impact the septage and grease (also known as scavenger wastes) haulers that dispose at the Wildcat Hill Water Reclamation Plant with changes to the Scavenger Waster Program.  The desired outcome is the adoption of changes to clarify rules for permitting and manifesting septic and grease haulers to protect our Wildcat Hill Water Reclamation Plant.

Water Services is proposing two changes to the City Code.  The first will impact the food services industry with the adoption of a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) manual.  The second will impact the septage and grease haulers that dispose at the Wildcat Hill Water Reclamation Plant with changes to the Scavenger Waster Program.

Adoption of the FOG manual includes changes to the City's code 7-02-001-0014 and will help to clarify the sizing and maintenance of oil/water interceptors.  The FOG manual will provide a much-needed guide for City staff and customers in the food handling industry, such as commercial restaurants and other commercial facilities that require an interceptor.  The manual will set the expectations for sizing, installation, and maintenance criteria for oil/water and lint separators.  Additionally, the manual will allow enforcement of substandard interceptors that can cause blockages in City sewer lines and sewer overflows.

Scavenger wastes include grease and septage disposed at the Wildcat Hill Water Reclamation Plant (WRP).  Flagstaff Water Services is proposing changes to the scavenger wastes, found in Flagstaff City code 7-02-001-0042 which includes revising the permits issued by Flagstaff Water Services to scavenger waste haulers and revising the reporting manifests that are used to track wastes disposed at Wildcat Hill WRP.  Code changes are needed to assure the plant remains in compliance with existing permits and code.   These changes will only impact scavenger waste haulers that discharge to the Wildcat Hill WRP, which is the only facility in the area that accepts grease and septage.

Flagstaff Water Services has reached out to the food services industries and scavenger waste haulers by direct Email, a notice published in the Arizona Daily Sun, information published on Flagstaff Water Services website, and a presentation to the Water Commission.  Staff also had an on-line public meeting to answer public questions/comments.

Making these recommended code changes will serve to benefit all affected businesses in that it brings clarity to what must be done to meet code, and the changes will ensure staff's consistency in administering the program.

The City of Flagstaff has a FOG program to minimize grease and oil generated from restaurants and food establishments from clogging and impeding flow in the City sewage collection system, which can and does lead to sanitary sewer overflows.  The City requires interceptors to collect and remove grease from these businesses for waste streams prior to reaching the City collection system.  The interceptors must be designed and operated correctly to be effective.  They require periodic pump-out and inspections as part of a regular maintenance program.  The City has a voluntary electronic reporting system to verify interceptors have been properly pumped and maintained.  All businesses using the system have been found to be in compliance during a recent investigation of sanitary sewer overflows.  Other businesses, not using the electronic reporting system, were inspected after a sanitary sewer overflow and were found to have grease making its way to the sewage collection system.

The City accepts septage and grease at its Wildcat Hill Water Reclamation Plant from businesses in and around Flagstaff.  These include septic sludge pumped from homes throughout Coconino County, such as Oak Creek Canyon, Doney Park, and Williams and grease from a 20-mile radius of the City limits.  These loads can contain materials that may cause a plant upset.  City code changes are needed to require additional permitting and tracking requirements to help prevent materials from entering the plant that can cause harm and help identify which haulers may be bringing in such loads.