Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2021-08 and Resolution No. 2021-13:  An ordinance amending the interceptors types, capacity, location, and maintenance for the regulation of fats, oils, and grease coming into Flagstaff's water reclamation plants; and a resolution adopting the Fats, Oil, and Grease Manual.

Water Services is proposing adoption by resolution of a Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) manual.   Adoption of the FOG manual includes changes to Flagstaff City code 7-02-001-0014 and will help to clarify 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 has reached out to the food services industries and scavenger waste haulers by direct Email, a notice published in the Arizona Daily Sun, published information on the Flagstaff Water Services' website, and a presentation to the Water Commission.  Staff also had an on-line public meeting to answer public questions/comments.

Adoption of the FOG manual and amendments to Flagstaff City Code Section 7-02-001-0014 will not require any additional costs to Water Services.

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 of raw sewage coming out of manholes.  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-outs 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 the 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 FOG Manual and amendment to Flagstaff City Code Section 7-02-001-0014 support the Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
Sustainable, Innovative Infrastructure - Deliver outstanding services to residents through a healthy, well maintained infrastructure system
The FOG manual helps the Water Services Division keep grease and food wastes out of the sewer collection system, which prevents sanitary sewer overflows and additional stress to the water reclamation plants.

Water Services provided a presentation on the FOG manual and amendments to Flagstaff City Code Section 7-02-001-0014 during a Work Session on January 12, 2021