Legal Documents of Gatlinburg

Grease, wax, oil and sand trap collectors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of harmful ingredients; except that such collectors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the superintendent; and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning, pumping and inspection.

Grease traps are required at all commercial sources. Generally, this includes but is not limited to, sinks, dishwashers, spray off sinks, garbage grinders, grease racks, and floor drains. Floor drain traps are required for all new installations after August 1, 1983. An establishment can elect to provide one grease trap for all grease sources provided the one trap is sized to accommodate all flows simultaneously. Grease traps are to be plumbed so as to avoid receiving sanitary sewage. Inspection manholes will be provided as described in § 18-222.

For purposes of sizing grease traps, one for each source, the following guidelines are provided for determining flow rate (Q):

Flow rates lower than those presented can be accepted by the superintendent based upon equipment size and types if justified or based upon actual testing of installed units. For background information and testing procedures, the applicant is referred to "Section II-D, Flow Studies, Gatlinburg Grease Ordinance Studies" by Dennis Weeter Associates, Inc., July 1983, which is on file in the superintendent's office. The applicant can petition the superintendent by submitting an application for a variance from the above guidelines on trap size. Flow testing must then be conducted with the superintendent or his agent present. Changes in equipment, such as larger sinks or dishwashers, will require a new evaluation of grease trap size with a new review required in each case.

Minimum detention time, or volume displacement time, for single tanks or for serial tanks, for all above sources and flow rates, is to be sixty (60) seconds.

All grease traps are to be PDI (Plumbing Design Institute) approved or equivalent. Applicants wishing to use pre-cast or built-in-place concrete septic tanks as grease traps shall strictly adhere to the utility department's approved grease trap size and design specification.

Grease traps which, prior to August 1, 1983, have at least two minimum detention times are not required to install influent baffles if they do not already exist. Garbage grinders which were in existence prior to August 1, 1983, are also excluded from the requirement that they be connected to a grease trap system.

It shall be the duty of every establishment required to maintain a grease, wax and oil collector, to have same pumped by a complete emptying of the trap contents on a regular basis, or at a frequency required by the superintendent. Grease trap pumping is required if the combined floating grease mat and solids accumulation exceed 30% of the total grease trap volume; or when it appears to the superintendent or his representative that said grease, oil or wax are leaving the aforementioned collector.

Every establishment is required to maintain an annual maintenance log on all grease traps. The log will show time and date of all grease trap cleanings. Disposition of removed grease is to be recorded. The annual log will be provided by the superintendent and will be available for examination by the superintendent or his representative and will be submitted annually to the superintendent between January 1 - 15 of each year. Failure to carry out this reporting procedure is a violation of this chapter.

Acceptable disposal options for the grease includes recycling collectors or commercial collectors. All commercial collectors are required to obtain an annual permit from the superintendent.

Personnel from the wastewater department shall be permitted ready access to inspect trap or collector for compliance and if found in violation, the user will be issued a conditional three day notice to comply. Failure to comply or maintain an adequate collector, or permit the superintendent, or those authorized to act for him, to enter upon the user's premises to inspect the conditions of the grease collector and/or inspection manhole, shall subject said user to final ten (10) day notice, as provided in § 18-245. Failure therefore to have tank pumped will result in tank being pumped by the city and the owner being charged three times the average commercial rate. Charges will be added to the owner's water bill. (1976 Code, § 13-220, modified)