Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) Control
Washing fats, oils and grease (such as cooking oil, butter and sauces), into the kitchen sink may appear harmless. Once in the sewer pipe, however, the FOG will solidify and stick to the pipe walls. Over time the build-up of FOG (with help from food and debris washing through the pipe) can create a sewer blockage. The blocked pipe causes untreated sewage to back up, with nowhere to go but up into homes, restaurants, streets or storm drains. These overflows can result in expensive property damages, clean-up costs, and environmental pollution.
Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) are found in common food and food ingredients such as:
- Cooking oil
- Shortening
- Sauces
- Meat fats
- Baking goods
- Food scraps
- Dairy products
- Butter and Margarine
- Lard
HOW DO I PREVENT FOG BUILD-UP?
- Scrape grease off dishes and pots into a trash can before washing
- Use paper towels to wipe greasy dishes before dishwashing
- Use sink strainers to catch food waste during dishwashing
- Pour a small amount of leftover cooking oil in a closed container and put it with regular trash.
- For a large amount (i.e. after major holidays cooking), contact local restaurants to see if they will allow you to drop it off at their facilities.
FOG CONTROL PROGRAM FOR FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS
The City of Stanton is required by the State Water Resources Control Board (WDR Order 2006-0003) to implement a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Control Program. The program is intended to reduce and prevent sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) caused by FOG blockages in the sewer lines. The City’s FOG Control Program includes the permitting of Food Service Establishments (FSEs). If you own an FSE in the City of Stanton, you may be required to obtain a FOG Wastewater Discharge Permit.
All FSEs that are permitted will be inspected to ensure compliance with their FOG Permit and the City’s FOG ordinance. Permitted FSEs must implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to prevent or reduce the introduction of FOG to the sewer system and prevent SSOs. The FSE plan check process with Public Works is as follows:
- When new/existing food facilities propose to make tenant improvements that include changes to the existing plumbing/sewer, the Public Works Department notifies the applicant of the City's FOG requirements.
- Applicants are then required to provide the following:
- Completed FOG permit application (see attached documents) – These are now posted online on the City’s website under “Applications & Forms” on the Public Works page: City Of Stanton, California (stantonca.gov)
- Plumbing plans for review
- Plan review fees. (Inspection and permit fees are billed annually.)
- Public Works receives copies of the FOG application, plumbing sheets (or electronic files), and payment receipt and forwards them to the City's FOG Program contractor, John L. Hunter & Associates, for review and filing.
- Plans are then reviewed following the standards in the CA Plumbing Code. The turnaround time for review is 7-10 business days.
- If corrections are required, JLHA prepares a correction sheet outlining the changes needed for clearance and forwards it to the Public Works Department and the applicant.
- After the plans are ready for approval, the plumbing plans are then physically (or electronically) stamped and returned to Public Works.
- JLHA reviews and processes the FOG permit application.
- The Building Department requests on-site pretreatment (grease interceptor) installation inspection.
- A few weeks/months after the business is operational, JLHA inspectors will inspect for FOG Program compliance.
Examples of BMPs are described in the picture below, and also include the following:
- Pump out grease trap/interceptors on a regular basis and maintain service records.
- Collect waste grease from cooking activities (such as oil from deep fryers) in specified containers for proper recycling and maintaining records of pick-up.
- Post kitchen BMP poster in food preparation area.