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FOG Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Does my facility need a grease trap?
A. Milwaukie Municipal Code requires that Food Service Facilities (FSF) that prepare and/or package food or beverages for sale or consumption are required to install a Grease Removal Device (GRD).
Q. What size does the GRD need to be?
A. GRDs are sized by the number of fixtures in the kitchen draining to the GRD. Have your plumber provide a fixture count and a plumbing plan to Milwaukie’s Building Department when applying for the plumbing permit. It is often more cost effective in the long run to upsize a GRD above the minimum dictated by the Universal Plumbing Code. The long term maintenance costs will out-weigh the minor savings of installing a smaller GRD that will require more frequent cleanings.
Q. Who is responsible for cleaning grease traps?
A. The owner of the GRD bears the costs associated with cleaning the trap.
Q. How do I clean the GRD?
A. The city highly recommends the services of a Preferred Pumper (http://preferredpumper.org/) for cleaning GRDs.
Q. Can I clean my own GRD?
A. Most people don’t attempt this more than once. Even the smallest GRD contains at least 25 gallons of the most putrid smelling liquid waste imaginable. Liquid waste cannot be placed in the trash and must be disposed of properly. A pumper can quickly and efficiently clean your GRD & properly transport and dispose of the waste with minimal disruption to your business. The pumper will also be able to correctly document the maintenance of your GRD and report the results to the City on behalf of the owner.
Q. Can my facility be held responsible for grease blockages downstream because of not maintaining my GRD?
A. Yes.
Q. How often will the GRD require cleaning?
A. It depends; the size of the GRD and the kitchen practices of your staff will have the biggest impact to the cleaning interval. As a rule of thumb, the combined volume of both Fats, Oils, and Greases (FOG) material and solids inside the GRD should not exceed 25% of its total capacity. If FOG material is witnessed leaving a GRD, the cleaning interval will need to increase.
Q. Can I add an enzyme, bacterial, or chemical system to my drains in order to reduce FOG accumulations in my GRD?
A. Milwaukie Municipal Code prohibits the introduction of chemicals and other additives directed to a GRD to reduce of eliminated cleaning or pumping of a GRD. These systems emulsify the FOG material temporarily until it can just re-congeal further down the pipe, generally in the public sewer system. If such a system is discovered in a facility, it will be required to be removed immediately at owner’s expense. Citations and fines may result.
