Section 5 - Environmental Compliance - 5-01 Grease, Oil and/or Solids Removal Devices

Oct 23, 2026

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Section 5 establishes environmental compliance requirements focused on grease, oil, and prohibited solids removal devices to protect the sanitary sewer system from hazards and flow restrictions. It defines rules for food service facilities, specifying when grease interceptors or grease traps are required, how they must be sized and installed, allowable materials, and prohibited enzyme/microbe treatment systems. It also covers piping connections, accessibility for inspection and sampling, traffic-rated installations, and limitations on where traps can be connected, including dishwasher and garbage disposal restrictions.

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Pages14

Reading Time35 min

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Section 5. Environmental Compliance

5-01 Grease, Oil and/or Solids Removal Devices

A. Food Service Facilities

1. Grease Interceptors (Gravity Grease Interceptors per UPC)

2. Grease Traps (Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors (HGI) per UPC)

3. Automated Grease Traps (GRD per UPC)

B. Other Commercial Businesses

Section 5. Environmental Compliance 5-01 Grease, Oil and/or Solids Removal Devices Central San may require any non-domestic user to install a grease, oil and/or solids removal device according to guidelines set forth below and District Code §10 in order to prevent grease, sand, flammable liquids, and other substances which are likely to restrict the flow or create a hazard from entering the sanitary sewer system. A. Food Service Facilities Any commercial establishment with common food preparation facilities shall have a grease interceptor􀍟 and/or grease trap(s) installed, as specified by Central San. The size of all grease interceptors and/or grease traps will be determined by Central San on a case by case basis using objective criteria , that may include, but is not limited to the size and type of facility, volume of business or operation, plumbing fixtures, and cooking fixtures, drainage fixture units and estimated flow rate (reference: Uniform Plumbing Code, latest edition) . Standards for grease traps and grease interceptors for food service facilities are presented below. 1. Grease Interceptors (Gravity Grease Interceptors per UPC) a) The term "grease interceptor" shall mean a prefabricated or precast grease interceptor with a minimum capacity of 1,000 gallons conforming to current American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for Prefabricated Gravity Grease Interceptors (ANSI Z1001-2016) , and DWG 23-02 with a maximum depth of 5’ to the top of the inlet pipe. All piping and connections shall be non-corrosive (e.g. , no steel, cast iron, etc. ) . b) All grease interceptors shall be installed in accordance with Section 03 40 00-Precast Concrete and the manufacturer’s specifications. c) All non-domestic drain inlets including, but not limited to, floor drains, floor sinks, sinks, mop sinks and drains serving dishwashers, wash areas, trash enclosures and/or trash compactors, shall be plumbed to the grease interceptor. A Variance may be requested for non-domestic drain inlets outside the kitchen that will not produce grease. d) All domestic waste inlets shall be plumbed separately from non-domestic waste inlets and connected either to the building side sewer downstream of the grease interceptor or directly to the main sewer. e) Systems to add enzymes, microbes, or other materials intended to remove grease from a grease interceptor are prohibited. f) The grease interceptor shall be installed in a location that is readily accessible for periodic cleaning, inspection, and/or sampling. Typical installations of grease interceptors are outside of the building. Proposals for installations within the interior of the building will be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to the approval of the Contra Costa County Health Services Department. g) If the grease interceptor is located in an area subject to vehicle traffic, the grease interceptor shall be designed with a minimum of an H-20 traffic rating with a monolithic pour for the concrete cap. Alternatively, an appropriately designed traffic cover shall be installed over the grease interceptor in accordance with DWG 23-04. h) A sampling structure shall be installed per Subsection 5-02. i) Grease interceptors shall be filled with clean water after installation. 2. Grease Traps (Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors (HGI) per UPC) a) The term "grease trap" shall mean a rust/corrosion resistant grease removal device conforming to current American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME ) standards for Hydromechanical Grease Interceptors (A112 .14.3) or Grease Removal Devices (A112 .14.4 ) . b) Grease traps shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications with a minimum flow rating of 20 gpm and a minimum grease containment capacity of 40 pounds. c) The grease trap shall be connected to specific plumbing fixtures or drains as required by Central San. d) The grease trap shall not be connected to: (i) Dishwashers sh

FAQs

When does Central San require grease, oil, and/or solids removal devices?

Central San may require non-domestic users to install a grease, oil and/or solids removal device under the provided guidelines and District Code to prevent grease, sand, flammable liquids, and other substances from entering the sanitary sewer system in ways that restrict flow or create hazards.

What are the key requirements for installing grease interceptors for food service facilities?

Grease interceptors must meet specified capacity and standards, be installed according to the referenced section and manufacturer requirements, and have non-corrosive piping and connections. They must be accessible for cleaning, inspection, and/or sampling, and systems adding enzymes or microbes to remove grease are prohibited.

What restrictions apply to connecting grease traps?

Grease traps must be connected to specific plumbing fixtures or drains as required by Central San. Dishwashers cannot be plumbed to a grease trap (with limited variance possibility for existing installations), garbage disposals/grinders are prohibited in certain commercial kitchens without a grease interceptor, and domestic waste cannot be plumbed to a grease trap. Enzyme/microbe-based grease removal systems are also prohibited.

Oct 23, 2026

Upload by Jacob