Watershed Management

• Education – The Compliance Inspectors are committed to educating the public on the harmful effects of fats, oils, and greases on the environment. We have created educational material for FSEs, single and multi-family residence, and schools. We have set up different meeting locations, dates, and times to educate FOG generators on the new permitting process and the proper disposal of FOG.

Managing FOG Interceptors -- FOG Interceptors are very useful in collecting FOG from kitchen wastewater, but they must be periodically serviced in order to be effective. FOG Interceptors are usually above ground or in ground tanks that allow water draining from a kitchen to slow down. When the wastewater slows, oil can float to the surface and solids can fall to the bottom as sludge. The wastewater between the top layer of FOG and the bottom layer of sludge can exit the FOG Interceptor and flow into the sewer system.

Fats, oils, and grease are problems for the wastewater system. When hot oil is poured down a drain, or greasy wastewater enters the drain from a dishwasher, the oil cools and can coat the inside of drain pipes, causing slow drainage or blockage in pipes. Limits are set by wastewater treatment authorities on how much fats, oils, and greases (abbreviated as FOG) the wastewater generated by restaurants and food products manufacturers can contain.