Grease Trap Maintenance
Grease traps, also known as grease interceptors, are designed to separate fats, oils and grease (FOG) and solids found in food preparation waste from wastewater discharged to the City's sanitary sewer system.
Maintenance and documentation requirements for grease traps under Austin City Code are outlined in Chapter 15-10. These requirements include:
- Grease traps must be pumped out at least once every 90 days, or sooner if grease and solids make up 50% or more of the wetted height of the trap as measured from the bottom of the trap to the invert of the outlet pipe (§ 15-10-197)
- Grease trap waste may only be removed and transported by a liquid waste hauler with a valid City of Austin permit (§ 15-10-197)
- Manifest records provided by the liquid waste hauler after each pump-out must be kept on site for three years (§ 15-10-165) — see an example manifest (PDF)
- Except as authorized under Chapter 15-10, no one may discharge fat, oil, grease or similar material to the wastewater system in excess of an instantaneous limit of 200 milligrams per liter (§ 15-10-23)
Failure to meet any one of these maintenance or documentation requirements is a separate violation of the Austin City Code. Potential penalties include fines and permit revocations (§ 15-10, Article 12).
Benefits of a Well-Maintained Grease Trap
Keeping your grease trap properly maintained:
- Extends the useful life of your trap
- Lowers your utility surcharge fees
- Reduces the risk of costly plumbing repairs, cleanup costs, fines and downtime from a sanitary sewer overflow or clogged line re-plumbing
- Best Management Practices
Developing good pollution prevention practices keeps your facility in compliance with the City's Wastewater Ordinance, protects the local environment and saves money.
- Train and educate staff on proper FOG disposal — this protects your facility and the City's sanitary sewer system
- Be present for pump-outs and talk to your liquid waste hauler about the percentage of grease and solids in the trap and the condition of the pretreatment device
- Wipe grease from plates, utensils, pots and pans with paper towels before washing
- Scrape food scraps into a compost bin, not the sink
- Use sink strainers to catch food particles
- Post "No Grease" signs above sinks
- Recycle waste cooking oil using a waste oil bin with a tight-fitting lid
- Never use food grinders or disposals — these have been prohibited in commercial kitchens in the Austin Water service area since 2008
- Sweep floors to remove all trash and debris before washing them down
- Never remove floor drain grates
- Educational Resources
English
- Grease interceptor overview and customer responsibilities (PDF)
- Existing grease interceptor overview — information for potential property buyers or lessees (PDF)
- Caring for your grease trap — presentation (PDF)
- History and maintenance of grease interceptors — presentation (PDF)
- Restaurant's guide to grease interceptors (PDF)
Español
- Interceptores de Grasa — Responsabilidades del Cliente (PDF)
- Descripción General de Interceptores de Grasas Existentes — Información Para Potenciales Compradores de Propiedades (PDF)
- Presentación de Interceptor de Grasa (PDF)
- Presentación de Historia y Mantenimiento de los Interceptores de Grasa (PDF)
- Guía Para Restaurante: Trampas de Grasa (PDF)
简体中文
한국어
Tiếng Việt
- Grease Trap Abandonment
For grease traps that must be taken out of service, follow the appropriate set of procedures below:
- Properties receiving wastewater service from Austin Water — See Grease Trap Abandonment Requirements for Properties Receiving Wastewater Service from Austin Water (PDF)
- Properties connected to septic tanks or on-site sewage facilities — See the Procedure for Tank Abandonment (PDF) as regulated by Austin Water's On-Site Sewage Facilities Program