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Environmental Compliance

Grease Trap Approval

All traps (inside grease traps, outside grease interceptors, oil-water separators, and sand interceptors) must be designed in accordance with the Authority Sanitary Sewer Specifications and Standards. Plans and sizing calculations of the proposed traps must be submitted to the Authority for approval.

Any new or existing FOG generating business (food service, hair salon, pet grooming, car wash, automotive maintenance, etc.) is required to obtain grease trap approval. The grease trap approval process consists of two steps:

1. Design Approval Process – The following items are required to receive a Grease Trap Design Approval Letter:

Two complete sets of plans
Grease trap sizing calculations
Grease trap manufacturer’s specification sheet of the grease trap proposed for installation

Once the aforementioned items have been received by the Authority, a Grease Trap Design Approval Letter will be issued to the applicant. The Grease Trap Design Approval Letter must be submitted to the City of Peachtree City Building Department as part of the Building Permit process.

2. Installation Approval Process – Consists of two inspections:

Preliminary Installation Inspection – Inspection of visible plumbing lines within foundation for grease trap connection and inspection of grease trap installation (if required) prior to covering with dirt, sand, and/or concrete.
Final Installation Inspection – Inspection of kitchen wastewater piping connection to grease trap; complete inspection of grease trap installation (if required) including manhole lids, vertical tees, horizontal tees, cleanout caps, etc.

After the Grease Trap Installation Approval Process has been completed, a Grease Trap Certificate of Approval will be issued to the applicant.

Listed below are associated documentation used in the grease, oil, and sand interceptor plan review and approval process:

PCWASA Grease Interceptor Requirements Sheet
PCWASA Oil-Water Separator/Sand Interceptor Requirements Sheet
PCWASA Sewer Use Ordinance – Article VIII – Miscellaneous Treatment Requirements (FOG Section)
PCWASA Detail 112 Grease Interceptor Specification Sheet (Revised 01-26-2017) for outside grease interceptor (minimum 1,500 gallon capacity)
Grease Interceptor Manufacturers that build according to the PCWASA Grease Interceptor Detail 112 Sheet

Grease, Oil, and Sand Interceptor Sizing Information

PCWASA Sanitary Sewer Specifications and Standards Sheet {Sand and Oil/Grease Interceptors Section}
2012 Uniform Plumbing Code – Chapter 7 {Sanitary Drainage} Section 1 – Please see Table 702.1 {Drainage Fixture Unit Values (DFU)} on Page 111 to assist with Outdoor Grease, Oil and Sand Interceptor Sizing.
2012 Uniform Plumbing Code – Chapter 7 {Sanitary Drainage} Section 2
2012 Uniform Plumbing Code – Chapter 10 {Traps and Interceptors} – Please see Table 1014.2.1 and Example 1014.2.1 on Page 134 for Inside Grease Trap Sizing Information. Please see Table 1014.3.6 and Example 1014.3.6 on Pages 135 for Outdoor Grease Interceptor Sizing Information.
PCWASA 15-Gallon Per Wastewater Seat Grease Interceptor Sizing Calculation Example (Based on PCWASA 15 Gallons of Wastewater Per Seat Requirement from the PCWASA Sanitary Sewer Spefications and Standards Manual) – Use this grease interceptor calculation sizing example for restaurants that have inside and outside dining room area seating. There is also a grease interceptor sizing calculation example for hospitals, nursing homes, and other types of commercial kitchens with varied seating.

Grease Trap Sizing Information for Inside Grease Traps Only

Standard PDI-G 101 Revised 2017 – Testing and Rating Procedure for Hydro Mechanical Grease Interceptors with Appendix of Installation and Maintenance – This grease trap sizing information is for facilities that have no restaurant dining room seating (depending on type of restaurant or other type of food service preparation facility). Also, helpful for hair salon and pet grooming salon grease trap sizing. Please refer to pages 14-15 (Table 1) and pages 16-18 (Sizing for Grease Interceptors) on how to properly size an inside grease trap.

FOG Program

The purpose of the Authority’s Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Program is to assist in the prevention of sanitary sewer backups and overflows from occurring within the wastewater collection system through management of commercial and residential generated FOG. These FOG prevention process includes plan review, installation approval, and inspection of grease traps, grease interceptors, oil-water separators, and sand interceptors.

The FOG Program ensures that restaurants, schools, hair salons, pet grooming salons, car wash facilities, automotive repair facilities, oil change facilities, etc. are in compliance with the Authority Sewer Use Ordinance through proper grease trap/interceptor installations, accurate FOG inspections, and adhere to established cleaning frequency schedules. In addition, the FOG Program educates the local public and residential, commercial, and industrial customers about methods and practices for preventing FOG from entering into the wastewater collection system.

** Residential Cooking Grease Disposal Program (FOG) **

Disposing of FOG correctly is essential to ensure your home’s plumbing and the Authority’s sewer lines don’t get “all choked up.” Pouring cooking grease down the drain is not recommended because as grease cools, it hardens, leading to “chokes” in your plumbing or sewer line. Even though we live in a warm climate, many fats harden at room temperature.

The aim of the Authority’s Grease Disposal Program is to help our customers capture and dispose of their cooking grease in an environmentally safe and effective way. Please return the used oil to the container it came in (if possible) or pick up a grease container that you can use to store and dispose of household cooking grease. Return your filled container to 1127 Highway 74 S, and exchange it for an empty container, ready to repeat the process. It’s that simple!

FOG Program Education

The Authority invests in FOG education in an attempt to garner compliance among its residential and commercial customers to properly dispose of FOG. By preventing improper disposal of FOG, customers can help the Authority protect its sewer system, not to mention the environment. Industry studies show that more than half of all sewer system spills and overflows are caused by FOG.

Rather than dispose of fats, oils, and grease down the drain, residential customers should let grease cool, place it in a can, and dispose of that can in the trash. Also, customers can help protect the sewer system and environment by wiping food from dishes into the trash, before washing in the sink or dishwasher. Below are education materials that provide an overview of information and tips for the proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease, in addition to other helpful consumer behaviors.

FOG Information for Residential Customers

FOG Information for Commercial Customers and/or Restaurants

Grease Trap 101

Oil and Grease Definitions

Managing Food Materials

Food Service Waste Reduction

Restaurant Oil and Grease Rendering

Best Management Practices for Fats, Oils, and Grease

How A Sewer Blockage Affects the Sewer System

Grease Goblin Poster – English

Grease Goblin Poster – Spanish

Grease Goblin Poster – Chinese

Commercial Customers and/or Restaurants

Commercial FOG generators within Peachtree City are required to have their grease traps/interceptors cleaned by a Georgia-Approved Commercial Waste Hauler. To obtain a current Georgia-Approved Commercial Waste Hauler List, please see Georgia Registered and Inspected Commercial Transporters.