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Grease Traps 101

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How Does A Grease Trap Operate?
A grease trap is a relatively simple device composed of a flow restrictor, an inlet, two or three baffles (depending on the brand), a lid and air-tight seal, and an outlet. Baffles are scientifically placed to allow efficient separating of grease and oils and are easily removable. Water draining to the grease trap passes through a flow control fitting which regulates the velocity of the water to the capacity of the trap. As the water enters the grease trap at this controlled rate of flow it is free of turbulence. It then passes over a series of separator baffles that are designed to cause greases, fats and oils to become separated and released from the wastewater. Once released, these contaminants rise to the top of the grease trap by natural flotation and are accumulated until removed. The wastewater now relieved of over 90 per cent of the contaminant oils and greases, continues to flow through the trap/interceptor and into the sanitary sewer system.

Separation efficiencies for each trap are determined by the shape of the inlet, outlet baffles, and by flow travel characteristics within the trap. Separation efficiency decreases as the retained volume of grease/oil products increases. For example, a 40-pound grease trap may have 95 per cent separation efficiency with no grease present in the trap and only 20 per cent separation efficiency with a full 40 pounds of grease in the trap. In other words, the more grease in the grease trap, the less grease will separate from the water and float to the top. Instead, the grease will go down the drain, with the rest of the water and thus defeat the whole purpose of having the grease trap.

It is, the responsibility of each restaurant as a regulated business activity to ensure the pretreatment of wastewater by performing the following tasks: 

    1. Make sure the FLOW RESTRICTOR is present

    2. Make sure the BAFFLES are present (two or three, depending on the brand)

    3. Make sure the trap is CLEANED as often as necessary to ensure that the grease/oil is separating out from the water; this will vary from restaurant to restaurant
     

CLEANING GREASE TRAPS
Every grease trap/interceptor needs to be cleaned. The length of time between cleanings will vary with the type and size of the grease trap/interceptor relative to the amount of grease and oil washed down the sink to the trap. If the sink in which the greasy pots and/or dishes are washed is not connected to the grease trap, then, of course, no grease will be collected in the trap at all (just on the inside of the restaurants' drain pipes).

Many restaurants clean their grease traps each week at a designated time and day (i.e., Wednesday evenings after closing or Sunday morning before opening). It is beneficial to clean the trap often for the following reasons: 

    1. Keeps the rancid grease and oil odors at a minimum

    2. Helps keep the grease from emulsifying (mixing with water) and then going down the drain
     

What Is a Grease Trap and How Does One Affect Me?
A grease trap is a device designed and installed in order to separate and retain grease and oil from the normal wastes and permit normal liquid wastes to discharge into the sewer system.

In the MRWPCA service area, grease traps are a major concern for all of us, since the leading industry is tourism. In order to accommodate these tourists, the Monterey Peninsula provides some of the most varied and unique restaurants to be seen anywhere. Presently, there are hundreds of these establishments serving the area and a proportionate amount of grease and oil derived from their operation is entering the regional sewer system and creating pumping and processing problems. This excess of grease and oil is mainly due to inefficient pretreatment practices. With installation and proper maintenance of grease traps/interceptors, there should be a minimum amount of grease and oil entering the sanitary sewer system, therefore reducing the problems at MRWPCA pump stations and the Regional Treatment Plant.

Thanks to The Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency 
(MRWPCA) for this information