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The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) issued a
General Permit for the Discharge of Wastewater Associated with Food Preparation
Establishments effective September 30, 2005 and reissued on October 5, 2015 for food service establishments.

The General Permit was issued to reduce the volume of animal fat, cooking oils, and frying grease discarded in wastewater. Liquefied fat, oil, or grease (FOG) discharged to the sanitary sewer system can accumulate at any location within the system.

Overtime, this accumulation can decrease the capacity or entirely block sanitary sewer lines, causing untreated sewage to overflow the sewer system, contaminating the surrounding soil and possibly entering businesses or homes. Sewage overflowing the sanitary sewer system can pose a threat to human health and the environment.

Program Policy

On February 12, 2007 (updated July 21, 2008), the WPCA adopted a FOG Program Policy to reduce the amount of FOG discharged into the sanitary sewer system in order to protect all public, private and environmental interests. The WPCA, in accordance with the General Permit authorized by CTDEEP, requires all Class II, III and IV food preparation establishments to install an Outdoor, In-Ground Grease Interceptor.

Private lateral and City sewer pipe with FOG

(Above) Private lateral and City sewer pipe with FOG

Ways to protect your business

The WPCA would like to work cooperatively with food establishments to ensure that proper measures are in place to keep FOG from creating sewer backups that can cause serious impacts to your business and the sewer collection system.

  • Install an in-ground grease interceptor per the FOG General Permit Requirements
  • Install a pretreatment system, in the form of a grease recovery unit to assist with removing FOG from related sinks & drains
  • Remove, scrape and wipe contents from plates and pans into garbage containers prior to washing
  • Provide screens in sinks and drains to collect missed scraps
  • Maintain grease recovery units in accordance with manufacturing and local authority requirements
  • Educate and communicate: review daily fog prevention practices with new and current staff
  • Record keeping: keep a grease recovery unit maintenance log current

Contact

For additional information, please contact:
Chris Cavaliere
203-854-3235
ccavaliere@norwalkct.gov

Industrial Pretreatment (IPP) Program

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP)regulates the discharge of industrial wastewater to the ground water, surface water, and to sewage treatment plants. These discharge limits and requirements for treatment, monitoring and reporting are designed to protect the waters of the state from pollution. Individual permits customized to an applicant and General permits issued to authorize similar activities by one or more applicants are available for industrial waste water discharges. The CTDEEP General permit set terms and conditions for Miscellaneous Industrial Users (MIU) and when complied with, are protective of the environment.

MIU wastewater includes but is not limited to air compressor condensate & blowdown, boiler blowdown, building maintenance wastewater, commercial laundry wastewater, contact cooling &heating water, cutting & grinding wastewater, fire suppression system test water, food processing wastewater, hydrostatic pressure testing wastewater, water treatment wastewater, and vehicle maintenance wastewater.

The WPCA receives and reviews discharge notifications and monitoring reports, and, in conjunction with DEEP, enforces effluent limits and permit conditions of MIU wastewater discharges under the CTDEEP General Permit.

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