Cities spend billions of dollars every year unplugging or
replacing grease-blocked pipes, repairing pump stations, and
cleaning up costly and illegal wastewater spills caused by fats,
oils, and grease (FOG) in the sewer system. These repairs cost
money and may lead to higher local wastewater rates.
To address sanitary-sewer overflows due to blockages caused by
FOG, the 78th Texas Legislature added sections (f)–(h) to
Texas Water Code 26.049 
, which require the TCEQ to:
- establish criteria for evaluating sanitary-sewer overflows
caused by such blockages
- establish model standards for use by operators of
separate sanitary-sewer systems
- develop design criteria to prevent discharges of untreated
wastewater due to blockage from grease
- consider it as evidence that the sanitary-sewer system or
municipality has taken reasonable measures to prevent overflows due
to grease blockage if the system or municipality has adopted the
model standards
The agency adopted model
standards (PDF) (Help with PDF)
in August 2004. The model standards can help cities create a
uniform policy on grease management by:
- requiring certain establishments to install grease traps and
operate them properly
- establishing guidelines for how often systems must be pumped
and setting up clear procedures for establishments that wish to
apply for an exemption
- implementing a policy on the use of additives and alternative
treatment
Cities that adopt the TCEQ’s model standards will decrease
the amount of grease entering the sanitary-sewer system, with the
following benefits:
- improved operation of treatment plants and lower risk of
discharge-permit violations due to floating solids in the
effluent
- reduced potential for sewer backups into businesses and
homes
- reduced risk of contamination of drinking water that can result
from sewer overflows
The TCEQ offers a videotape program and poster that can help
educate your community on ways to reduce FOG (ordering
information).
For more information, see The Green Plan for
the Food Service Industry .
