What is a grease trap?
A grease trap is designed to remove solids and greases from wastewater. As water and grease enter the grease trap the velocity of the water is reduced, thus allowing the grease, which is lighter than water, to float to the surface and solids to settle to the bottom of the trap. The piping configuration allows the water to exit below the grease level thus providing a space for the grease to collect. Grease traps are effective means of grease removal if the trap is routinely pumped. If the grease accumulates above the maximum grease level, the grease will have no place to collect and will be carried off with the water into the city sewer or drain field. Environmental Partnership Valley Proteins partners with its customers to help protect the environment. As you may know, your restaurant, as the originator, may be liable for long-term damages caused by improper disposal of your trap grease. The fines and penalties can be for such violations as illegal dumping and groundwater contamination
All commercial kitchens, which includes any location that prepares food, are required by state law to collect grease that is washed off plates or drained from prepared foods. The grease goes down the drain, but must be collected in a grease trap interceptor for disposal. The grease trap is a box or tank that allows the grease to cool and collect on the surface of the collection tank. The collected grease must be pumped out and taken to an approved collection facility, or it may be treated with biological materials that eat the grease.
A grease trap, sometimes called a grease interceptor, is a piece of restaurant equipment which is required in many regions to keep the sewers functional. The grease trap acts as a filter to remove fats and oils from water before it enters the municipal waste system. Since fats and oils can clog a sewer system, the use of a grease trap ensures that the sewer system runs smoothly. In a commercial kitchen, a grease trap treats all of the water coming out of the kitchen. A properly equipped commercial kitchen usually has multiple sinks at prep stations, an industrial dishwasher, and large sinks for pre-treatment of dishes and other cooking tasks. The floors typically are sloped with central drains, allowing workers to clean the whole kitchen, and the kitchen may also have an in-house laundry facility. The combined drainage from all of these sources can be formidable, requiring a very large grease trap to ensure that water will drain smoothly.
The terms grease trap/interceptor tends to be interchangeable. A grease trap is a small reservoir built into wastewater piping a short distance from the grease producing area. This is normally an under sink box-shaped fixture located in the kitchen, though they can be installed in the service area floor, but either way not larger than 20-30 gallons. Reservoir baffles retain the wastewater long enough to allow the grease to solidify and rise to the surface. Building staff can then remove and dispose the grease properly, either in a building exterior grease collection tub, or in the trash. Due to the nature of this system being so limited in size constant monitoring and maintenance an absolute must. The maintenance schedule is largely dependent upon its usage. If a grease trap or interceptor is not maintained regularly it will not provide proper grease removal. The establishment should work out a specific cleaning schedule that is right for them.
A grease trap or grease interceptor is a receptacle located between the restaurant drain lines and the sanitary sewer lines that allows for the separation and collection of fats, oils and greases (FOG) from the used water, preventing such materials from entering the municipal sewer system. The grease trap can either be located inside of the establishment or on the outside. Typically large restaurants or school kitchens will have their grease trap/ grease interceptor located outside of the facility, usually in the ground, while facilities with smaller traps can usually house theirs indoors. Why do I have to have a grease trap? FOG wreaks all kinds of havoc on municipal wastewater systems, which is why local governments require commercial kitchens to have a grease trap installed. Most municipalities will have a minimum amount of FOG that is acceptable in the water leaving an establishment. IF these minimums are exceeded, fines can be imposed. How do grease traps work? Grease traps slow d
