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6.H. - Page 23 of 24 <br />Sanitary Sewer Ordinance Update: Redwood <br />city <br />Fats, Oils, and Grease <br />The City will be considering updating its Sanitary Sewer Ordinance during the February 10, 2020 City <br />Council meeting. The proposed updates will include a requirement by Food Service Establishments <br />(FSEs) to install and maintain grease control devices (e.g., grease traps and interceptors) to address <br />fats, oils, and grease buildup in our sanitary sewer system. If FSEs already have grease control <br />devices in use, no further action is needed. <br />What is FOG? <br />FOG refers to fats, oils, and grease. Examples include: <br />■ Meat fats and dairy products <br />■ Food scraps <br />■ Lard, butter, margarine, and cooking oils <br />FOG is produced whenever food is cooked or prepared, and occurs in larger amounts in establishments, <br />including restaurants, cafeterias, schools, hospitals, and institutional kitchens. <br />How Does FOG Buildup Affect Our Sewer System? <br />In recent years, some FSEs have been known to dump FOG down drains alongside hot running water. <br />When this happens, hot FOG travels through our sanitary sewer system before it cools and hardens. It <br />then sticks to sewer pipe walls and creates a blockage that can lead to sewer backups around the city. <br />How Will a FOG Ordinance Help? <br />A FOG Ordinance will eliminate much of the FOG buildup in our sewer pipes caused by dumping FOG <br />down the drain. It will require the use of grease control devices, such as grease traps and interceptors. <br />It will also result in fewer sewer backups, reduced sewer maintenance costs, and lower sewer bills for <br />everyone. <br />When Would These Changes Take Effect? <br />If approved, the proposed Ordinance would take effect March 25, 2020. The proposed changes would <br />have a two-year amnesty period where the City would work with FSEs to reach compliance without any <br />penalties. <br />For more information, contact Michael Patolo, Wastewater Superintendent at 650-780-7476 or <br />mpatolo(aOredwood city. org, or Robin Kim, Utilities Field Supervisor, at 650-780-7477 or <br />rkim(a)redwood city. org. <br />184 <br />