A
series of articles on sewer systems recently appeared in the Orange County
Register and also identified grease as a major cause of spills.
An analysis of overflows in the
City of Laguna Beach sewer system, between 1997 and 2000, revealed that roots
and grease are the two primary causes of spills. The private sewer lateral program is underway to address the roots in the sewer
system, which are responsible for approximately 60% of overflows. Grease, the second most frequent cause of
spills, is responsible for an estimated 25% of sewer overflows.
Grease in the sewer system is
generated in large quantities by food preparation facilities, such as
restaurants and grocery store delis that sell food for immediate
consumption. Grease from food
preparation and cooking coagulates in the sewer pipes when it cools down and
can restrict the flow of wastewater.
Restricted flow causes solid material in the pipe to accumulate,
resulting in blockages and wastewater spills.
Given the magnitude of these
problems, and the fact that the City was fined by the San Diego
Regional Water Quality Control Board, serious action is necessary to reduce
sanitary sewer overflows. In May 2001,
the City Council reviewed the grease problem in the City and directed staff to
obtain a proposal to enforce Title 17 of the Municipal Code regarding sewer
maintenance, use and design. A primary
concern at the time was to reduce the impact of grease on the sewer system. On June 12, 2001, the City Council awarded a
contract to Environmental Compliance Inspection Services (ECIS) to inspect and
monitor food preparation establishments in the City’s service area. |
