City of Rochester Beginning FOG Inspections at Food Service Establishments

City of Rochester Water Reclamation Plant Beginning FOG Inspections at Food Service Establishments 

The City of Rochester adopted Ordinance 76C in 2015 to regulate Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) discharge. FOG that reaches the sanitary sewer system accumulates, causes blockages and leads to sanitary sewer overflows. Water Reclamation Plant staff has begun inspecting Food Service Establishments in order to determine compliance with the Ordinance 76C and to prevent these sanitary sewer overflows from occurring.

While the first inspection will be scheduled via telephone, subsequent follow-up inspections may be unannounced. It is important that owners and/or managers of Food Service Establishments are prepared for these inspections and inform their staff of what to expect during a FOG inspection.

What does a FOG inspection entail?

1. Verifying that your facility has a grease interceptor.  Facility owners and/or managers should ensure that all staff knows what the grease interceptor is (a device designed to separate the fats, oils and grease from the kitchen’s wastewater) and where it is located. If the staff does not know if there is a grease interceptor, the inspector must search for it.
2. Opening the grease interceptor and measuring the percentage of FOG and solids. Facility staff should make sure that the grease interceptor is easily accessible and able to be opened. There may be an unpleasant odor associated with the grease interceptor once it is opened.
3. Checking records of cleanings. Food Service Establishments are required to keep grease interceptor cleaning records onsite for a period of three (3) years. If these records are kept in a manager’s office or in a secure location, make sure that a manager is onsite during the inspection to access these records or that designated staff member is able to access the records for review by the City.

A significant amount of time can be saved during an inspection if all facility staff is prepared for the inspection. If the inspector can get through the inspection in a timely fashion, your kitchen can resume normal operations sooner.

For more information visit www.rochestermn.gov/wastewater or contact the City of Rochester FOG Coordinator at (507) 328-2660.