Considerations When Selecting a Grease Interceptor
By Brian Tubaugh
are dumping into municipal pipelines. A feeling of respon- sibility for the environment has been growing in the gener- al public. Businesses of every size are being tasked with “reducing their footprint” on society by containing and han- dling their waste on-site. Changes, options and advance- ments in grease interception and removal continue to grow. The problems caused by grease in sewer systems are
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well documented. Blockages can cause cleanup, repair or replacement costing in the millions of dollars. The obliga- tion to properly contain grease is being pushed back to the source — the restaurants and establishments that produce it. Those who refuse to comply are being hit with penalties and fines, as local enforcement authorities increase inspec- tion efforts. The solution is to equip an establishment with a suitable
grease interceptor and to make sure the operators under- stand their role in grease containment. Limitations, needs and circumstances vary by site, so where do you start when selecting an interceptor for a project? Below are some points to consider that will get you well on your way to specifying, recommending or installing the right solution.
Types (hydro-mechanical vs. gravity) A basic principle behind grease separation in an inter-
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here seems to be a lot more talk about grease these days. Numerous local water quality authorities have launched campaigns to clean up the water consumers
Pictured above: Clean Water Outlet — An actual instal- lation with cover removed. Separated grease on the left and clean water exiting outlet on the right. Below, right: Interceptor with sensing and alarm device.
ceptor is that FOG (fats, oils, and grease) from a kitchen is “lighter” than water. It weighs about 1 lb. less per gal- lon. Interceptors that use only this property
difference for separation are known as gravity types. The grease-laden water must be given enough time in non-turbulent conditions for separa- tion to occur. To accomplish this, grav- ity-type units must hold a very large volume and usually must have multiple chambers. They are typically installed underground, outside the establishment walls and are accessed for cleaning through manhole covers at ground level. Gravity-type units are identified by their holding volume in gallons. The other category of interceptors is known as hydro-
mechanical. These units increase separation performance through the use of flow control, air intake and baffles, which markedly decreases the time necessary to separate. Continued on page 54
May 2011
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