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Fats, Oils and Grease Pretreatment Programs

Wright-Pierce works with CT DEP,  multiple state agencies
and restaurant association to develop FOG management program

In an effort to improve fats, oils and grease (FOG) management, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP) hired Wright-Pierce to develop a regional FOG pretreatment program for the city of Torrington and 18 communities in the Torrington Area Health District (TAHD).

Program development required coordination with many state and local agencies including the DEP, the Torrington Department of Public Works, and the TAHD.

Input was also solicited from the Department of Public Safety which sets building regulations; the Conference of Municipalities; the Department of Health, which regulates many of the FOG producing businesses; septage haulers; the restaurant association, and other groups. This coordination was necessary in order to develop a program that had consistent, viable requirements.

As a result of  this collaboration, a document was developed: General Permit for the Discharge of Wastewater Associated with Food Preparation Establishments. This permit document identifies facilities that must conduct pretreatment for FOG from food related sources, supplies technical direction in meeting FOG discharge limits, and provides disposal options and enforcement mechanisms.

In addition to work on the general permit document, Wright-Pierce developed The Guidance Document for the Management of Fats, Oils and Grease from Food Preparation Establishments in Connecticut.This document provides instructions to consider in twelve key areas when developing local FOG pretreatment programs.

Wright-Pierce also developed a specific FOG pretreatment program for the City of Torrington and TAHD that serves as a model to assist other municipalities in developing their own local FOG pretreatment programs.

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Project at a Glance

Background

Due to land use restrictions, lack of landfills, and solid waste incinerators not designed to dispose of fats, oils and grease (FOG), thirty-five percent of sewer overflows in Connecticut are caused by grease accumulation in sewer lines.

Challenges

Coordination with many public and private interests was necessary in order to develop a consistent, viable FOG pretreatment program.

Solutions

The Torrington Fats, Oils and Grease Pretreatment Study report, developed by Wright-Pierce, is part of a larger resource document for the CT DEP and is designed to serve as a model for other municipalities to develop local FOG pre-treatment programs.



Retrofit of FOG receiving tank at Torrington, CT WWTF.  New walls divide existing tank into two smaller tanks and a pump/equipment room.