The Hermiston City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that requires businesses to install grease traps to pour out fats, oil and grease.
During its regular meeting Nov. 12 the council gave its stamp of approval on Ordinance 2367, which will roll out a pretreatment program that prevents local businesses from pouring fats, oil and grease down the drain and sewage system.
According to the city staff report, fats, oil and grease — referred to as FOG — is a major problem for sewer systems because once the warm FOG hits the cold environment within the sewer mains, the material solidifies and begins to create blockages that end up causing damage and potential sewer overflows on the public streets or into other homes elsewhere in the city.
Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan, who gave a presentation to the council on FOG, said some of his concerns largely center on the downtown core area where they have the urban renewal district.
“I have taken to calling a certain area of town grease alley,” Morgan said to the council. “So we know where the hot spots are and we’ve experienced sewer overflows. There was one just here a few years ago that really sticks out in my mind because we had sewage flowing in the gutter of the street out in front of the post office and so that is downstream from a number of restaurants.”
Morgan said he hosted two open houses where he explained the FOG ordinance to local restaurant owners and operators in the middle of what he refers to as “grease alley.”
The ordinance requires commercial businesses, which are likely to discharge FOG, to obtain a permit through the city and are required to install and maintain grease traps and interceptors.
According to the staff report, of nearly 6,000 sewer customers, approximately 60 to 80 customers will need to obtain a FOG permit. Generally, this includes establishments such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and car washes.
Morgan said the purpose of the ordinance is for the entities causing the FOG issue to modify how they discharge grease so it won’t affect other water sources and community members.
In addition, the city will charge commercial users $3.62 a month. With 60 to 80 permittees, this will generate $2,600 to $3,500 per year.
Hermiston dedicates two sewer workers and equipment to cleaning “bad lines” for two weeks each month. The sewer department spends $149,000 per year cleaning lines, according to the staff report. Once the FOG program is fully operational, the amount of cleaning may be reduced by 30%, resulting in a savings to the sewer department of $44,000 per year, according to the report.
The new local law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025. Permits will be required 60 days after the adoption, March 1, and permittees must be compliant by June 1
