FOG Program

The State Water Resources Board Order 2006-0003 set forth Statewide Water Discharge Requirements (WDR) for Sanitary Sewer Systems. The purpose of the WDR was to develop a regulatory mechanism for reducing sanitary sewer overflows which degrade receiving waters including channels, rivers, and beaches. The WDR requires the City to have the legal authority to limit the discharge of FOG and other debris that may cause blockages and to enforce any violations. The City adopted Ordinance 10-01 Article 17 on February 23, 2010 to regulate FOG at Food Service Establishments and established a monitoring, inspection, and implementation program.

Sanitary Sewer Overflows

FOG is known to be one of the leading causes of sanitary sewer overflows which occur when the sewer gets clogged and the sewer discharges onto the street. Sanitary sewer overflows may temporarily exceed applicable water quality objectives, pose a threat to the public health, adversely affect aquatic life and impair the public recreational use and aesthetic enjoyment of surface waters.