MEMORANDUM

To:      Dave Wagner

            Asst. Utilities Director – Wastewater

From:  Jim Stuit

            Field Operations Superintendent

Re:      Grease Control Program - UPDATE

Date:   March 24, 2004

Background:  The City of Lawrence, like almost all other municipalities experiences problems with grease build-ups in the sanitary sewer collection system.  In 2003, grease was identified as the cause of 24 sewer backups in City maintained pipes.  This represents 27% of all backups in City maintained pipes, a percentage that has been consistent since detailed records have been kept.  While some fats, oils and grease (FOG) enter the collection system through residential connections, the vast majority of it comes from commercial establishments, such as restaurants.  

Past Efforts to Reduce the Problem:  The most obvious effort is assigning higher frequency cleaning to lines laden with grease, and this has been done.  With the aid of closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection, staff can pinpoint connections or sub-basins with high grease output.  Armed with this information, Utility staff has conducted site visits on at least 3 occasions to inform commercial establishments (restaurants, etc.) of the problem, provide them with copies of the code, and ask for their voluntary cooperation to comply with restrictions regarding the introduction of FOG in the City’s sanitary sewer collection system.  Water Environment Federation (WEF) flyers with information about FOG were mailed to all restaurants in February, 2003, and the next informational mailing will be sent out later this year.  Utility staff has worked with Neighborhood Resources department staff to resolve some grease issues – requiring a west Lawrence restaurant to upsize their grease disposal system being one recent example.

Future Efforts:  As noted above, the Utilities Department intends to continue with its public awareness programs by mailing informational flyers on an annual basis.  GIS mapping will be used to plot the grease backup calls, and this may help us focus our maintenance efforts.  Becky Gagnon with the City of Wichita heads up a very effective FOG program in that City and has offered to share the fundamentals of the program with Lawrence.  Three Collection Division employees will be meeting with her later this spring.  Utility staff intends to continue meeting with commercial establishments to seek compliance with this Sewer Use section of the City code on a case-by-case basis as we have done in the past.