Fats, Oils, and Grease

For information, contact

  1. Kevin Kaplan

    Pretreatment Administrator
    Phone: 724-776-4806 x1513

Whether originating from a food service facility, car wash, business performing vehicle and equipment maintenance, or another source, F.O.G. reaching the sanitary sewer system can cause a major problem. F.O.G. is a leading cause of sewer line blockages. It congeals on the inner walls of the collection system leading to reduced flow and capacity. It is known to combine with other solids to form blockages and backups. When it is treated at our local Brush Creek Wastewater Treatment plant, it requires a high amount of energy to be processed. This can be problematic because this limited energy could be spent treating organic wastes as intended.

F.O.G. Permit Application

Residential users

Be aware that keeping F.O.G. out of the drainage system helps you and the Township. Your smaller sewer collection pipes make you more prone to sewer clogs from grease buildup. Take the following steps to ensure this does not happen:

  • Scrape your plates
  • Dispose of food waste in the trash before washing dishes. The bottom line is the less residual food, the better.
  • Don’t dump the grease!

Grease accumulated from cooking should be left to cool and then placed into a secondary container. The contained grease can be placed into the trash. If you would like more information on what residents should or shouldn’t flush, please visit  Pretreatment and the Homeowner in Cranberry Township.

Commercial users 

Our program is designed to reduce the impact that F.O.G. has on the wastewater collection and treatment system. Commercial users are required to employ devices such as grease traps, grease interceptors, or oil/water separators to aid in F.O.G. removal.

The F.O.G. program, from start to finish. 

Sizing Guidelines  All new and renovated facilities must complete and submit the sizing guideline worksheet. Note: These worksheets will open in Excel spreadsheets.Business & Restaurant F.O.G. Trap Sizing Worksheet

Installation


Exterior Grease Interceptor or Oil/Water Seperator The pretreatment administrator must inspect the device and the associated plumbing prior to backfill. The device must pass a vacuum test by holding 10 inches of mercury for one minute, as stated in Chapter 17.

Interior Grease Trap 
Once installed the pretreatment administrator must inspect the device and the associated plumbing

  • Permit Application Swift Comply, our online F. O.G. tracking software. gathers contact and grease production information. Complete your application on Swift Comply
  • Permits Issue a (example: wastewater permit ) to the facility with the potential to discharge F.O.G. in accordance with the pretreatment ordinance.

Maintenance and Record Keeping All commercial facilities are required to abide by a predetermined cleaning frequency issued by Cranberry Township. Cleaning manifests, receipts or logs should be uploaded to Swift Comply, our F.O.G. tracking software.   

How to use your Swift Comply business profile

Inspections - Inspections are performed at all permitted commercial facilities to ensure compliance. During the inspection, the pretreatment administrator will review compliance records on Swift Comply, update general information, and review the cleaning frequency to determine if it is adequate.

Passed Interior Grease Trap (<100 gallons liquid capacity) Inspection

Cranberry Township’s grease production chart shows trap has not reached its maximum capacity. Interior or exterior downstream piping has <1/2” of grease buildup in collection system. Establishment has met record keeping compliance from previous inspection. No other problems relating to the grease trap or interior plumping are found.

Passed exterior Grease Interceptor or Oil/Water Seperator (>100 gallons liquid capacity) Inspection

Grease interceptor or oil and grit separators shall contain < 25% or one-fourth of the total volume of liquid with combined fats, oil, grease, and solids. Interior or exterior downstream piping has <1/2” of grease buildup in collection system. Establishment has met record keeping compliance from previous inspection. No other problems relating to the grease trap or interior plumping are found.