Salisbury to Require Grease Traps in Sewers

Restaurants, commercial kitchens and service stations in Salisbury Township can soon expect to install grease traps at their own expense to keep fats, oils or grease out of the municipal sewer system.

Because Salisbury sewers connect with Allentown and South Whitehall Township, which both regulate grease in wastewater and require grease traps, Salisbury is bound to their regulations, said Township Manager Randy Soriano.

“If the city of Allentown is mandating this, we obviously have to comply,” said Commissioner Norma Cusick. Some institutional kitchens would be regulated, but single-family residences are exempt.

got a rough draft of the proposed grease trap ordinance during an Aug. 25 workshop meeting; discussion and fine-tuning will continue at the next meeting Sept. 8.

Grease traps are boxes installed on wastewater drains to collect oils, which are then disposed of or recycled. Traps can cost several hundred dollars and are to be located outside of the business or restaurant, and accessible by a manhole. Businesses will be responsible for the cost of the equipment and installation. Township code enforcement will be in charge of notification and enforcement, including fines and fees.

The township proposes that regulated facilities obtain operational permits at a cost of $300 to cover the township’s monitoring of discharges. Facilities operating without permits could be charged $100 per day.

“Oils don’t belong in sanitary sewers to start with,” said Salisbury Director of Public Works John Andreas, because they can clog sewer lines and interfere with water treatment.

The township will inventory who will be impacted, then send out notices and information to comply with the ordinance. “If they need technical assistance, our engineer can provide that,” said Soriano. When the ordinance goes into effect depends on when it is passed, and how much time is allowed for compliance.

In other business, Soriano told commissioners that a calendar for producing next year’s budget will be presented to commissioners at the board meeting on Sept. 22.