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Tacoma staff propose changes to grease‑control rules after FOG‑linked sewer overflows
Summary
City staff presented proposed updates to the Grease Interceptor Improvement Project (FOG program), including monthly coordination with Tacoma‑Pierce County Health Department, a delivery‑service pilot, revised sizing/variance rules, updated tip sheets, and consideration of a dedicated food‑service support staff role. Staff said roughly 25% of past sanitary sewer overflows were FOG‑related.
City of Tacoma staff on March 31 outlined proposed changes to the city’s Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG) program intended to reduce grease‑related sewer overflows and give restaurants clearer, lower‑burden compliance options.
"We are here today to talk about the Grease Interceptor Improvement Project, also known as the FOG or Fat Oil Grease Program," said Joy Rodriguez, principal civil engineer with Planning and Development Services, who presented the briefing to the Economic Development Committee. Rodriguez said a continuous improvement review followed community complaints and online coverage about compliance costs and operation of grease interceptors.
Why it matters: Rodriguez told the committee that city records indicate about 25% of sanitary sewer overflows over the past two decades were related to FOG, separate from heavy‑rain events. Staff said that combination of environmental risk and public frustration prompted a six‑point review focused on better interagency coordination, clearer sizing rules, lower‑burden variance options, consolidated guidance, improved outreach, and potential staff support for food service establishments (FSEs).
Staff said they have started monthly coordination meetings with the Tacoma‑Pierce County Health Department, Planning and Development Services, Community Economic Development and Environmental Services to better align permitting and inspections. "Those meetings have been invaluable to bring together all corners of FSE regulation," said John Senich, principal regulatory compliance analyst in Environmental Services.
Key proposal elements
- Sizing and variance: Staff want to retain the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) as the baseline but remove a hard 40‑meals‑per‑hour cutoff from local policy. Instead they propose a sizing worksheet and calculator to handle atypical operations and a clearer variance process that can be completed without a licensed engineer in limited cases.
- Pilot project: Environmental Services has run a nine‑ to ten‑month pilot with volunteer restaurants to collect data on how third‑party delivery services (Grubhub, Uber Eats, DoorDash) affect grease production and the economics of upsizing interceptors. Early results, staff said, suggest delivery presence does not always raise grease volumes enough to justify larger devices for some businesses.
- Cost guidance and resources: Staff compiled unit and installation cost comparisons to show total cost of ownership (device purchase plus maintenance). Presenters gave a device cost range from a few hundred dollars for a small hydro‑mechanical unit to multiple thousands for large gravity interceptors and noted maintenance/pumping can vary; staff advised businesses to obtain multiple bids.
- Consolidated guidance and outreach: The city will consolidate sizing, selection policy and pretreatment guidance into chapter 5 of the side sewer manual, update contact information and design references, publish plain‑language tip sheets (including translated materials), and run industry outreach events. Staff are targeting Q3 2026 for the manual update.
- Reporting and support: Staff proposed clearer maintenance reporting options and said they are exploring whether a dedicated FSE support staff member — a single point of contact to help restaurants through permitting and compliance — is feasible.
Costs and technical details
Rodriguez and Senich emphasized that device choice affects both purchase and ongoing maintenance costs: hydro‑mechanical units under sinks can be inexpensive to buy but require more frequent emptying; large gravity units cost more initially but may be emptied less often. Staff cited the common maintenance threshold that devices be cleaned when grease and solids reach roughly 25% of chamber volume and noted that a 1,000‑gallon gravity interceptor can treat about 34 drainage fixture units in some configurations.
Reuse/recycling of collected grease
Romero Chavez, director of Environmental Services, told the committee the city currently hauls FOG to private processors (including facilities in Oregon) and "at this point, we don't have any plans to do that" (to process it in‑house). Chavez said local recycling or conversion to fuel or products depends on private market operators and would be expensive for the city to run directly.
Committee reaction and next steps
Committee members welcomed the outreach and pilot work and pressed staff on whether the city can help mitigate compliance costs through loans, lease negotiations, or building‑owner investments; Community Economic Development staff said some loan and negotiation support is possible on a case‑by‑case basis. Staff said they do not currently track how many businesses chose not to open because of FOG requirements.
Staff said they will continue the pilot, finalize the sizing calculator and variance language, develop accessible tip sheets, and coordinate outreach events; they expect to publish the consolidated manual chapter in the third quarter of 2026. The committee adjourned by voice vote at the end of the meeting.
