Title 124 - NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Chapter 12 - GREASE TRAP
001 It is required that an external grease trap be installed for all restaurants and establishments involved in food preparation.
001.01 Restaurants and establishments involved in food preparation that are replacing or modifying their on-site wastewater treatment system may install an additional septic tank in the waste line in lieu of a grease trap provided the following conditions are met:
001.01A The restaurant or establishment was constructed before the effective date of these regulations;
001.01B The current kitchen and blackwater waste streams are not separated;
001.01C The additional septic tank is sized following Section 004 below; and
001.01D The additional tank is placed in series with other tanks and complies with Chapter 8, Section 015.
002 Materials and Specifications.
002.01 If an external grease trap is used it shall be watertight, durable, and constructed of the same materials as septic tanks.
002.02 The inlet invert shall be at least 3 inches above the outlet invert.
002.03 The inlet baffle or sanitary tee shall extend at least 24 inches below the liquid level.
002.04 The outlet baffle or sanitary tee shall extend to within 8 inches of the tank bottom.
002.05 The grease trap shall be provided with an inspection or clean out cover over the inlet and outlet.
002.06 Blackwater other than kitchen waste shall not be connected to a grease trap.
002.07 All wastewater from the kitchen operation shall be connected to the external grease trap. The effluent from the grease trap shall connect to the inlet line of the septic tank.
003 Operation and Maintenance
003.01 In order to be effective, grease traps shall be operated properly and cleaned regularly to prevent the escape of appreciable quantities of grease. The frequency of cleaning at any given installation can best be determined by experience based on observation.
004 Sizing of Grease Traps
004.01 A grease trap shall provide twenty four hours of detention time for the average daily flow.
004.02 The minimum capacity of any grease trap shall be 750 gallons.
Enabling Legislation: Neb. Rev. Stat. §81-1505(8).
Legal Citation: Title 124, Ch. 12, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186