The Utilities Department received Town Council permission in March 1998 to develop a comprehensive Fats, Oils, and Grease Control program to reduce the frequency and severity of sewer system overflows. Education and enforcement followed as mandated by the N.C. Division of Water Quality.

Reduction of overflows cuts expenses and lessens the chances of complaints from those who may perceive that the Town has not done enough to prevent overflows. To that end, Public Works and Utilities: 

• Developed and maintains a preliminary baseline of fats, oils, and grease generators from selected food preparation/serving establishments
• Hired an industrial pre-treatment technician to further document efforts and to assist with enforcement
• Adopted a Grease and Oil Control Ordinance that regulates discharge to Town-maintained sanitary sewer lines
• Developed a mechanism that determines grease interceptor size adequacy for building plans
• Routinely has used its Enforcement Response Plan for determining how to handle sanitary sewer overflows
• Developed a grease interceptor service variance to allow food preparation/serving establishments a way to provide evidence that grease interceptor service requirements can be reduced

The Public Works and Utilities Department works with the Town's Inspections and Permits staff, which reviews food preparation and serving businesses to ensure that they meet the intent of the Oil and Grease Control Ordinance. Baseline monitoring and grease interceptor maintenance records help the Town update ordinances and other control measures as needed.