The Town of Cary adopted on Dec. 10, 1998 an ordinance to aid in the prevention of sanitary sewer blockages and obstructions from the contribution and accumulation of fats, oils and greases into such sewer system from industrial or commercial establishments, particularly food preparation and serving facilities (Sec.36-183).

Businesses participating in the preparation and serving of food or having the potential of discharging fats, oils, and greases shall be required to have and maintain a grease interceptor.

The Town of Cary Utilities Department – Pretreatment Division reviews and approves all site plans and building plans that include food service for grease interceptor sizing and installation adequacy. The Pretreatment Division conducts installation inspections in conjunction with plumbing inspections to ensure approved and adequate grease interceptors are installed.

The following procedure is designed to assist the applicant in permit application, plan submittal, and permit issuance.

Applicants installing a grease interceptor shall attach an approved copy of the Town of Cary Grease Interceptor Sizing Spreadsheet Summary or a Town Pretreatment approval letter to the plans when submitting a permit application and plans for review. A copy of said sizing spreadsheet summary or approval letter must be attached to all sets of plumbing plans approved by the Town of Cary.

Note: Town Pretreatment Division plan review, inspection and approval are strictly for adherence to the Town's Sewer Use Ordinance requirements. All building and construction code requirements shall be administered by the qualified local code enforcement official. Pretreatment Division review and approval shall not be construed as a building or construction code official review or approval.

New Construction

1. Applicants shall posses a list of kitchen equipment (fixtures), as typically determined by Wake County Department of Environmental Services or the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

List, shall include any of the following, but is not limited to:

Total number and Dimensions (inches)

• 1, 2, 3-compartment sinks and drain size
• Utility sinks
• Grease contributing equipment that includes a drain (rotisseries, Chinese stove (wok), tilt kettles, etc.)

Discharge flow rate (gallons per minute) per manufacturer specifications

• Dishwashers
• Pre-rinse sinks and drain size (faucet water supply rate)
• Prep sinks (faucet water supply rate)
• Mop sinks/hose bibs (faucet water supply rate)
• Garbage disposals/waste food disposal/pulpers
• Exhaust hood systems (self washing, water supply rate)
• Floor drains, floor sinks, and trench drains in food service and preparation areas (washable floor surface area)

2. Locate the Town of Cary Grease Interceptor Sizing Spreadsheet and enter the all relevant information on kitchen sink fixtures, drain pipe diameter, and water supply flow rate information for grease interceptor size determination

3. Enter all grease contributing fixture information into the Town of Cary Grease Interceptor Sizing Spreadsheet in order to determine grease interceptor size requirements. Contact the Pretreatment Division at (919) 319-4564 or (919) 462-2072 with any questions regarding grease interceptor sizing.

• If you have trouble sizing a grease interceptor the Pretreatment Division will size your grease interceptor using the Town of Cary Sizing Spreadsheet. A copy will be given to the applicant for attachment to construction plumbing plans and with the Town of Cary construction permit application.

4. Complete a Town of Cary permit application and submit revised plans with attached sizing spreadsheet summary to the Inspections & Permits Department.

5. The Pretreatment Division will review plumbing constructions plans for approval. The following information will be required with plumbing plan submittal:

• Town of Cary Grease Interceptor Sizing Spreadsheet Summary Form
• Facility Plumbing Equipment List
• Facility Equipment Layout
• Facility Plumbing Waste and Vent Piping (above and below slab)
• Proposed Grease Interceptor Location
• Town of Cary Grease Interceptor Details (exterior in-ground installations)
• Manufacturer’s Specification Sheet/Detail (approved interior/exterior in-floor installations)
• Town of Cary Inlet/Outlet Sanitary Tee Details (exterior in-ground grease interceptors)
• Town of Cary Sample Vault Detail (exterior in-ground grease interceptors)

Existing Facilities

Existing food service establishments who have an inadequate grease interceptor(s) and are changing ownership, renovating (adding or changing plumbing equipment), or who have no grease interception will be required to install a Town approved grease interceptor(s).

1.Contact the Town of Cary PWUT Pretreatment Division at (919) 319-4586 or (919) 462-2072 to schedule a site evaluation prior to; a change in ownership, prior to a renovation, at facilities where there is no grease interception, or if an existing grease interceptor is inadequate

• Town of Cary official(s) will conduct a site evaluation to determine grease interceptor site requirements.
• Existing building plans, property plots, utility locates, contact with plumbing contractor/engineer, and other information should be made available to the Town in order to help determine grease interceptor requirements.

2. With site requirements known, the applicant will need to contact Wake County Department of Environmental Services or the North Carolina Department of Agriculture for either of those agencies’ requirements.

3. After contact with Wake County and/or the NC Department of Agriculture and the Town’s Pretreatment Division; complete a Town of Cary permit application and submit revised plans with attached sizing spreadsheet summary to the Inspections & Permits Department.

4.The Pretreatment Division will review plumbing constructions plans for approval. The following information will be required with plumbing plan submittal:

• Town of Cary Grease Interceptor Sizing Spreadsheet Form
• Facility Plumbing Equipment List
• Facility Equipment Layout
• Facility Plumbing Waste and Vent Piping (above and below slab)
• Proposed Grease Interceptor Location
• Town of Cary Grease Interceptor Details (exterior in-ground installations)
• Manufacturer's Specification Sheet/Detail (approved interior/exterior in-floor installations)
• Town of Cary Sample Vault Detail (exterior in-ground grease interceptors)

• Town of Cary Inlet/Outlet Sanitary Tee Details (exterior in-ground grease interceptors)