1003.1 Where required.
Interceptors and separators shall be provided to prevent the discharge of oil, grease, sand and other substances harmful or hazardous to the public sewer, the private sewage system or the sewage treatment plant or processes.Explanation:
The layout and construction of sanitary drainage and sewer systems, along with the waste treatment systems for handling wastewater, are planned according to the usual properties of “domestic” wastewater. This type of wastewater primarily results from human activities such as bathing, household cooking, cleaning, and flushing away human waste. Wastewater from commercial and industrial activities, including manufacturing, large-scale food production, vehicle washing, chemical manufacturing, and product recycling, can harm the materials and methods used to transport the wastewater and the physical, biological, and chemical processes used to treat the wastewater before it is safely released into the environment. As a result, it is crucial to remove harmful components from these commercial/industrial wastewaters to ensure they do not compromise the integrity of drainage systems or interfere with standard wastewater treatment processes.
In this code, as well as within the industry, the terms “separator” and “interceptor” are often used interchangeably. Both refer to a device that enables one or more suspended substances in a wastewater stream to be diverted from the flow for containment within the device or to follow a different pathway for capture and retention. The collected materials must be periodically cleared from the devices or storage vessels to preserve the separators’ efficiency and functionality. The removal and disposal of these harmful substances are typically managed by specialized companies licensed by the state to handle and dispose of the wastes safely. It's important to note that separators/interceptors do not chemically modify commercial/industrial wastewater; rather, they physically extract elements from the wastewater stream. Section 803 addresses scenarios where wastewater flow adjustments are needed for pH balance, temperature reduction, odor control, or hazardous chemical removal.
This section highlights grease, oil, and sand as particular contaminants that must be extracted from wastewater prior to its release into public or private sewer systems or sewage treatment facilities. Grease can solidify and significantly block sewer lines, leading to wastewater backups into buildings or the environment. Oil poses challenges in sewage treatment facilities as it tends to remain on the water's surface, complicating its removal during the treatment process. Sand, being abrasive, can wear down sewer pipes and pumps, and accumulate, leading to blockages in sewer manholes, especially at bends in gravity sewer lines. Sections 1003.3 and 1003.4 specify which types of facilities need grease and oil separators, respectively, while Sections 1003.6, 1003.7, and 1003.8 mandate separators for commercial laundries, bottling facilities, and slaughterhouses. Although the code does not specify sand interceptors for particular uses, when installed, Section 1003.5 outlines design standards for these interceptors. Other facilities that might require separators include hospitals, animal processing plants, canneries, concrete producers, beauty salons, refineries, and machine shops. It is the duty of the code official to identify any other uses where similar discharges may necessitate a separator.
The purpose of this section is not to mandate interceptors solely to protect the internal drain piping system of a building or its building sewer. However, placing interceptors near the point where contaminants enter the building’s drainage system helps reduce maintenance needs for both the drainage system and the building sewer. The design responsibility for positioning interceptors efficiently, considering the expected frequency and intensity of maintenance, ease of access for cleaning, and the allocation of building space for such equipment, falls on the building designer or tenant.
For wastewater destined for private sewage systems that release into the environment through various ground infiltration methods, local environmental control departments at the state and county levels may impose requirements for additional separators, specialized treatment methods, holding tanks, or monitoring stations. These specifications are beyond the scope of this code and may differ across states.