Home Page | City Council | City Government | Feedback | Search

Copyright © 2002 City of Longmont, All Rights Reserved
Main Address: City of Longmont, 350 Kimbark Street, Longmont, CO 80501 | 303-776-6050 | Privacy Policy
Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by the City of Longmont.
By visiting this and other City of Longmont web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by the policies of the site.

Food Service Industry

Bakeries, Food Producers & Distributors, Grocery Stores, Dairies, Breweries and Restaurants

Regulations Sewers Best Managment Practices: Kitchen Waste Disposal oil, interceptors Equipment Washing hoods and filters Outside Building storage, garbage bins Spill Clean Up Links of Interest All photos on this page depict vioaltions noted at Longmont businesses.	The byproducts of food-related cleaning can harm the environment if they enter the storm drainage system. Food businesses can cause harm by putting food wastes in leaking dumpsters, not cleaning up outdoor spills, cleaning equipment outside or washing spills down the storm drain.
	Stormwater Quality Program 1100 S. Sherman Road Longmont, CO 80501 Phone: (303) 651-8667 or email: water@ci.longmont.co.us

Regulations

1. The City of Longmont's Municipal Code prohibits the discharge of wastes to the storm drainage system. An illegal discharge is defined as anything that leaves the property. A potential discharge is defined as any spill or discharge on the property or any material stored in a way that could become an illegal discharge. (For example, an open bucket of oil.) (Municipal Code sections 14.26.050). Both are violations of the Code. Read more about storm drain prohibitions.
2. The City of Longmont's Municipal Code prohibits the discharge of wastes to the environment. The wastes must be discharged to the City's sanitary sewer (Municial Code section14.08.205).
3. Any discharge to the sanitary sewer must comply with the general and specific prohibitions of the Municipal Code. Call the Industrial Pretreatment Program at 303-651-8667 for more information.
4. For power washing, the City of Longmont does not allow discharge of hauled wastes to the sanitary sewer. You may discharge the wastes to the sanitary sewer at the site of the operations only, if the business owners gives you permission to do so.
   • You cannot haul the wastes to another location for discharge the the City sewer.
   • You cannot discharge to any City sewer manhole or storm drainage inlet.
   • The City's wastewater treatment plant does not accept hauled wastes.

Click here for Best Management Practices.

Back to top.

Storm Drains vs Sanitary Sewers - What's the difference?

 

Storm Drainage System

The storm inlets (the grates located in streets) discharge to ditches, ponds, creeks and the river. These are designed to carry rain and snow melt away from our homes and streets. They are not connected to the wastewater treatment plant and there is no treatment of pollutants.

A discharge to the storm drainage system would be the same as discharging to our river.

Never discharge wastes to the street or any storm drain inlet.

Sanitary Sewers

Sanitary sewers carry wastewater from homes and businesses (toilets, tubs, sinks, etc.) to the wastewater treatment plant where the pollutants are removed. Harmful wastes that can cause sewer blockages or disrupt the treatment plant are prohibited (Municipal Code §14.08.310 –312).

 

Back to top.

Best Management Practices (BMPS)

Kitchen Waste Disposal

General Pollution Prevention

• Reduce Wastes - Buy only what you need and avoid disposable products like Styrofoam.
• Look for labels with "nontoxic", "non-petroleum based", "free of ammonia, phosphates, dyes or perfumes" or "readily biodegradable". Avoid chlorinated compounds, petroleum distallates, phenols and formaldehyde. Look for water-based products.
• Reuse - Buy recycled products and products packaged in recycled and recyclable containers.
• Recycle - Contact Ecocyle about paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, tin and hard to recycle items.

Recycling Old Cooking Oil

• Cooking oil may be collected for recycling (into biodiesel or animal feed) rather than thrown in the trash. The contract service will provide and maintain your collection bins.
• The bins are normally located outside so that the contract service can easily pick them up. Keep the bins close to the kitchen to make it easier for your staff to use them and reduce the chance of spills.
• Keep the bins closed unless you are actively dumping the oil. Rain and debris will contaminate the oil and make it unusable.
• Fill the containers to only about 3/4 full to avoid overflows and spills during collection.
• Clean up spills immediately.

Grease Interceptors

• Grease Interceptors or Traps are devices hooked up to kitchen fixtures to trap grease before it enters the sanitary sewer. If your business has an interceptor device that is being adequately maintained, it is safe to discharge greasy wastewater to a drain that is serviced by the interceptor.
• Never discharge greasy wastes to the toilet or any other fixture that is not serviced by an interceptor. This will cause a sewer blockage or "slow drains".
• Never discharge old cooking oil to any drain. Oil cooking oil should be collected for recycling (see above).

Equipment Washing

Try to avoid washing equipment outside of the building. Washing inside allows you to discharge the rinse water to the sanitary sewer via the mop sink or floor drain.

Contact local car washes to see if you can use their self wash bays to wash equipment or discharge wastes. These have sand/oil interceptors to protect the sanitary sewers from blockages.

If you must wash equipment outside:

1. Clean water that does not contain pollutants or cleaning agents may be discharged to the storm sewer system or better yet, to your landscape. For example, grocery carts may be rinsed off with clean water (no soap) outside.
2. If the equipment is dirty, for example, grease laden kitchen equipment, and the rinse water becomes contaminated (even if soap is not used), it cannot be discharged to the storm drain or ground.
3. Any contaminated rinse water or any wastes containing soaps/cleaning agents must be collected and discharged to the sanitary sewer via your interceptor.
4. Conserve water - don't leave the hose on when not in use.
5. Be a good neighbor- please don't allow wastes to enter your neighbors property or cause a public nuisance.
6. When the job is done, clean up the area. Don't leave wastes or residues on the ground that could be washed into the storm drain during the next rain storm.
7. If you are unsure, please call the Industrial Pretreatment Program at (303) 651-8667 for information.

Hoods and Filters

• Restaurants are required by the Longmont Fire Department to routinely remove grease that builds up in exhaust hoods.
• Most Longmont restaurants contract this work out. The contractor must be able to collect the greasy wastewater so that it doesn't become an illegal or potential discharge. The greasy wastewater may be discharged to the sanitary sewer via your grease interceptor.
• Many Longmont restaurants will soak filters between cleanings. If this is done outside, please refer to outside storage BMP.

Power Washing

• Clean water that does not contain pollutants or cleaning agent may be discharged to the landscape or storm drain. Contaminated wastes must be collected and cannot be discharge to the ground.
• More information available on-line.

Toxic Wastes Disposal

• Some cleaners, detergents and floor strippers contain solvents that are considered toxic or hazardous wastes. Read the instructions on proper handling and disposal of these substances (and rags). For more information, businesses may contact the CDPHE's Generator Assistance Program at (303) 692-3320.

Outside

Garbage Bins

• Inspect dumpsters regularly. Replace leaking or damaged dumpsters.
• Keep dumpsters closed to prevent rain from entering. Never overfill dumpsters - you should get a second dumpster or more frequent pick ups if this routinely happens.
• Contact your contract waste hauler to see if they allow liquids to be disposed to the trash. Liquid wastes must be in sealed containers to prevent spills.
• Regularly clean the pavement under and around the dumpster. Dry wipe first. And if water is needed, collect it and discharge to the sanitary sewer via your grease interceptor.

Storage

• Avoid storing materials outside of building. If materials must be stored outside, place them only on paved areas that are covered to protect them from rain. Secured plastic sheeting over non-liquid materials may be adequate for temporary storage.
• Examine the area to determine direction of flow in the event of a spill. Have a spill response plan and a spill kit on hand. Protect the storm drainage system. Include this information in employee training.
• Storage containers should be regularly inspected for leaks/spills and kept in good condition. Consider using secondary containment to protect any storm drains in the area.Containers should be rigid, durable, water-tight and rodent-proof with tight fitting lids.
• Keep all containers closed at all times to prevent rain water from entering.

Parking Lot Maintenance

• Regularly inspect your parking lot for spills and potential discharges.

• More information available on-line about cleaning up spills.
• More information available on-line about pressure washing.

Storm Inlets

• Raise employee and customer awareness by stencilling/marking storm drains near your business.

 

Back to top.

 

OTHER LINKS

Keep It Clean Partnership (for a listing of other Boulder County municipality contacts) (303) 441-1439.

Back to top.

Pollution Prevention|Stormwater Program|Water Utilities|Public Works & Natural Resources|City of Longmont

This page was updated January 9, 2012
City of Longmont Public Works & Natural Resources
Stormwater Quality Program

Pollution Prevention Program