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Official Portal of the Government of Puerto Rico
English (United States)
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Oil and Grease Control Program Information

Oil and Grease Control
Program Information

The Oil and Grease Control Program is part of the elements of the Pretreatment Program approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1985 under Federal Regulation Code 40 Part 403.

40 CFR Part 403 prohibits the discharge of solid or viscous contaminants that can cause blockage in the sewer system.

In addition, this Program is part of the requirements established in the 2015 Consent Agreement with the EPA (Civil Action No. 3:15 —cv-02283).

PRASA in its Regulations on Water and Sewage Services establishes control requirements for any commercial, institutional or industrial user who discharges wastewater that may contain fats, oils, and grease derived from animals, vegetables, or petroleum.

  • Article 2.03 states that businesses are responsible for installing, operating, and providing adequate maintenance to oil and grease control equipment.
  • Article 2.04 prohibits the discharge of wastewater containing solid or viscous contaminants in quantities that cause flow obstruction in treatment operations and results in interference.
Ilustración de gota de aceite, frasco de cristal envasando aceite y ilustración de las flechas de reciclaje.

The oil is packaged and recycled.

Objectives
Ilustración de un flowchart con descripción de objetivos.
NEED

Federal Regulatory Requirement.

  • Program delegated to PRASA by the EPA
  • Requirement in an EPA Agreement under negotiation

Avoid the imposition of penalties for overflows caused by grease blockage.

Reduce high operational costs due to overflows caused by grease blockage and extend the lifespan of the sewer system.

FOCUS

Implement a comprehensive Inspection Program that allows:

  • Reduction of overflows due to grease blockage
  • Compliance with regulatory standards
  • Culture of compliance on the part of businesses
  • Protecting the environment and public health
Goals

Establish the necessary controls and guidelines for establishments that handle oils and grease so that their discharge does not cause adverse impact to the sanitary sewage system, wastewater treatment plants, and the environment.

Everything you Need to Know about the Program

What do we do?

Learn about the objectives and goals of the Oil and Fat Control Program.

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What can you do?

We can all help keep our pipes clean, so find out what you can do.

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Inspection process

Are you ready for an inspection? Know what the inspector will evaluate.

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Legal basis

Learn about the legal basis of the program.

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Educational brochures

Download educational material about the Oil and Grease Control Program.

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Questions and definitions

Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the program.
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Program Benefits

  • Reduction of overflows in the PRASA sewer system.
  • Protect and extend the lifespan of PRASA infrastructure
  • Reduce sewer line cleaning, repair and replacement costs.
  • Comply with the discharge parameters of the NPDES permissions.
  • Avoid environmental pollution and public health risks.
Imagen de un mano tomando agua de un lago cristalino

Federal Regulation Code 40
CFR Part 403
(Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  • It prohibits the discharge of solid or viscous contaminants that may cause blockage in the sewer system.
  • It is aimed at preventing obstructions in the sanitary system and overflows due to the accumulation of oils, grease, and petroleum-derived sediments (POGS).
  • PRASA performs routine inspections to verify compliance with requirements.
  • Issue notifications of non-compliance, administrative penalties, and any legal action to any establishment that does not comply with its responsibility.