IP PROGRAM GOALS
  • Protect water quality.
  • Ensure residual sewage sludge or meet requirements for
    beneficial re-use as a soil amendment.
  • Safeguard the wastewater collection / treatment system.
  • Provide for the safety of POTW workers.
                  
 Grease Trap Program

      As part of the City Of Covington's solution to collection system spills and overflows, a specific program  was  put in place  to regularly inspect, clean, and protect the collection system from oil and grease  accumulation. With  the number of food  service establishments growing, an effective program was required  in order to ensure grease  would not inhibit the flow of  wastewater throughout the collection system.
     Grease is hydrophobic , which means it prefers to cling to surfaces that are free of water. In effect, it  prefers to  build on  the walls of the sewer collection lines As it continues to build, a restricting of flow  occurs.  Then as layers  form and break off,  a plug will occur downstream and eventually cause a blockage.  As a  blockage occurs, the  result is an overflow, lift station  failure, and/or treatment plant problems.
              Due to these concerns, grease is an enemy of the collection system.

DO

  • Put oil/grease in collection containers.
  • Remove oil/grease from kitchen utensils.
  • Equip food preparation areas with scrapers, towels, brooms.
  • Keep grease out of wash water.
  • Place food scraps in collection containers.

DON'T

  • Pour oil/grease down drains.
  • Wash fryers/griddles, pots&pans, plates with water until oil/grease are removed.
  • Use hot water to rinse grease off surfaces.
  • Put food scraps down the drains.

Backflow Program

     The backflow program of the City Of Covington is enforced to protect the potable water supply of its customers.  It protects the users from numerous possibilities of contamination which may 'backflow' or 'back-siphon' into the  water supply system.
     It is in place to eliminate cross-connections (actual or potential) and to maintain a continuing program of  cross- connection control.

      Backflows can occur two ways:

 1)   Negative pressure causes a 'back-siphon'. Negative pressure creates a partial vacuum in a sealed tube or  distribution system that can siphon liquid into a potable water system. Remember, liquids will flow toward the point  of lowest pressure.


 2)   Superior pressure causes backpressure backflow. Superior pressure can be caused by a pump, boiler system,  or elevated storage tank located in a non-potable system.

     Breaks in a water main or fire hydrant use are two examples that may cause a system to backflow. These are  situations that can happen without notice and therefor require continuous prevention.

Prevention is maintained through:

 1)   Careful considerations of water supply  connections.

 2)   A system of valves set up for protection.

   The type of valve is determined by the hazard it protects.

 3)   Regular inspection/testing of backflow prevention valves.

 4)   Public education.

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