FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease) Program (714) 536-5431

Sewer spills are a public health threat and can lead to beach closures if the sewage discharges to the storm drain system. In addition to environmental degradation, sewage spills and backups can result in County Health code violations that can lead to the closure of your business operations.

City of Huntington Beach FOG Control Program

To eliminate FOG related sewer spills and backups, the City has adopted an aggressive maintenance program to frequently inspect and clean the City's sewer lines. However, the City has determined that the most effective way to minimize FOG accumulation in sewers is to prevent the introduction of FOG into the sewer system in the first place. To realize this goal, the City has developed a FOG Control Program that regulates restaurants and other food service establishments (FSEs) that produce FOG and provides them with a mechanism to help control and minimize the introduction of FOG into City sewers. The City of Huntington Beach FOG Control Program uses a three-pronged approach:

Public outreach and education

Public outreach programs educate commercial business operators/owners and residents on the problems associated with improper disposal of FOG and encourage the application of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in handling of waste FOG.

Food Service Establishment (FSE) FOG Control Program

The FSE FOG Control program provides the City, through the FOG ordinance, with the authority to inspect and monitor the implementation of BMPs.

Enhanced sewer maintenance and cleaning

Enhanced sewer maintenance activities are scheduled as a result of the City's inspection of the sanitary sewer system using a closed circuit television (CCTV) inspection system to identify sources of FOG in the City's sewer system.
Once identified, City staff conducts inspections to address the source(s) and/or issues fines/penalties to the responsible party.

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