Richmond's downtown sewer system includes lines dating to the early 1900s, with limited capacity to handle modern commercial kitchen waste volumes. The city's Department of Public Utilities has intensified FOG enforcement in Shockoe Bottom, Jackson Ward, and Church Hill because grease-related blockages in these older neighborhoods cause sanitary sewer overflows that violate environmental regulations. Food service facilities in these areas face heightened inspection scrutiny and must maintain meticulous grease trap waste removal documentation. Richmond's combined sewer system in older districts means that grease blockages can cause untreated wastewater to overflow into the James River during heavy rain events, creating liability that extends beyond your facility to environmental violations.
Richmond requires food service establishments to install properly sized grease interceptors based on fixture unit calculations defined in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The city also mandates that facilities maintain service records demonstrating compliance with the 25 percent rule for trap capacity. Summit Plumbing Richmond works directly with restaurant owners, property managers, and commercial kitchen operators throughout the metro area to ensure their grease management programs satisfy both state plumbing code and local wastewater ordinances. Our familiarity with Richmond health inspectors and public utilities officials means we understand exactly what documentation will satisfy enforcement requirements and which trap maintenance practices receive the most scrutiny during audits.
