A-1 Septic Tank Service

California's Regulatory Guidelines Regarding Liquid Waste

The Environmental Protection Agency has enacted broad legislation pertaining to liquid waste handling to which property owners and plumbing professionals must adhere. In addition to this federal legislation, California has passed its own laws governing liquid waste. To learn about these state-specific regulations so that you can make sure the plumbing in your building is up to snuff, read up on the liquid waste basics of the California Retail Food Code and California Plan Check Guide for Retail Food Facilities.

Greasy Business The bit of California regulation concerning the handling of grease in California’s retail waste handling code is multi-faceted, laying out guidelines for the placement of grease interceptors, guidelines for serving, and exceptions made for those whose improperly placed grease traps were in operation prior to the passage of the regulation.

Complete Draining Liquid waste in California must be disposed of using an approved plumbing system, and it must be drained away from clean water supplies. It is especially important that commercial kitchen equipment that is subject to the accumulation of moisture or other kitchen buildup be drained thoroughly.

Final Destination of Liquid For most restaurateurs, the destination of sewage leaving their place of business is the public sewage line. Those property owners whose restaurants are not connected to the municipal plumbing grid have only one other option: an approved septic tank system. Upon leaving the building, liquid waste must drain into one of these systems.

Are you searching for a septic tank cleaning and maintenance professional to help you keep your commitment to the law and environment? If you live in the San Francisco area, hire A-1 Septic Tank to help you out. To learn about our affordable and effective grease trap cleaning and used cooking oil handling services, give us a call at (888) 478-0730.  

A Look at the Clean Water Act

As America developed in the 20th century, concerns about the environment and the link between health and sanitation became greater priorities than they once were. The first national law to address water pollution on a large scale was passed in 1948. This law, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, would turn out to be the precursor to the Clean Water Act of 1972. To learn more about this bold legislation and the impact it has had on American society, continue reading.

Environmental Health At the core of the Clean Water Act lies the notion that we must respect and preserve the environment if it is to sustain human life for generations to come. In order to accomplish this, we must watch how much we dispose of and where our trash ends up. The only way to keep water fresh so that it can be enjoyed by all parties “downstream” is to not take too much of it and not contaminate it with heavy waste or pathogens.

Industrial Cooperation Manufacturing plants and other commercial entities have typically gotten the most flack for being “upstream” polluters. With their cooperation, pollution levels in many of America’s most strategically located waterways have remained constant or declined.

Human Enjoyment In the summertime, it is nice to be able to swim and fish in the lakes and rivers located near your home. One aim of the Clean Water Act was to ensure that the country’s waterways would be open for fishing and swimming by 1985. Many of the nation’s companies that were not on track to meet this goal prior to passage of the Clean Water Act were able to adapt to the expectations set forth in the Act and cleaner waterways soon followed.

Serving residences and commercial entities throughout the San Francisco area, A-1 Septic Tank is a first-tier grease trap and septic tank cleaning and septic maintenance company. If you would like to find out more about our commitment to the environment and our compliance with all environmental regulations, call us at (888) 478-0730.

Freeze the Grease to Avoid Grease Trap Problems

Roughly half of all residential plumbing calls are grease-related. Retail kitchens make their fair share of grease-related calls as well. For a detailed description of the simplest way to keep grease out of your home’s plumbing network, check out this video clip.

Grease is a fact of kitchen life. No matter how healthy a home chef aspires to be, there is only so much that can be accomplished in the kitchen without the help of cooking oil. Instead of soaking greasy pans immediately after a meal is served, follow the steps in this video clip: store, cover, freeze, and throw away.

If you experience a plumbing issue caused by grease buildup and live in the San Francisco Bay area, then you may be interested in A-1 Septic Tank’s grease trap pumping services. To speak with a member of our competent and passionate team, call (888) 478-0730.

Understanding "Gray Water" and "Black Water" and Your Septic System Maintenance

Whether you are looking to go green or save money, reusing resources like water can help you achieve your goals. In order to successfully reuse water, you need to know what kind of wastewater poses health threats and what kind of wastewater can be reused.

Wastewater that poses serious health risks is called “black water,” while “gray water” refers to wastewater that can often be reused. The main difference between the two is that black water has come in contact with fecal matter and, therefore, has the potential to carry and transmit harmful pathogens.

If you want to learn more about the differences between gray water and black water, give A-1 Septic Tank Services in San Francisco a call at (888) 478-0730. We can help you learn what you can do to make your home’s gray water safe for reuse. We also offer grease trap maintenance and septic tank services.

Kitchen Grease and Grease Trap Cleaning

When not dealt with properly, kitchen grease can cause serious problems for your drainage system. Many homeowners neglect their sinks and garbage disposals, using them as receptacles for waste. Here are the dos and don’ts of dealing with kitchen grease; this information can help you maintain your drainage system and the environment:

DON’T: Send Grease down the Drain While it may be tempting to simply dump kitchen grease into your sink and turn on the garbage disposal, neglecting to dispose of kitchen grease properly can cost you in the long run. As kitchen grease accumulates in your drainage system, clogs can form. When disposed of in the sink in sufficiently large quantities, kitchen grease can put undue stress on the municipal sewage system and lead to expensive sewer line backups. For these reasons, it is critical not to pour kitchen grease down your drain or attempt to dispose of it using your garbage disposal.

DO: Transfer Grease to a Separate Container In order to dispose of a small to moderate amount of kitchen grease, simply transfer the grease into a sealable container and place the container in the trash. Alternatively, you can gradually pour the grease into unused cat litter and dispose of the litter once the grease has been absorbed. When it comes to washing pots and pans that have grease residue on them, make sure to wipe the grease off first before you place the dishes in the sink.

Taking the proper steps to deal with kitchen grease can go a long way to maintaining your drainage system and preventing sewage line issues. Visit us online or give us a call at A-1 Septic Tank Services at (888) 478-0730 for information about grease trap cleaning and septic tank maintenance. We offer high-quality services to residents of the San Francisco area.