Sanitary district may boost fees for grease waste

Andrew Edwards

Costa Mesa restaurateurs and residents could wind up sharing the

costs of keeping grease out of local sewer pipes. The Costa Mesa

Sanitary District’s board is set to consider billing Costa Mesans

later this summer.

The board is not scheduled to vote on the proposed fees until

August, but if approved, fees will go into effect retroactive to July

1, sanitary district assistant manager Thomas Fauth said. The new

fees would be due at the same time as property taxes.

If the district’s board passes the fee proposal, any restaurant

serving hot food could be billed $150 for the costs of keeping fats,

oils and grease out of sewers. Restaurants that serve only cold food

could be billed $60. Residential, commercial and industrial customers

served by the district could have a $2.31 fee tacked onto their

bills.

“A 60-unit apartment can put out as much grease as a 60-table

restaurant,” sanitary district manager Rob Hamers said, explaining

why restaurateurs are not the only people who may be required to pay

more. “Grease is grease,” he said.

The proposed fees would cover the costs of the sanitary district’s

permit and inspection efforts but not actual sewer maintenance, Fauth

said.

In 2002, the sanitary district’s board moved to require restaurant

owners to install grease interceptors. Interceptors were required for

new restaurant buildings and also in places where Hamers observed

grease-related problems.

Last November, the Newport Beach City Council passed a law that

mandated restaurants install interceptors or pay sewer-maintenance

fees.

Restaurants within the Costa Mesa Sanitary District’s area will be

not be able to choose between installing new equipment or paying more

if the district’s board approves the fee plan.

“This is not an either-or -- this is just a charge,” Hamers said.

A fee could be a problem for small restaurants that have to pay

close attention to their finances, said John Ursini, whose family

owns the Newport Rib Company. He said his business would not be

severely affected by a new charge, and is sympathetic to efforts to

prevent sewage spills.

“That’s a small price to pay if we can get all the grease out of

the pipes,” Ursini said.

In 2002, the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board issued

new requirements to Orange County cities and sewer agencies to

prevent sewage spills. Hamers said the proposed fee increase is part

of the sanitary district’s efforts to comply with that order.

Gary Monahan, owner of Skosh Monahan’s and a Costa Mesa city

councilman, said he wanted to know more about the proposal before

commenting on it. However, he did say he wants the sanitary district

to give restaurant owners enough time to plan for any new fees.

The sanitary district has hired a contractor to notify restaurant

owners about the possible fee, Fauth said.

Between 1999 and 2004, 63% of Orange County beach closures were

caused by sewage pipeline blockages, according to the Orange County

Healthcare Agency. Of those blockages, 26% were blamed on grease.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at andrew.edwards

@latimes.com.