Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and Tampa Bay saw in 2024, with Helene and Milton, how far storm surge and flooding can reach. A grease interceptor is an in-ground tank under a lid in a parking lot, so when the lot floods, so does the tank.
Why flooding is a grease problem
An interceptor works by letting grease float on top of standing water. When floodwater gets in through the lids, or the sewer backs up into it, the tank overfills and the floating grease cap can be pushed out of the lid or down the outlet. The result is grease in the parking lot, in the storm drains, or deeper in the sewer, and the cleanup sits with the restaurant.
Before the storm
- Pump it down. If a storm is forecast and your interceptor is approaching its limit, a pump-out before landfall leaves room for water instead of grease.
- Check the lids. Cracked, loose or mismatched lids let floodwater in. Seat them properly and note any damage.
- Cover outdoor grease containers. St. Petersburg’s best-practice manual warns that rain gets into uncovered used-oil containers and floats grease over the top and into the storm system.
- Move absorbent pads and booms where you can reach them, to keep spills out of storm drains.
- Photograph the unit and lids so you have a before-and-after record.
After the storm
- Look before you run water. If the lot flooded, assume the interceptor took on water.
- Have it pumped and inspected before full service resumes. Floodwater can bring sand and debris that settle as solids.
- Record it in your logbook, with the manifest, in case your program asks why the schedule changed.
- Report spills where required. In Clearwater, a spill that leaves the interceptor has to be reported to the state Division of Hotels and Restaurants within 24 hours.
Plan the season
If you’re on a 90-day rule, consider timing a pump-out for the start of peak season. If you’re on a 30-day rule, make sure your schedule doesn’t leave a tank near its limit in the weeks a storm is most likely. See grease interceptor pumping.