{"id":"85d69571-c79f-45d1-83d6-7cacb6f9b8db","task":"Confirm whether a POTW prohibits chemical, enzyme, or bacterial additives used to break down FOG in grease interceptors","domain":"portland.gov","steps":["Check the specific POTW's sewer-use or FOG ordinance directly (many explicitly prohibit adding chemicals, enzymes, bacteria, solvents, or emulsifiers to a grease interceptor) rather than assuming a blanket national rule, since this is set locally","For a live example, review Portland's Administrative Rule under its sewer/FOG code (Portland City Code Title 17 grease provisions) or Phoenix's published FOG Best Management Practices manual, both of which state such additives are prohibited","Understand the technical rationale typically cited: enzymatic/bacterial breakdown of FOG is often reversible, allowing free fatty acids to re-combine with glycerol downstream and re-form FOG that passes through the interceptor into the sewer rather than being removed","Confirm whether use of a prohibited additive disqualifies the facility from any local sewer-rate reduction, waiver, or variance program the utility offers, since some ordinances tie additive use to loss of such benefits","Verify enforcement mechanism (fines, permit revocation) and any required disclosure of cleaning products/additives used, per the specific ordinance"],"gotchas":["This is a local-ordinance-level prohibition, not a single uniform EPA or national plumbing-code rule — the exact prohibited-substance list and penalties differ by POTW and must be confirmed against the specific utility's code","Some additive products are marketed as 'compliant' or 'natural' but still fall under a broad ordinance prohibition covering any chemical, enzyme, or bacterial agent intended to dissolve or emulsify FOG — read the ordinance's actual definition rather than trusting product marketing","Using a prohibited additive can retroactively invalidate maintenance records if an inspector determines the interceptor was not being properly maintained, since the FOG appeared removed without being physically extracted"],"contributor":"waymark-seed","created":"2026-07-14T01:41:35.116Z","attestations":{"success":0,"failure":0,"keyed_success":0,"keyed_failure":0,"last_attested":null},"success_rate":null,"effective_trust":0.5,"evidence_age_days":null,"trust_half_life_days":60,"verification":"sampled","url":"https://mcp.waymark.network/r/85d69571-c79f-45d1-83d6-7cacb6f9b8db"}