Nelson
says her establishment doesn’t generate much grease. “There’s
not a whole lot more we can do, and (it’s) the same for other
places,” she said.
Treating
and disposing of restaurant grease going into the town’s wastewater
system is costing $5,000 to $10,000 more each month than is
necessary, related Cave Creek engineer Wayne Anderson. Assistant
Town Engineer Souren Naradikian said the current volume of grease
discharged from restaurants is slowing the process by which
the waste is broken down at the plant, placing a strain on the
system.
The
plant is currently operating at about 75 percent of capacity
during the winter months and 60
percent in the summer, Naradikian said.
According
to restauranteur Eric Flat, “It’s not an issue of grease –it’s
about total suspended solids in the water.” Flat is co‑owner
of both Tonto Bar & Grill and Cartwright’s. “Everybody is
fine with the grease,” he said, adding there was no issue or
concern raised in the 12 years he has been in Cave Creek.
Restaurant
owners are doing everything they are supposed to do to prevent
excess grease from entering the sewer system, Flat said.
Cave
Creek restaurants by the end of this month must submit permits
to install the testing port and engineering drawings to meet
the new requirement. The town is willing to finance a portion
of the cost if business owners repay the money in small monthly
installments, said Naradikian.
Anderson
said Cave Creek wants to work with restaurant owners and has
sent out letters explaining the proper way to handle grease
disposal. Town officials have known about the problem for about
two years, but began a proactive campaign to improve the situation
over the last
six months.
“The
misperception out there is that businesses are the economic
engines of the town, which in some respects is true,” said Cave
Creek Councilwoman Grace Meeth. “In this case the town is
subsidizing the restaurant owners, and it’s draining our economy.”
She continued, “It’s fair to say businesses in general fuel
our lifestyle,” adding that it is also fair for residents to
contribute
to the cost of sewer plant upkeep.
People
who build homes in Cave Creek have to pay sizeable sewer‑impact
fees “because we rely on the town core,” Meeth said. Most houses
are built on septic tanks. However, the councilwoman
said, the town should draw the line when restaurants act irresponsibly
in the disposal of grease.
Only
a minority of the businesses don’t want to work with the town
over this issue, Meeth said.
“I
believe restaurant owners are conscientious and really want
to solve the problem, but it’s difficult
to know how to solve it,” said Councilman Ernie Bunch. “Nobody
likes change, and they’re being asked to change the way they
run (their) kitchens. Any change costs more.”
Steve
Demianczyk, manager of Oak’s Diner and Flapjacks in Cave Creek,
said employees at Baker Commodities Inc., Phoenix, who clean
the restaurant’s grease traps told him the town’s numbers
(350 milligrams of fat per liter of water) are too strict. The
restaurant has started throwing leftover pancake dough in the
garbage to help alleviate the problem. “We’re trying – I
feel bad for the town– we’re trying to be nice guys,” Demianczyk
said.
Since
the town communicated its concerns, “the numbers are trending
down,” Anderson noted. “The heightened awareness is helping.”
“There’s
progress being made in communicating to businesses who realize
there is a problem,” said Cave Creek Councilman Thomas McGuire.
The
town is holding a meeting with the restaurant owners at 2 p.m.
July 25 at the council chambers.
Carefree
passed an ordinance about six months ago requiring grease traps
for all restaurants.
“It
is my understanding that the problem (in Carefree) has been
resolved,” said David Kerr, of Algonquin Power, owner of Black
Mountain Sewer Co., which serves the town.
The
main problem is Cave Creek has mostly commercial on the sewer
line and very few homes, Anderson related. If more residents
were connected to the sewer, more water would dilute the grease
and the problem would improve, he added.
“The
ratio of commercial sewage to residential in Cave Creek is much
higher compared to most other towns–the ratio is the other way
around,” Anderson said.
“It’s
not my fault the town doesn’t have more houses on the sewer,”
said Eric Flat. “And it’s also not my fault the sewer plant is under capacity and is a 1950s design.”
“The
solution is the town needs to put more residents on the sewer
system or they need to help us subsidize this (cost of the testing),”
Nelson said.
Cave
Creek is in the process of planning a new, larger wastewater
treatment plant, which will take about three years to bring
to fruition. In the meantime, town officials are working with
restaurant owners to make them aware of the problem and are
testing grease traps by hand.
“The
town is having to clean out the sewer lines more frequently,
and we cleaned out one sewer line that was almost completely
filled with solid grease,” Anderson said.
“If
the town reaches a month where the (grease problem) is peaking,
it could shut down the plant and, in turn, the businesses,”
said Mayor Vincent Francia.
