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SasquatchPlumbing Consultant
7 min read · August 19, 2026

Restaurant Grease Interceptor Planning in San Antonio

Quick answerSan Antonio restaurants need a grease interceptor sized and placed to meet SAWS pretreatment expectations and the city's adopted plumbing code. Sizing depends on the fixtures and flow routed to it, placement must allow pumping and inspection, and only grease-producing fixtures should drain to it. Getting this right before permit submittal avoids costly redesign and failed inspections.

Plan before the layout is final

Interceptor size and location drive slab cutting, site work and sometimes the parking lot. Decide them while the kitchen layout is still flexible. In existing buildings, an undersized or poorly located interceptor can be the most expensive surprise in a lease.

Sizing inputs

  • Every fixture routed to the interceptor: 3-compartment sinks, prep sinks, mop sinks, floor sinks and dishwashers where allowed
  • Flow rates and drain-down assumptions used by the applicable code and pretreatment program
  • Menu and volume, which affect pumping frequency

Placement and maintenance

The interceptor must be reachable by the pump truck and inspectable. Lids in drive lanes need traffic rating. Maintenance logs matter: pretreatment programs check them.

Common mistakes

  • Routing restroom fixtures into the interceptor
  • Forgetting the mop sink or floor sinks
  • Assuming the previous tenant's interceptor is adequate
  • Bids that exclude excavation, traffic lids or patching

Use our Project Readiness Survey before bidding, and see grease interceptor sizing basics. We review designs through grease and backflow compliance.

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