Hello all! glad to be here.... gonna be doing quite some plumbing work with a handyman of mine to lower cost of my new business so I hope this is the right place to get some good pro info!

So with my new biz, they are requiring a 3 basin sink like a restaurant kitchen, and with this they require an indirect plumbing for the drain of this sink. And the "official" doc states:

"Unless approved by the local plumbing authority, all warewashing sinks, culinary (prep) sinks,
ice machines, and commercial dish machines must be indirectly plumbed to a sewage outlet
pipe by either an air gap or air break."

Here is an image in our doc that shows an example and another photo the state office sent me as real life examples:







This is my dilemma... in my new space, the only thing that has any water access is the bathroom, which is hear the room where I want the 3 basin sink, just across a 3 foot space in the hall.

Initially I was planning on just drilling holes through the wall and connecting a pipe directly from the 3-sink to the bathroom pipes to flow into and drain out using a mini-water pump and adding a portable tankless water heater.

But a licensed plumber told me, and another agreed, that if we need that indirect drain, that is impossible, that we need to basically smash into and dig out the concrete floor, and run pipes into the ground and into the sewage line.

This will clearly cost me a TON more than my first option. In fact, quotes were like $3k - $5k ! (depending on any adversity with the concrete and pies underground)

So as the statement in the doc states:

"Unless approved by the local plumbing authority..."

can I use this to work around this? Example:

I find a plumber who can make this work WITH an indirect drain as shown, and use some contraption/setup that doesnt require us to tear up all the hard concrete and still get the job done, AND have a "local plumbing authority" approve it, thus, showing the city and Dept of Agriculture inspector that this is legit and will work the same safely?

Also I do not even know what a "local plumbing authority" is... I been asking my city hall office in charge of permits/inspecting and they have no idea either, so how do I find this "local plumbing authority"?

And I am open to ALL out of the box thinking here... This is a LEASED space and I really rather not be tearing up concrete to get this done, spending so much, since I already have to spend thousands on other parts of the space, it'll just get to be too much, even though at the end of the day, I am fully vested already in this and too late to turn back really.

Thank you!

local authority is the 'inspector'.
don't forget the grease interceptor.

You get "permission" to do it BEFORE you install anything, NOT after it is done. The "local authority" is the building department and the inspector. If THEY do not know who they are, then you may have a bigger problem than just finding a drain connection.

your TRUE dilemma is "how to break a lease" as you evidently rented a space INCOMPATIBLE with its intended purpose

UNLESS

the landlord permits you to PROPERLY and LEGALLY modify THEIR plumbing

(after THEY, as the owner, obtain a permit)

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

Thanks packy!

Ok so that is the city inspector who would be coming to check my work after it is done, so I should gt a hold of him before I start the work to ask his advice?

And thanks tons for the photo, that looks like something I am asking for without tearing up thee concrete...

So it is hard to see but those are 3 drains with an air gap?
Is that tub a pump and a reservoir or something?
Does this drain directly into the sewer line or just into the regular drain like any bathroom/kitchen sink does?

code varies by location

packy's drawing is a grease interceptor which also acts as the trap for the three 'basins'

permitted in many jurisdictions

some jurisdictions ALSO require air gap discharge from the sink compartments

some jurisdictions require/allow indirect discharge into a floor drain


YOU require the services of a local LICENSED - INSURED - BONDED plumber as you are attempting COMMERCIAL work

PLUS

the issuance of a building permit for the desired work (probably to your landlord, as it it is THEIR building being modified)

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638

@ packy, for the OP's possible benefit:


? three compartment sink draining INDIRECTLY into a properly vented ejector pit 'unit' ?




==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638