(a) Prohibition of Illicit Discharges. No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, an illicit discharge into the MS4. The commencement, conduct, or continuance of any illicit discharge to the MS4 is prohibited except as described below:
(1) Water line flushing; landscape irrigation; diverted stream flows; rising ground waters uncontaminated ground water infiltration; uncontaminated pumped ground water; discharges from potable water sources; foundation drains; air conditioning condensate; irrigation water; springs; water from crawl space pumps; footing drains; lawn watering; individual residential car washing; flows from riparian habitats and wetlands; dechlorinated swimming pool discharges; street wash water; and discharges or flows from firefighting activities. These discharges are exempt until such time as they are determined by the City of Ashland to be significant contributors of pollutants to the MS4.
(2) Discharges specified in writing by the City of Ashland as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
(3) Discharges from off-lot discharging household sewage treatment systems existing prior to January 1, 2007 and permitted by the Ashland County Board of Health for the purpose of discharging treated sewage effluent in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29, or other applicable Ashland County Board of Health regulations, until such time as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issues an NPDES permitting mechanism for household sewage treatment systems existing prior to January 1, 2007. These discharges are exempt unless such discharges are deemed to be creating a public health nuisance by the Ashland County Board of Health. Discharges from new or replacement off lot household sewage treatment systems installed after January 1, 2007 are not exempt from the requirements of this regulation. In compliance with the City of Ashland Storm Water Management Program, discharges from all off lot discharging household sewage treatment systems must either be eliminated or have coverage under an appropriate NPDES permit issued and approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. When such permit coverage is available for systems existing prior to January 1, 2007, discharges from off-lot discharging household sewage treatment systems existing prior to January 1, 2007 will no longer be exempt from the requirements of this regulation.
(b) Prohibition of Illegal Connections. The construction, use, maintenance, or continued existence of illegal connections to the MS4 is prohibited.
(1) This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illegal connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.
(2) A person is considered to be in violation of this regulation if the person connects a line conveying illicit discharges to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue.
(Ord. 22-18. Passed 4-3-18.)