The following discharges shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter.
(a) Water line flushing or other potable water sources, landscape irrigation or lawn watering, diverted stream flows, rising ground water, uncontaminated ground water infiltration to storm drains, uncontaminated pumped ground water, foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering systems), crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation, springs, non-commercial washing of vehicles, natural riparian habitat or wetland flows, swimming pools (only when dechlorinated to less than one PPM chlorine), fire fighting activities, and street washing runoff containing no detergents or solvents. Other non-polluting sources require written approval from the Director before discharge is allowed into the MS4.
(b) Specific instances of listed, exempted activities may be determined by the Director to be a source of pollutants to public waters or the MS4 and will be considered a prohibited discharge if:
(1) Written notice is provided to the discharging party; and
(2) The discharge continues after the expiration of the time given in the notice to cease the discharge.
(c) Discharges specified in writing by an authorized enforcement agency as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
(d) Dye testing is an allowable discharge, but requires filing with the Director a copy of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality authorization prior to the time of the test.
(e) Non-storm water discharges permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations, and provided that written approval has been granted for any discharge to the storm drain system. A copy of the written approval shall be filed with the Director. Proof of compliance with said permit may be required by the City.
(f) The disposal or release of any substance in compliance with applicable legal requirements, such as in conformity and pursuant to the terms and provisions of a valid permit issued by an authorized enforcement agency, or the application of agricultural chemicals and fertilizers as used in routine operations when applied under "Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices" and in conformity with label directions approved by the EPA or Michigan Department of Agriculture.
(Ord. 03-08. Passed 3-18-08.)