No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm drain system or watercourses any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than stormwater. The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge to the storm drain system is prohibited except as described as follows:
(A) The following discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions established by this subchapter if they are identified as not being a significant source of pollutants and or a significant contributor to violations of State Quality Standards: water line flushing and discharges from other potable water sources, landscape irrigation or lawn watering runoff, diverted stream flows, rising groundwater and springs, uncontaminated groundwater infiltration and seepage, uncontaminated pumped groundwater (except for groundwater cleanups specifically authorized by NPDES permits), foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering systems), crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation, springs, noncommercial washing of vehicles, natural riparian habitat or wetland flows, swimming pools from single, two or three family residences (if dechlorinated, typically less than one PPM chlorine), fire-fighting activities, and any other water source not containing pollutants.
(B) Discharges specified in writing by the authorized enforcement agency as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
(C) Dye testing is an allowable discharge, but requires authorization from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (Rule 97 certification of approval) and a verbal notification to the authorized enforcement agency prior to the time of the test.
(D) The prohibition shall not apply to any non-stormwater discharge 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.
(Ord. 252, passed 12-16-19; Am. Ord. 267, passed 9-19-22)