The Village of Bluffton Wastewater Treatment Plant will accept domestic septage from authorized septic haulers, and only in accordance with the regulations set forth in this chapter.
(A) Any licensed septic hauler may apply for permission to dispose of domestic septage at the Bluffton Wastewater Treatment Plant, provided the following requirements are met.
(1) Each hauler desiring to dispose of domestic septage shall be licensed, insured, and shall apply for a septage disposal permit.
(2) Once permitted, the hauler shall maintain records of the locations where septage is collected from, and the quantities of septage collected, and shall retain said records for the duration of the permit period. Haulers shall provide all records pertaining to septage disposed at the Bluffton Wastewater Treatment Plant, upon request.
(3) Haulers shall pay a disposal fee, per gallon, as provided in the utility fee schedule, invoiced each month.
(B) Septage disposal requirements.
(1) No hauler shall dispose of any wastewater of sufficient strength or chemical, or bio-chemical composition that results in an upset of treatment processes. Any hauler violating this rule shall be prohibited from disposing septage at the village for no less than one year and shall compensate the village for any costs related to returning the wastewater treatment plant to operating condition.
(2) No hauler shall dispose of septage containing significant amounts of grit, sand, pebbles, or any other debris that endanger or damage wastewater treatment equipment. Any hauler violating this rule shall be prohibited from disposing septage at the village for no less than one year and shall compensate the village for any costs related to returning the wastewater treatment plant to operating condition.
(3) Each hauler shall complete a disposal ticket each time any amount of septage or wastewater is disposed of at the Bluffton Wastewater Treatment Plant. Each disposal ticket shall contain information identifying the dates, locations and quantities of septage that were collected for disposal. Failure to complete a disposal ticket shall result in a 30-day suspension of disposal privileges.
(4) (a) Each hauler shall, upon request from the wastewater treatment plant operator or designee, provide a sample of septage for mercury and heavy metals analysis. A minimum of one sample per month from no less than 75% of the total permitted haulers shall be collected. Haulers will be provided the results of the analysis by the village, and any concerns about mercury and/or heavy metal contamination will be addressed with the hauler.
(b) Any hauler found to be repeatedly, knowingly, or negligently disposing of septage with a high mercury and/or heavy metal concentration will be reported to the Ohio EPA, and will be permanently disqualified from having disposal privileges. The village may also file criminal and/or civil charges and seek compensation for costs and damages.
(D) A domestic septage disposal permit shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of approval. Renewal applications shall be submitted no less than 30 days prior to the expiration of the permit.
(E) In order to regulate and minimize the amount of domestic septage received at the Bluffton Wastewater Treatment Plant, domestic septage shall only be accepted from the following townships:
(1) Richland Township, Allen County;
(2) Orange Township, Hancock County;
(3) Union Township, Hancock County;
(4) Liberty Township, Hardin County;
(5) Jackson Township, Allen County;
(6) Bath Township, Allen County;
(7) Monroe Township, Allen County;
(8) Pleasant Township, Putnam County; and
(9) Riley Township, Putnam County.
(F) Permits, fees and penalties.
(1) Septage disposal permit (SDP), three-year period, cost: see fee schedule.
(2) SDP renewal fee: see fee schedule.
(3) Expired SDP permit renewal fee: see fee schedule.
(4) Penalties for violations:
(a) Division (A)(1) through (A)(3): Permanent disqualification of permit/privileges, criminal and/or civil charges or penalties.
(b) Division (B)(1) and (B)(2): One-year suspension of disposal permit, plus damages.
(c) Division (B)(3) and (B)(4)(a): Thirty day suspension of disposal privileges.
(d) Division (B)(4)(a): Permanent disqualification of permit/privileges, criminal and/or civil charges or penalties.
(e) Repeated violations of divisions (B)(1) through (B)(4): Two-year suspension, $500 fine.
(G) Non-domestic septage exception.
(1) Any currently permitted septage hauler may, at the discretion of the wastewater treatment plant operator, dispose of non-domestic septage or sanitary wastewater at the Bluffton Wastewater Treatment Plant. The wastewater treatment plant operator reserves the right refuse any disposal request which he or she believes will cause treatment process upset or cause a violation of the Village of Bluffton's NPDES permit. At no time will septage be accepted that contains high levels of phosphorus, heavy metals, or any other contaminant at levels higher than permitted by the USEPA, Ohio EPA and/or the Village of Bluffton's NPDES permit.
(2) Prior to disposing of non-domestic septage and/or wastewaters, a temporary discharge permit shall be issued to the hauler requesting disposal, even if the hauler is currently permitted to dispose of septage at the Bluffton Wastewater Treatment Plant.
(Ord. 04-21, passed - -)