(1) Permits required. All users must obtain a permit from the Department of Water Quality Control prior to connection of sewer service. In addition, all significant industrial users must obtain a discharge permit prior to discharge into the POTW.
(2) Prohibited discharges. No person shall discharge, deposit, cause, allow to be discharged or deposited into the POTW anything that causes pass through or interference or contains the following:
(a) Any liquids, solids or gases which by reason of their nature or quantity are, or may be, sufficient either alone or by interaction with other substances to cause fire or explosion or be injurious in any other way to the POTW or to the operation of the POTW. At no time shall two successive readings of an explosion hazard meter, at the point of discharge into the system or at any point in the system be more than five percent (5%) nor any single reading be more than ten percent (10%) of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) of the meter. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides and sulfides, waste streams with a closed cup flash point of less than 140°F or 60°C using the test method specified in 40 CFR 261.21, and any other substances which the City, State or EPA has notified the user is a fire hazard or a hazard to the system.
(b) Solid or viscous substances which may cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer or other interference with the operation of the POTW, such as, but not limited to: grease, garbage with particles greater than one-half inch (½") in any dimension, animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshing's, entrails, whole blood or feathers from slaughterhouses, ashes, and cinders, sand, spent lime, stone or marble dust, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, strings, cloth, spent grains, spent hops, waste paper, wood, plastics, tar, asphalt residue, petroleum products, mud, or glass grinding or polishing wastes.
(c) Any pollutants, including oxygen demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.) released at a flow and/or pollutant concentration which will cause interference at the POTW. No water or wastes shall be discharged to the public sewer in "slugs" so that the flow rate or concentration of pollutants causes sufficiently sudden changes in the wastewater as it arrives at the wastewater treatment plant to interfere with proper operation.
(d) Radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration that they do not comply with regulations or orders issued by the appropriate authority having control over their use and which will or may cause damage or hazards to the sewerage facilities or personnel operating the system.
(e) Any unpolluted water including, but not limited to, storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, or subsurface drainage which will increase the hydraulic load on the treatment system. Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated storm sewers, or to a natural outlet. Approval from the State may be required to discharge to a storm sewer or natural outlet.
(f) Any wastewater causing discoloration of the POTW effluent such as, but not limited to, dye wastes or vegetable tanning solutions, in sufficient quantity to cause such discoloration of the POTW effluent.
(g) Petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oil or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause interference or pass-through at the POTW, and any oil and grease that results in separation and adherence to POTW structures and appurtenances in excess of normal domestic wastewater.
(h) Discharges which will cause corrosive structural damage to the POTW, but in no case, discharges with a pH lower than 5.0 or higher than 10.5.
(i) Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity, either singularly or by interaction with other pollutants, to injure or interfere with any wastewater treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a toxic effect in the receiving waters of the POTW, or to exceed the limitations set forth in a Categorical Pretreatment Standard. Toxic pollutants shall include, but not be limited to, any pollutant identified pursuant to Section 307(a) of the act.
(j) Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, or solids which either singularly or by interaction with other wastes are sufficient to create a public nuisance or hazard to life or are sufficient to prevent entry into the sewers for their maintenance and repair.
(k) Any substance which may cause the POTW's effluent or any other product of the POTW such as residues, sludge's or scums, to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse or to interfere with the reclamation process where the POTW is pursuing a reuse and reclamation program. In no case shall a substance discharged to the POTW cause the POTW to be in non-compliance with sludge use or disposal criteria, guidelines or regulations developed under Section 405 of the Act, any criteria, guidelines or regulations affecting sludge use or disposal developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, or State criteria applicable to the sludge management method being used.
(l) Any substance which will cause the POTW to violate its NPDES and/or state permit or the receiving water quality standard.
(m) Any wastewater having a temperature which will inhibit biological activity in the POTW treatment plant resulting in interference, but in no case wastewater with a temperature at the introduction into the POTW which exceeds 60°C (140°F) or causes the influent to the wastewater treatment plant to exceed 40°C (104°F).
(n) Any pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors or fumes within the POTW in at quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems.
(o) Any wastewater which causes a hazard to human life or creates a public nuisance.
(p) Any trucked or hauled pollutants, except properly permitted discharges at points designated by the POTW.
(3) Restricted discharges. (a) No person or user shall discharge wastewater which exceeds the following concentrations unless an exception is permitted as provided in this chapter. Dilution of any wastewater discharge for the purpose of satisfying these requirements shall be considered a violation of this chapter.
Parameter
| Monthly Average* Concentration (mg/L)
|
Parameter
| Monthly Average* Concentration (mg/L)
|
Copper
| 5.0
|
Chromium
| 5.4
|
Nickel
| 4.7
|
Cadmium
| 0.18
|
Lead
| 1.87
|
Mercury
| 0.0007
|
Silver
| 1.16
|
Zinc
| 5.0
|
Cyanide
| 0.34
|
Toluene
| 4.19
|
*Based upon 24-hour flow-proportionate composite samples.
Parameter
| Monthly Average* Concentration (mg/L)
|
Parameter
| Monthly Average* Concentration (mg/L)
|
Benzene
| 0.28
|
1,1,1-Trichlorethane
| 3.98
|
Ethylbenzene
| 0.55
|
Carbon Tetrachloride
| 1.98
|
Chloroform
| 5.11
|
Tetrachloroethylene
| 2.5
|
Trichloroethylene
| 1.8
|
1,2 Transdichloroethylene
| 0.21
|
Methylene Chloride
| 2.63
|
Phenols, Total
| 5.0
|
Naphthalene | 0.21 |
Total Phthalates | 6.0 |
Total Phthalates is the sum of Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Butyl Benzylphthalate, Di-N-butylphthalate and Diethylphthalate.
*Based on composite or grab samples as required in 40 CFR 136.
(b) No person or user shall discharge any waters or wastes which cause the wastewater leaving the POTW to exceed any established by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
(4) Categorical Pretreatment Standards. Upon the promulgation of federal categorical pretreatment standards for a particular industrial subcategory, the federal standard, if more stringent than the limitations imposed under this section for sources in that subcategory, shall immediately supersede the limitations imposed under this section. The affected user shall come into compliance with said limitations within the time allotted in the Federal Categorical Regulation.
(5) Limitations on strength. It is the intent of this chapter to regulate all discharges of compatible wastes in excess of the concentrations shown below based on composite samples:
Constituent | Daily Average Concentration (mg/l) |
BOD5 | 300 |
TSS | 300 |
COD | 800 |
NH3-N | 30 |
TKN | 60 |
Oil and Grease | 100 |
(6) Exceptions. Nonresidential users of the Cookeville Sewer System may apply for an exception to the Restricted Discharge limitations listed in subsection 3(a) of this section. Exceptions can be granted according to the following guidelines subject to the appeals procedure provided in § 18-211
:
(a) All exceptions granted under this paragraph shall be temporary and subject to revocation at any time by the Control Authority upon a reasonable notice.
(b) The user requesting the exception must demonstrate to the Control Authority that he is making a concentrated and serious effort to maintain high standards of operation control and housekeeping levels, etc., so that discharges to the Cookeville Sewer System are being minimized. If negligence is found, permits will be subject to termination.
(c) The user requesting the exception must demonstrate that compliance with stated concentration and quantity standards is technically or economically infeasible and the discharge will not:
(i) Interfere with the normal operation of the Cookeville POTW.
(ii) Limit the sludge management alternatives available and increase the cost of providing adequate sludge management.
(iii) Pass through the POTW in quantities and/or concentrations that would cause the POTW to violate its pass-through limits or NPDES permit.
(d) The user must agree in writing that, should the discharge cause any of the occurrences listed in paragraph (c) above, the discharge shall be immediately discontinued.
(e) The user must show that the exception, if granted, will not cause the discharger to violate any federal pretreatment standards, including categorical standards if applicable, unless the exception is granted under provisions of the applicable pretreatment regulations.
(f) At such time that the levels of pollutants must be reduced because of violations of any of the provisions of section 3(b) above, all users shall be required to reduce their discharge levels by a sufficient amount to meet the standard being violated. Users shall be required to reduce their discharge levels in accordance with their contribution to the system.
(7) Other restrictions. No statement in this chapter is intended or may be construed to prohibit the Control Authority from establishing specific wastewater discharge criteria more restrictive where wastes are determined to be harmful or destructive to the facilities of the Cookeville Sewer System, create a public nuisance, cause the discharge of the Cookeville Sewer System to violate effluent or stream quality standards, or exceed industrial pretreatment standards for discharge to municipal wastewater treatment system as imposed or as may be imposed by the State and/or the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(8) State requirements. State requirements and limitations on discharges, if applicable, shall apply in any case where they are more stringent than the federal requirements and limitations or the requirements and limitations of this chapter.
(9) Right of revision. The City reserves the right to establish more stringent limitations or requirements on discharges to the POTW if deemed necessary to comply with the objectives presented in § 18-201
of this chapter.
(10) Protection from accidental discharge. Each user shall provide protection from accidental discharge into the sewer of prohibited materials or other wastes regulated by this chapter. Facilities to prevent accidental discharge of prohibited materials shall be provided and maintained at the user's expense. Detailed plans showing the facilities and operating procedures shall be submitted to the Control Authority for review, and shall be approved by the Control Authority before construction of the facility.
The review and approval of such plans and operating procedures will in no way relieve the user from the responsibility of modifying the facility as necessary to provide the protection necessary to meet the requirements of this chapter.
(11) Prohibition of dilution. No User shall ever increase the use of process water, or in any way attempt to dilute a discharge, as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with a discharge limitation. The Control Authority may impose mass limitations on Users who are using dilution to meet applicable Pretreatment Standards or in other cases when the imposition of mass limitations is appropriate.
(12) Prohibition of extraneous water. It shall be unlawful for any builder, contractor, property owner, or other persons to cause or permit surface water, storm water, ground water, rain water, street drainage, roof drainage, basement drainage, subsurface drainage or yard drainage from any source whatsoever to be emptied into any sanitary sewer, either directly or indirectly.
(13) Prohibition of unpolluted water. Unpolluted water shall not be discharged through direct or indirect connections to a sewer line unless such discharge is expressly allowed in the users discharge permit.
(14) Other prohibitions. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, deposit, or permit to be deposited in any sewer or manhole any item or object which would interfere with the operation of the POTW, including but not limited to wood, rock, stone, improperly shredded garbage or any other refuse or solid wastes.
(15) Limitations on garbage grinders. Waste from garbage grinders shall not be discharged into the POTW except where such grinders are installed as a part of a residential dwelling, unless written approval is obtained from the Control Authority. Such approval may be revoked at any time by the Control Authority, if so desired. Such grinders must shred the waste to a degree that all particles will be carried freely under normal flow conditions prevailing in the POTW sewers. Garbage grinders shall not be used for the grinding of plastics, paper products, inert materials or garden refuse.
(16) Limitations on point of discharge. No person shall discharge any substance directly into a manhole or other opening in a POTW sewer other than through an approved building sewer unless he shall have been issued a permit by the Control Authority. The user shall be required to pay all applicable permit fees and charges.
(17) Private sewage disposal. The disposal of sewage by means other than the use of the available sanitary sewage system shall be in accordance with local, county and state law. The disposal of sewage by private disposal systems for new construction shall be permissible only in those instances where service from the sanitary sewage system is not available.
(18) Carnivals, circuses, and transient groups. Whenever carnivals, circuses, or other transient groups of persons come within the area of the City of Cookeville such groups of transients shall provide a sanitary method for disposal of sewage and human excrete. Failure to provide such sanitary method of disposal and to make all reasonable changes and corrections proposed by the Control Authority shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
(19) Tampering with sewer facilities. It shall be unlawful for any person to tamper or interfere with any of the sewage facilities of the city or to make improper connections thereto so as to evade, or attempt to evade, the payment of lawful service and connection charges to the city.
Any person tampering with or interfering with the sewage facilities of the city shall be presumed to have done so with the intent to evade or attempt to evade the payment of lawful service and connection charges to the city.
(20) Access to customer's premises. Identified City employees shall have access to customer's premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of reading meters, testing repairing, removing, or exchanging any or all equipment belonging to the Department of Water Quality Control.
Also, the Director, and other duly authorized employees of the Department of Water Quality Control bearing proper credentials and identification, shall be permitted to enter all private properties through which this city holds a duly negotiated easement for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair and maintenance of any portion of the sewage works lying within said easement. All entry and subsequent work, if any, on said easement, shall be done in full accordance with the terms of the duly negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved.
(21) Interruption of service. The city shall not be liable for any damage resulting from failure or overflow of any sewer main, service pipes or valve, or by discontinuance of the operation of its wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities, for repair, extensions, or connections or from the accidental failure of the wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities from any cause whatsoever. In cases of emergency the City shall have the right to restrict the use of its wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities in any reasonable manner for the protection of the City and the Cookeville Sewer System.
(Ord. #O17-09-17, October 2017)