(a) Prohibition of Illegal Discharges. 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 storm water. The commencement, conduct or continuance of any non-authorized discharge to the storm drain system is prohibited except as described as follows:
(1) The following non-storm water discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions established by this subchapter provided that they are not identified as significant contributors to violations of State of Michigan Water Quality Standards: water line flushing or other potable water sources; landscape irrigation or lawn watering, and irrigation waters; diverted stream flows and flows from riparian habitats and wetlands; rising ground water and springs; contaminated ground water infiltration and seepage; uncontaminated pumped ground water except for groundwater cleanups specifically authorized by NPDES permits; foundation drains, water from crawl space pumps, footing drains and basement sump pumps (not including active groundwater dewatering systems); air conditioning condensation; waters from non-commercial washing of vehicles; street wash water; de-chlorinated swimming pool water from single, two, or three family residences; firefighting activities; and any other water source not containing pollutants.
(2) Dye testing done under the authorization of the MDEQ (general Rule 97) is an allowable discharge, but requires a complete Notice of Intent to the MDEQ prior to the time of the test.
(3) The prohibition shall not apply to any non-storm water 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.
(b) Prohibition of Illicit Connections.
(1) The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the storm drain system is prohibited.
(2) This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.
(3) A person is considered to be in violation of this subchapter if the person connects a line conveying sewage to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue.
(Ord. 2014-06. Passed 7-14-14; Ord. 2018-08. Passed 6-25-18.)