(a) Prohibition Against Illicit Discharges. No person shall cause or allow an illicit discharge into the MS4, nor shall any person place or allow the placement of any pollution in a location where it can cause an illicit discharge into the MS4.
The following discharges are exempt from the discharge prohibitions of this chapter:
(1) Waterline flushing or other potable water sources, landscape irrigation or lawn watering, diverted stream flows, rising ground water, ground water infiltration into storm drains, uncontaminated pumped ground water, 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 wet-land flows, swimming pools (if dechlorinated, typically less than one PPM chlorine), fire fighting activities, and any other water source not containing pollutants.
(2) Discharges specified in writing by the authorized enforcement agency as being necessary to protect the public health and safety.
(3) Dye testing as an allowable discharge, but requiring a verbal notification to the authorized enforcement agency prior to the time of the test.
(4) 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 U.S. 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 MS4.
(5) Discharges from off-lot household sewage treatment systems permitted by the Sandusky County Board of Health for the purpose of treating sewage effluent in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29-02(b).
(b) Prohibition of Illegal Connections.
(1) The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illegal connections to the MS4 is prohibited.
(2) This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illegal 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 section if the person connects a line conveying sewage to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue. (Ord. 2021-4064. Passed 5-6-21.)