(a) Prohibition of Illicit Discharges. No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, an illicit discharge into the MS4. The commencement, conduct, or continuance of any illicit discharge to the MS4 is prohibited except as described below:
(1) Water line flushing; landscape irrigation; diverted stream flows; rising ground waters; uncontaminated ground water infiltration (infiltration is defined as water other than wastewater that enters a sewer system, including sewer service connections and foundation drains, from the ground through such means as defective pipes, pipe joints, connections, or manholes. Infiltration does not include, and is distinguished from, inflow); uncontaminated pumped ground water; discharges from potable water sources; foundation drains; air conditioning condensate; irrigation water; springs; water from crawl space pumps; footing drains; lawn watering; individual residential car washing; flows from riparian habitats and wetlands; dechlorinated/debrominated/ desalinated swimming pool discharges; street wash water with dry cleanup method and no detergents to minimize pollutants; discharges or flows from fire-fighting activities (not planned exercises); dye tests. These discharges are exempt until such time as they are determined by the City of Garfield Heights or Ohio EPA to be significant contributors of pollutants to the MS4.
Community charity car washes are considered an occasional event and must follow the following criteria:
A. Applicants are requested to register with the City of Garfield Heights as to the charity being served and location such event shall take place;
B. The event cannot be held more than twice a year per charity;
C. Biodegradable soaps are encouraged; and
D. Any stormwater related literature, provided by the City of Garfield Heights, is requested to be distributed during the event and tracked as to the number of fliers distributed.
Charity car washes are not considered to be a significant contributor to pollutants in the storm sewer system due to the nature of the event and infrequency of the events.
(2) Discharges specified in writing by the City of Garfield Heights as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
(3) Discharges from off-lot discharging household sewage treatment systems existing prior to January 1, 2007 and permitted by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health for the purpose of discharging treated sewage effluent in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code 3701-29, or other applicable Cuyahoga County Board of Health regulations, until such time as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issues an NPDES permitting mechanism for household sewage treatment systems existing prior to January 1, 2007. These discharges are exempt unless such discharges are deemed to be creating a public health nuisance by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. Discharges from new or replacement off-lot household sewage treatment systems installed after January 1, 2007 are not exempt from the requirements of this regulation.
In compliance with the City of Garfield Heights Storm Water Management Program, discharges from all off-lot discharging household sewage treatment systems must either be eliminated or have coverage under an appropriate NPDES permit issued and approved by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. When such permit coverage is available for systems existing prior to January 1, 2007, discharges from off-lot discharging household sewage treatment systems existing prior to January 1, 2007 will no longer be exempt from the requirements of this regulation.
(b) Prohibition of Illegal Connections. The construction, use, maintenance, or continued existence of illegal connections to the MS4 is prohibited.
(1) 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.
(2) A person is considered to be in violation of this regulation if the person connects a line conveying illicit discharges to the MS4 or allows such a connection to continue.
(Ord. 62-2023. Passed 8-14-23.)