A. Unpolluted Waters: No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any unpolluted waters such as storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage or cooling water to any sewer, except storm water runoff from limited areas, which storm water may be polluted at times, may be discharged to the sanitary sewer by written permission of the superintendent.
B. Storm Water Discharges: Storm water, other than that exempted under subsection A of this section, and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the superintendent and other regulatory agencies. Unpolluted industrial cooling water or process waters may be discharged, on approval of the superintendent, to a storm sewer or natural outlet.
C. Prohibited Water Or Wastes: No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described water or wastes to any public sewer:
1. Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
2. Any waters containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to contaminate the sludge of any municipal system, to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance or create any hazard in or have an adverse effect on the waters receiving any discharge from the treatment works.
3. Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment or any personnel of the wastewater works.
4. Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the wastewater facilities, such as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails, animal wastes, paper dishes, cups, milk containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders. (Ord. 82-1, 2-22-1982)
D. Limitations: The following described substances, materials, waters or waste shall be limited in discharges to municipal systems to concentrations or quantities which will not harm either the sewers, wastewater treatment process or equipment, will not have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or will not otherwise endanger lives, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance. The superintendent may set limitations lower than the limitations established in the regulations below if, in his opinion, much more severe limitations are necessary to meet the above objectives. In forming his opinion as to the acceptability, the superintendent will give consideration to such factors as the quantity of subject waste in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, the wastewater treatment process employed, capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, degree of treatability of the waste in the wastewater treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. The limitations or restrictions on materials or characteristics of waste or wastewaters discharged to the sanitary sewer which shall not be violated without approval of the superintendent are as follows: (Ord. 82-1, 2-22-1982; amd. 2006 Code)
1. Wastewater having a temperature higher than one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140°) (60°C).
2. Wastewater containing more than twenty five (25) milligrams per liter of petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oils or product of mineral oil origin.
3. Wastewater from industrial plants containing floatable oils, fat or grease.
4. Any garbage that has not been properly shredded (see definition of "properly shredded garbage" in section 7-2-1 of this chapter). Garbage grinders may be connected to sanitary sewers from homes, hotels, institutions, restaurants, hospitals, catering establishments or similar places where garbage originates from the preparation of food in kitchens for the purpose of consumption on the premises or when served by caterers.
5. Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc and similar objectionable or toxic substances to such degree that any such material received in the composite wastewater at the wastewater treatment works exceeds the limits established by the superintendent for such materials.
6. Any waters or wastes containing odor producing substances exceeding limits which may be established by the superintendent.
7. Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the superintendent in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations.
8. Quantities of flow, concentrations, or both, which constitute a "slug" as defined in section 7-2-1 of this chapter.
9. Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the wastewater treatment processes employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the wastewater treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.
10. Any water or wastes which, by interaction with other water or wastes in the public sewer system, release obnoxious gases, form suspended solids which interfere with the collection system, or create a condition deleterious to structures and treatment processes.
E. Authority Of Superintendent:
1. If any waters or wastes are discharged, or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in subsection D of this section, and which in the judgment of the superintendent may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater facilities, processes, equipment or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the superintendent may:
a. Reject the wastes;
b. Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition before discharge to the public sewers;
c. Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge and/or wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under the provisions of section 7-2-10 of this chapter.
2. When considering the above alternative, the superintendent shall give consideration to the economic impact of each alternative on the discharger. If the superintendent permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the superintendent.
F. Interceptors: Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing floatable grease in excessive amounts as specified in subsection D3 of this section, or any flammable wastes, sand or other harmful ingredients; except that such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the superintendent, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. In the maintaining of these interceptors, the owner shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal by appropriate means of the captivated material and shall maintain records of the dates and means of disposal which are subject to review by the superintendent. Any removal and hauling of the collected materials not performed by the owner's personnel must be performed by currently licensed waste disposal firms.
G. Maintenance Of Pretreatment Facilities: Where pretreatment of flow equalizing facilities are provided or required for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense.
H. Structure For Testing And Observation: When required by the superintendent, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable structure, together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the wastes. Such structures, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the superintendent. The structure shall be installed by the owner at his expense, and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times.
I. Information May Be Required: The superintendent may require a user of sewer services to provide information needed to determine compliance with this chapter. These requirements may include:
1. Wastewaters discharge peak rate and volume over a specified time period.
2. Chemical analysis of wastewaters.
3. Information on raw materials, processes and products affecting wastewater volume and quality.
4. Quantity and disposition of specific liquid, sludge, oil, solvent or other materials important to sewer use control.
5. A plot plan of sewers of the user's property showing sewer and pretreatment facility location.
6. Details of wastewater pretreatment facilities.
7. Details of systems to prevent and control the loss of materials through spills to the municipal sewer.
J. Standards: All measurements, tests and analysis of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this chapter shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of "standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater", published by the American Public Health Association. Sampling methods, location, times, duration and frequencies are to be determined on an individual basis, subject to approval by the superintendent.
K. Special Agreements: No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the city and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the city for treatment. (Ord. 82-1, 2-22-1982)