(A) Prohibitions and limitations. Except as hereinafter provided, it is unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewer:
(1) 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 wastewater disposal system or to the operation of the system. 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;
(2) Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, that could injure or interfere with any waste treatment or sludge disposal process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals or create a public nuisance in the receiving waters of the wastewater treatment facility. Toxic pollutants shall be as defined in standards issued pursuant to § 307(a) of the Clean Water Act, being 33 U.S.C. § 1317(a);
(3) Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.0, or in excess of 9.0, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the wastewater treatment facilities;
(4) Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of a size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in public sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the wastewater treatment 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 and paper dishes, cups, milk containers and the like, either whole or ground by garbage grinders; and
(5) The following described substances, materials, waters or waste shall be limited in discharges to sanitary sewer systems to concentrations or quantities which will not harm either the sanitary sewers, wastewater treatment process or equipment; will not have an adverse effect on the receiving stream; and will not otherwise endanger lives, limbs or public property, or constitute a nuisance. The Council may set limitations more stringent than those established below if more stringent limitations are necessary to meet the above objectives. The Council will give consideration to the quantity of subject waste in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sanitary sewers, the wastewater treatment facility and other pertinent factors. Wastes or wastewaters discharged to the sanitary sewers shall not exceed the following limitations:
(a) Wastewater having a temperature higher than 150°F (65°C);
(b) Wastewater containing more than 25 mg/l of petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oils or products of mineral oil origin;
(c) Wastewater from industrial plants containing floatable oils, fat or grease;
(d) Any unground garbage. 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;
(e) Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc and other toxic and non-conventional pollutants to such a degree that the concentration exceeds levels specified by federal, state and local authorities;
(f) Any waters or wastes containing odor producing substances exceeding limits which may be established by the Council or limits established by any federal or state statute, rule or regulation;
(g) Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of a half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the Council in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations;
(h) Any 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 a degree so that the wastewater treatment facility effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters;
(i) Any water or wastes which, by interaction with other water or wastes in the sanitary sewer system, release obnoxious gases, form suspended solids which interfere with the collection system or create a condition deleterious to structures and treatment processes;
(j) Materials which exert or cause:
1. Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand or chlorine requirements in quantities so as to constitute a significant load on the wastewater treatment facility;
2. Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting slugs, as defined herein;
3. Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, Fuller’s earth, lime slurries and lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium sulfate); or
4. Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions).
(k) Incompatible pollutants in excess of the allowed limits as determined by local, state and federal laws and regulations in reference to pretreatment standards developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, 40 C.F.R. part 403, as amended from time to time.
(B) NPDES permit. It is unlawful for any person to cause or permit a discharge into the sanitary sewers that would cause a violation of the city’s NPDES permit and any modifications thereof.
(2004 Code, § 53.037) (Ord. 781, passed 7-19-1988) Penalty, see § 10.99