(A) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any unpolluted water such as stormwater, ground water, roof runoff, surface drainage or non-contact cooling water to any sanitary sewer.
(B) Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designed as storm sewers or to a natural outlet approved by the city and other regulatory agencies. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged to a storm sewer or natural outlet on approval of the city and upon approval and the issuance of a discharge permit by the MPCA.
(C) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewers:
(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) Solid or viscous substances which will cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer or other interference with the operation of the wastewater treatment facilities such as but not limited to grease, garbage with particles greater than ½-inch in any dimension, animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshings, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, sand, spent lime, stone or marble dust, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, waste paper, wood, plastic, asphalt residues, residues from refining or processing of fuel or lubricating oil, mud or glass grinding or polishing wastes.
(3) Any wastewater having a pH of less than 5.0 or greater than 9.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment or personnel of the wastewater disposal system.
(4) Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, to inhibit or disrupt any wastewater treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or create a toxic effect in the receiving waters of the wastewater disposal system. A toxic pollutant shall include but not be limited to any pollutant identified pursuant to § 307(a) of the Act (33 USC 1317(a)).
(D) The following described substances, materials, water or wastes shall be limited in discharges to municipal systems to concentrations or quantities which will not harm either sewers, the wastewater treatment works treatment process or equipment, will not have an adverse effect on the receiving stream or soil, vegetation and ground water, or will not otherwise endanger lives, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance. The Superintendent may set limitations lower than limitations established in the regulations below if, in his or her opinion, such more severe limitations are necessary to meet the above objectives. In forming his or her opinion as to the acceptability of wastes, the Superintendent will give consideration to such factors as the quantity of subject waste in reaction to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, nature of the sewage treatment process, the city's NPDES/SDS permit, capacity of the sewage treatment plant, degree of treatability of wastes in the sewage-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:
(1) Any wastewater having a temperature greater than 150° F. (65.6° C.) or causing, individually or in combination with other wastewater, the influent at the wastewater treatment plant to have a temperature exceeding 104° F. (40° C.), or having heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in the wastewater treatment works resulting in interference therein.
(2) Any wastewater containing fats, wax, grease or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 mg/l or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32° and 150° F. (0° and 65.6° C.), and any wastewater containing oil and grease concentrations of mineral origin of greater than 100 mg/l, whether emulsified or not.
(3) Any quantities of flow, concentrations, or both which constitute a “slug”, as defined in § 51.20.
(4) Any garbage not properly shredded, as defined in § 51.20. 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 on the premises or when served by caterers.
(5) Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases or solids which either singly or by interaction with other wastes are capable of creating a public nuisance or hazard to life, or are sufficient to prevent entry into the sewers for their maintenance and repair.
(6) Any wastewater with objectionable color not removed in the treatment process such as but not limited to dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions.
(7) Non-contact cooling water or unpolluted storm, drainage or ground water.
(8) Wastewater containing inert suspended solids such as but not limited to Fullers earth, lime slurries and lime residues, or of dissolved solids such as but not limited to sodium chloride and sodium sulfate in such quantities that would cause disruption with the wastewater disposal system.
(9) 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.
(10) Any waters or wastes containing the following substances shall not exceed the limits for the substance as set forth in § 307(a) of the Act (33 USC 1317(a)), notwithstanding the right of the city to establish lower limits for such wastes as set forth elsewhere in this chapter: Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Cyanide, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Silver, total Chromium, Zinc and Phenolic compounds which cannot be removed by the city's wastewater treatment system.
(11) Any wastewater which creates conditions at or near the wastewater disposal system which violates any statute, rule, regulation or ordinance of any regulatory agency, or state or federal regulatory body.
(12) Any waters or wastes containing BOD5 or suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the wastewater treatment works, except as may be permitted by specific written agreement subject to the provisions of division (Q) of this section.
(E) (1) If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers which contain substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in division (D) of this section or which in the judgment of the Superintendent may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater treatment facilities, processes, or equipment; receiving waters or soil, vegetation and ground water; or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the city may:
(a) Reject the wastes;
(b) Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers, pursuant to § 307(b) of the Act (33 USC 1317(b)) and all amendments thereof;
(c) Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and
(d) Require payment to cover the added costs of handling, treating and disposing of wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer service charges.
(2) If the city permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design, installation, and maintenance of the facilities and equipment shall be made at the owners' expense, and shall be subject to the review and approval of the city pursuant to the requirements of the MPCA.
(F) No user shall increase the use of process water or, in any manner, attempt to dilute a discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with the limitations contained in divisions (C) and (D) of this section, or contained in the National Categorical Pretreatment Standards or any state requirements.
(G) Where pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided or required for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation at the expense of the owner.
(H) 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 division (D)(2) of this section, any flammable wastes as specified in division (C)(1) of this section, or 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 the type 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 of the captured materials by appropriate means, and shall maintain a record of dates and means of disposal which are subject to review by the Superintendent. Any removal and hauling of the collecting materials not performed by the owner's personnel must be performed by a currently licensed waste disposal firm.
(I) Where required by the city, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable structure, or control manhole, with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of wastes. Such structure shall be accessible and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the city. The structure shall be installed by the owner at his or her expense and shall be maintained by the owner to be safe and accessible at all times.
(J) The owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes may, at the discretion of the city, be required to provide laboratory measurements, tests or analyses of waters or wastes to illustrate compliance with this subchapter and any special condition for discharge established by the city or regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over the discharge. The number, type and frequency of sampling and laboratory analyses to be performed by the owner shall be as stipulated by the city. The industry must supply a complete analysis of the constituents of the wastewater discharge to assure that compliance with federal, state and local standards are being met. The owner shall report the results of measurements and laboratory analyses to the city at such times and in such manner as prescribed by the city. The owner shall bear the expense of all measurements, analyses and reporting required by the city. At such times as deemed necessary, the city reserves the right to take measurements and samples for analysis by an independent laboratory.
(K) All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of water and wastes to which reference is made in this subchapter shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of the 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.
(L) Where required by the city, the owner of any property serviced by a sanitary sewer shall provide protection from an accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other substances regulated by this subchapter. Where necessary, facilities to prevent accidental discharges of prohibited materials shall be provided and maintained at the owner's expense. Detailed plans showing facilities and operating procedures to provide this protection shall be submitted to the Superintendent for review and approval prior to construction of the facility. Review and approval of such plans and operating procedures shall not relieve any user from the responsibility to modify the user's facility as necessary to meet the requirements of this subchapter. Users shall notify the Superintendent immediately upon having a slug or accidental discharge of substances of wastewater in violation of this subchapter to enable countermeasures to be taken by the Superintendent to minimize damage to the wastewater treatment works. Such notification will not relieve any user of any liability for any expense, loss or damage to the wastewater treatment system or treatment process, or for any fines imposed on the city on account thereof under any state and federal law. Employees shall insure that all employees who may cause or discover such a discharge are advised of the emergency notification procedure.
(M) No person having charge of any building or other premises which drains into the public sewer shall permit any substance or matter which may form a deposit or obstruction to flow or pass into the public sewer. Within ten days after receipt of written notice from the city, the owner shall install a suitable and sufficient catch basin or waste trap or suitable and sufficient device, or if one already exists, shall clean out, repair or alter the same, and perform such other work as the Superintendent may deem necessary. Upon the owner's refusal or neglect to install a catch basin or waste trap or to clean out, repair or alter the same after the period of ten days, the Superintendent may cause such work to be completed at the expense of the owner or representative thereof.
(N) Whenever any service connection becomes clogged, obstructed, broken or out of order, or detrimental to the use of the public sewer, or unfit for the purpose of drainage, the owner shall repair or cause such work to be done as the Superintendent may direct. Each day after ten days that a person neglects or fails to so act shall constitute a separate violation of this section, and the Superintendent may then cause the work to be done, and recover from such owner or agent the expense thereof by an action in the name of the city.
(O) The owner or operator of any motor vehicle washing or servicing facility shall provide and maintain in serviceable condition at all times a catch basin or waste trap in the building drain system to prevent grease, oil, dirt or any mineral deposit from entering the public sever system.
(P) In addition to any penalties that may be imposed for violation of any provision of this subchapter, the city may assess against any person the cost of repairing or restoring sewers or associated facilities damaged as a result of the discharge of prohibited wastes by such person, and may collect such assessment as an additional charge for the use of the public sewer system or in any other manner deemed appropriate by the city.
(Q) No statement contained in this subchapter shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the city and any industry whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the city for treatment, subject to payment therefor by the industrial concern, providing that National Categorical Pretreatment Standards and the city's NPDES/SDS system permit limitations are not violated.
(Prior Code, § 11.21) (Ord. 277, passed 8-27-90) Penalty, see § 51.99