(a) Prohibition of Unpolluted Water. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged, either directly or indirectly, any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof run- off, subsurface drainage, non-contact cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer.
(1) Any such connections made either before or after the effective date of this chapter shall be considered illegal and shall be subject to immediate removal by the owner of the premises so connected and at such owner's expense.
(2) Sub-foundation building drains connected to sanitary sewers before the effective date of this chapter will not be required to be removed unless it is established by the Utilities Commission that such connection is detrimental to the satisfactory operation of the sewage works and that such removal is cost-effective. Any such connections made after the effective date of this chapter shall be prohibited and shall be considered illegal.
(3) Should the owner of such an illegally connected premises fail to remove the connection within ninety days after the official notice to do so, the Utilities Commission shall cause the connection to be removed and the cost thereof shall be billed to the owner of the premises.
(b) Illegal Discharges to Natural Outlet or Storm Sewer. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any natural outlet any sanitary, or other polluted industrial wastewater. Discharges of sanitary or other polluted industrial wastewater are subject to the prohibitions in Chapter 924, "Illicit Discharge & Illegal Connection Control".
(c) Allowable Discharge of Unpolluted Water. Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage, such as those discharges described in Section 924.07(a)(1), may be discharged to a storm sewer or natural outlet in accordance with State and Federal regulations. If such waters are polluted with insoluble oils or grease or suspended solids, they shall be treated for removal of the pollutants, and the clear water discharged as specified.
(d) Trucked or Hauled Wastewater.
(1) Septic tank waste may be introduced into the POTW only at locations designated by the Director, and at such times as are established by the Director. The Director also may prohibit the disposal of hauled septic waste. Such waste shall not violate the prohibited discharge standards of this ordinance or any other requirements established by the City. The Director may require septic tank waste haulers to obtain individual wastewater discharge permits. Septic waste haulers must provide a waste-tracking form for every load. This form shall include, at a minimum, the name and address of the septic waste hauler, permit number, truck identification, names and addresses of sources of waste, and volume and characteristics of waste. The Director may require the septic waste hauler to provide a waste analysis of any load prior to discharge.
(2) The Director may require haulers of commercial or industrial waste to obtain individual wastewater discharge permits. The Director also may prohibit the disposal of hauled commercial or industrial waste. The discharge of hauled industrial waste is subject to all other requirements of this ordinance.
(3) Commercial or industrial waste haulers may discharge loads only at locations designated by the Director. No load may be discharged without prior consent of the Director. The Director may collect samples of each hauled load to ensure compliance with applicable Standards. The Director may require the commercial or industrial waste hauler to provide a waste analysis of any load prior to discharge.
(4) Commercial or industrial waste haulers must provide a waste-tracking form for every load. This form shall include, at a minimum, the name and address of the commercial or industrial waste hauler, permit number, truck identification, names and addresses of sources of waste, and volume and characteristics of waste. The form shall identify the type of industry, known or suspected waste constituents, and whether any wastes are RCRA hazardous wastes.
(5) Any removal of manhole lids, or other access to the sewer system for purposes of discharging waste at times and locations other than those designated by the Director, or without expressed permission of the Director, shall be considered a violation and shall be subject to enforcement action, including fines and penalties allowed under this chapter.
(e) Prohibited Discharge Standards.
(1) General Prohibitions. No User shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW any pollutant or wastewater which causes Pass Through or Interference. These general prohibitions apply to all Users of the POTW whether or not they are subject to categorical Pretreatment Standards or any other National, State, or local Pretreatment Standards or Requirements.
(2) Any waters or wastes which are discharged or are proposed to be discharged which contain compatible or incompatible pollutants other than sanitary sewage and which may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, processes, equipment, or receiving waters, including violation of applicable water quality standards, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the Utilities Commission shall:
A. Reject the discharge of such wastes or,
B. Require pretreatment of quantities and rates of discharge to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers and/or
C. Require payment to cover the added cost of handling, treating and disposing of the wastes in accordance with Chapter 914.
(3) Provided however, no person, firm or corporation shall contribute, discharge or cause to be discharged, directly or indirectly any of the following described substances into the City's Sewage Works:
A. Any liquids, solids, or gasses which by reason of their nature or quantity are, or may be, sufficient either alone or by interaction to cause fire or explosion, including but not limited to, waste streams with a closed cup flash point of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees centigrade using the test method specified in 40 CFR 261.21., or be injurious in any other way to persons or the operation of the sewage works.
B. Solid or viscous substances which will or may cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer or other interferences with the operation of the sewage works.
C. Any wastewater having a pH less than 5.5 or higher than 9.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, or personnel of the sewage works.
D. Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants, either singly or by interaction resulting in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the sewage works in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any wastewater treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or to exceed the limitation set forth in Categorical Pretreatment Standards.
E. Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, or solids which either singly or by interaction 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.
F. Any substance which may cause the wastewater treatment plant effluent or treatment residues, sludges, or scums, to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse or to interfere with the reclamation process. In no case, shall a substance discharged to the Sewage Works cause noncompliance with sludge use or disposal criteria, guidelines or regulations developed under Section 405 of the Clean Water Act; any criteria, guidelines, or regulations affecting sludge use or disposal developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, Resource Conservation Recovery Act, or State standards applicable to the sludge management method being used.
G. Any substance which will cause the POTW to violate its NPDES and/or Disposal System Permits.
H. Any substance with objectionable color not removed in the treatment process, such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions.
I. Any wastewater having a temperature which will inhibit biological activity in the POTW resulting in interference; but in no case, wastewater with a temperature at the introduction into Sewage Works which exceeds 40 degrees C (104 degrees F).
J. Accidental Discharge/Slug Discharge Control Plans
1. The Director shall evaluate whether each SIU needs an accidental discharge/slug discharge control plan or other action to control Slug Discharges. The Director may require any User to develop, submit for approval, and implement such a plan or take such other action that may be necessary to control Slug Discharges. Alternatively, the Director or designee may develop such a plan for any User. An accidental discharge/slug discharge control plan shall address, at a minimum, the following:
a. Description of discharge practices, including nonroutine batch discharges;
b. Description of stored chemicals;
c. Procedures for immediately notifying the Director of any accidental or Slug Discharge, as required by Section 911.05; and
d. Procedures to prevent adverse impact from any accidental or Slug Discharge. Such procedures include, but are not limited to, inspection and maintenance of storage areas, handling and transfer of materials, loading and unloading operations, control of plant site runoff, worker training, building of containment structures or equipment, measures for containing toxic organic pollutants, including solvents, and/or measures and equipment for emergency response.
K. Wastewater containing any radioactive wastes or isotopes except in compliance with applicable State or Federal regulations.
L. Any wastewater which causes a hazard to human life or creates a public nuisance.
M. Wastewater containing more than fifty milligrams per liter of petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oils, product of mineral oil origin, or floatable oils, fat, wax, or grease (hexane extraction), or in sufficient amounts to pass through or cause interference in the sewage works.
N. Fats, oils, or greases of animal or vegetable origin in concentrations greater than 50 milligrams per liter (mg/l).
O. Wastewaters containing oil or grease or other substances which will solidify or become discernibly viscous at temperatures between 30 degrees and 150 degrees F.
P. Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three-fourths HP or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the Utilities Commission.
Q. Any unpolluted water including, but not limited to non-contact cooling water, which is used to dilute process wastewater, or in any other way attempt to dilute a discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with a Pretreatment Standard or requirement (40 CFR 403.6 (d)), except such water may be discharged to a sewer which is designated to carry storm water subject to the requirements of Chapter 924, "Illicit Discharge & Illegal Connection Control".
R. Storm Water, surface water, ground water, artesian well water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, swimming pool drainage, condensate, deionized water, noncontact cooling water, and unpolluted wastewater, unless specifically authorized by the Director.
S. Sludges, screenings, or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial wastes.
T. Medical wastes, except as specifically authorized by the Director in an individual wastewater discharge permit.
U. Wastewater causing, alone or in conjunction with other sources, the treatment plant's effluent to fail toxicity test.
V. Detergents, surface-active agents, or other substances which that might cause excessive foaming in the POTW.
W. Pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released in a discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, will cause Interference with the POTW.
X. Pollutants, substances, or wastewater prohibited by this Section shall not be processed or stored in such a manner that they could be discharged to the POTW.
(f) Limitations on Wastewater Strength.
(1) National Categorical Pretreatment Standards. Users must comply with the categorical Pretreatment Standards found at 40 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N, Parts 405-471.
A. Where a categorical Pretreatment Standard is expressed only in terms of either the mass or the concentration of a pollutant in wastewater, the Director may imposeequivalent concentration or mass limits.
B. When the limits in a categorical Pretreatment Standard are expressed only in terms of mass of pollutant per unit of production, the Director may convert the limits to equivalent limitations expressed either as mass of pollutant discharged per day or effluent concentration for purposes of calculating effluent limitations applicable to individual Industrial Users.
C. When wastewater subject to a categorical Pretreatment Standard is mixed with wastewater not regulated by the same Standard, the Director shall impose an alternate limit in accordance with 40 CFR 403.6(e).
D. A CIU may obtain a net/gross adjustment to a categorical Pretreatment Standard in accordance with the following paragraphs of this Section. [Note: See 40 CFR 403.15]
1. Categorical Pretreatment Standards may be adjusted to reflect the presence of pollutants in the Industrial User's intake water in accordance with this Section. Any Industrial User wishing to obtain credit for intake pollutants must make application to the City. Upon request of the Industrial User, the applicable calculated on a "net" basis (i.e., adjusted to reflect credit for pollutants in the intake water) if the requirements of subsection (f)(1)D. 2. hereof are met.
2. Criteria.
a. Either the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standards contained in 40CFR subchapter N specifically provide that they shall be applied on a net basis; or the Industrial User demonstrates that the control system it proposes or uses to meet applicable categorical Pretreatment Standards would, if properly installed and operated, meet the Standards in the absence of pollutants in the intake waters.
b. Credit for generic pollutants such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and oil and grease should not be granted unless the Industrial User demonstrates that the constituents of the generic measure in the User's effluent are substantially similar to the constituents of the generic measure in the intake water or unless appropriate additional limits are placed on process water pollutants either at the outfall or elsewhere.
c. Credit shall be granted only to the extent necessary to meet the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard(s), up to a maximum value equal to the influent value. Additional monitoring may be necessary to determine eligibility for credits and compliance with Standard(s) adjusted under this Section.
d. Credit shall be granted only if the User demonstrates that the intake water is drawn from the same body of water as that into which the POTW discharges. The City may waive this requirement if it finds that no environmental degradation will result.
E. When a categorical Pretreatment Standard is expressed only in terms of pollutant concentrations, an Industrial User may request that the City convert the limits to equivalent mass limits. The determination to convert concentration limits to mass limits is within the discretion of the Director. The City may establish equivalent mass limits only if the Industrial User meets all the conditions set forth in subsections (f)(1)E.1.a. through e. below.
1. To be eligible for equivalent mass limits, the Industrial User must:
a. Employ, or demonstrate that it will employ, water conservation methods and technologies that substantially reduce water use during the term of its individual wastewater discharge permit;
b. Currently use control and treatment technologies adequate to achieve compliance with the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard, and not have used dilution as a substitute for treatment;
c. Provide sufficient information to establish the facility's actual average daily flow rate for all wastestreams, based on data from a continuous effluent flow monitoring device, as well as the facility's long-term average production rate. Both the actual average daily flow rate and the long-term average production rate must be representative of current operating conditions;
d. Not have daily flow rates, production levels, or pollutant levels that vary so significantly that equivalent mass limits are not appropriate to control the Discharge; and
e. Have consistently complied with all applicable categorical Pretreatment Standards during the period prior to the Industrial User's request for equivalent mass limits.
2. An Industrial User subject to equivalent mass limits must:
a. Maintain and effectively operate control and treatment technologies adequate to achieve compliance with the equivalent mass limits;
b. Continue to record the facility's flow rates through the use of a continuous effluent flow monitoring device;
c. Continue to record the facility's production rates and notify the Director whenever production rates are expected to vary by more than 20 percent from its baseline production rates determined in paragraph (f)(1)E.1.c. of this Section. Upon notification of a revised production rate, the Director will reassess the equivalent mass limit and revise the limit as necessary to reflect changed conditions at the facility; and
d. Continue to employ the same or comparable water conservation methods and technologies as those implemented pursuant to paragraphs (f)(1) E.1.a. of this Section so long as it discharges under an equivalent mass limit.
3. When developing equivalent mass limits, the Director
a. Will calculate the equivalent mass limit by multiplying the actual average daily flow rate of the regulated process(es) of the Industrial User by the concentration-based Daily Maximum and Monthly Average Standard for the applicable categorical Pretreatment Standard and the appropriate unit conversion factor;
b. Upon notification of a revised production rate, will reassess the equivalent mass limit and recalculate the limit as necessary to reflect changed conditions at the facility; and
c. May retain the same equivalent mass limit in subsequent individual wastewater discharger permit terms if the Industrial User's actual average daily flow rate was reduced solely as a result of the implementation of water conservation methods and technologies, and the actual average daily flow rates used in the original calculation of the equivalent mass limit were not based on the use of dilution as a substitute for treatment.. The Industrial User must also be in compliance with the prohibition of bypass.
F. The Director may convert the mass limits of the categorical Pretreatment Standards of 40 CFR Parts 414, 419, and 455 to concentration limits for purposes of calculating limitations applicable to individual Industrial Users. The conversion is at the discretion of the Director.
G. Once included in its permit, the Industrial User must comply with the equivalent limitations developed in this Section in lieu of the promulgated categorical Standards from which the equivalent limitations were derived.
H. Many categorical Pretreatment Standards specify one limit for calculating maximum daily discharge limitations and a second limit for calculating maximum Monthly Average, or 4-day average, limitations. Where such Standards are being applied, the same production or flow figure shall be used in calculating both the average and the maximum equivalent limitation. [Note: See 40 CFR 403.6(c)(8)]
I. Any Industrial User operating under a permit incorporating equivalent mass or concentration limits calculated from a production-based Standard shall notify the Director within two (2) business days after the User has a reasonable basis to know that the production level will significantly change within the next calendar month. Any User not notifying the Director of such anticipated change will be required to meet the mass or concentration limits in its permit that were based on the original estimate of the long term average production rate. [Note: See 40 CFR 403.6(c)(9)]
(2) State requirements and limitations on discharges to the POTW shall be met by all users which are subject to such standards in any instance in which they are more stringent than federal requirements and limitations or those in this or any other applicable ordinance.
(3) City's Right of Revision: The City reserves the right to establish, by ordinance or in individual wastewater discharge permits, more stringent Standards or Requirements on discharges to the POTW consistent with the purpose of this ordinance.
(4) Dilution: No User shall ever increase the use of process water, or in any way attempt to dilute a discharge, as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with a discharge limitation unless expressly authorized by an applicable Pretreatment Standard or Requirement. The Director may impose mass limitations on Users who are using dilution to meet applicable Pretreatment Standards or Requirements, or in other cases when the imposition of mass limitations is appropriate.
(5) The Director is authorized to establish Local Limits pursuant to 40 CFR 403.5(c).
(6) No user shall discharge wastewater containing concentrations of the following enumerated materials, exceeding the following values:
MATERIAL | CONCENTRATION (mg/l) |
Nickel | 0.5 |
Phenols | None |
Lead | 0.3 |
Mercury | 0.001 |
Silver | 0.2 |
Arsenic | 0.23 |
Barium | None |
Total Phosphorus | None |
Selenium | 0.18 |
Molybdenum | 0.20 |
Free Cyanide (CN) | 0.5 |
Hexavalent Chromium | None |
Total Chromium | 0.2 |
Copper | 0.5 |
Zinc | 1.0 |
Cadmium | 0.1 |
The above limits apply at the point where the wastewater is discharged to the POTW. All concentrations for metallic substances are for total metal unless indicated otherwise. The Director may impose mass limitations in addition to the concentration-based limitations above.
(7) The Director may develop Best Management Practices (BMPs), by ordinance or in individual wastewater discharge permits, to implement Local Limits and the requirements of Section 911.04.
(g) Grease and Oil Traps and Interceptors. For grease, oil, and inorganic material such as sand, grit, etc., interceptors or traps shall be provided at the User's expense when, in the opinion of the Director, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing floatable grease in excessive amounts, as specified in subsection (e)(3)M. and (e)(3)N. hereof, or any flammable wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients; except that such interceptors shall not be required for single-family residences, duplexes, or other multi-unit residences unless the Utilities Commission determines there are discharges that may create problems in the sanitary sewer. All Users shall also be subject to permit per Section 911.06.
(1) All interceptors and traps shall be of a type and capacity approved by the Utilities Commission, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. All interceptors or traps found not to be in compliance with these guidelines shall be modified or replaced. In the maintaining of these interceptors the owner shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal by appropriate means of the captured material and shall maintain records of the dates, and means of disposal which are subject to review by the Director. Any removal and hauling of the collected materials not performed by the owner's personnel must be performed by currently licensed waste disposal firms.
(2) The introduction of additives containing surfactants and/or enzymes into the trap, interceptor, or sanitary sewer is prohibited. Food services wishing to use aqueous suspensions of grease-consuming bacteria for grease control shall submit a written request to the Director and must receive written approval prior to their use.
(3) Users with the potential to discharge flammable substances may be required to install and maintain an approved combustible gas detection meter.
(h) Pretreatment Facilities. Industrial Users shall provide necessary wastewater treatment as required to comply with this chapter and shall achieve limitations as specified by this chapter and the Federal Pretreatment Regulations within the time limitations specified by EPA, the State, or the City, whichever is more stringent. Any facilities necessary for compliance shall be provided, operated and maintained at the User's expense. Detailed plans showing the pretreatment facilities and operating procedures shall be submitted to the City for review, and shall be acceptable to the City before constructing the facility. The review of such plans and operating procedures shall in no way relieve the User from the responsibility of modifying the facility as necessary to produce an effluent acceptable to the City under the provisions of this chapter. Any subsequent changes in the pretreatment facilities or method of operation shall be reported to and be acceptable to the City prior to the User's initiation of the changes.
(i) Additional Pretreatment Measures.
(1) Whenever deemed necessary, the Director may require Users to restrict their discharge during peak flow periods, designate that certain wastewater be discharged only into specific sewers, relocate and/or consolidate points of discharge, separate sewage wastestreams from industrial wastestreams, and such other conditions as may be necessary to protect the POTW and determine the User's compliance with the requirements of this ordinance.
(2) The Director may require any person discharging into the POTW to install and maintain, on their property and at their expense, a suitable storage and flow-control facility to ensure equalization of flow. An individual wastewater discharge permit may be issued solely for flow equalization. (Ord. 2016-21. Passed 11-28-16; Ord. 2019-38. Passed 12-23-19.)