(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; 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; small charity car washes; flows from riparian habitats and wetlands; dechlorinated swimming pool discharges; street wash water; and discharges or flows from fire fighting activities. These discharges are exempt until such time as they are determined by the City of Mount Vernon to be significant contributors of pollutants to the MS4.
(2) Discharges specified in writing by the City of Mount Vernon as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
(3) Discharges from off-lot household sewage treatment systems permitted by the Knox County Health Department for the purpose of discharging treated sewage effluent in unless such discharges are deemed to be creating a public health nuisance by the Knox County Health Department. In compliance with the City of Mount Vernon Storm Water Management Program, discharges from all off-lot 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.
(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 Chapter if the person connects a line conveying illicit discharges to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue.
(Ord. 2014-06. Passed 4-28-14.)