(a) Prohibition of Illegal Discharges. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm drain system or watercourses any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than storm water. The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illegal discharge to the storm drain system is prohibited except as described as follows:
(1) The following discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions established by this chapter: water line flushing or other potable water sources, landscape irrigation or lawn watering, diverted stream flows, rising ground water, ground water infiltration to storm drains (infiltration is defined as water other than wastewater that enters a sewer system, including sewer service connections ad foundation drains, from the ground through such means as defective pipes, pipe joints, connections or manholes. Infiltration does not include and is distinguished from, inflow),, uncontaminated pumped ground water, foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering systems), crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation, springs, non-commercial washing of vehicles, natural riparian habitat or wet-land flows, swimming pools (if de- chlorinated - typically less than one PPM chlorine), street wash water with dry cleanup method and no detergent to minimize pollutants, fire fighting activities (not planned exercise),, and any other water source not containing pollutants. These discharges are exempt until such time as they are determined by the City of Ontario or Ohio EPA to be significant contributors of pollutants to the MS4.
(2) Discharges specified in writing by the authorized enforcement agency as being necessary to protect public health and safety.
(3) Dye testing is an allowable discharge, but requires a verbal notification to the authorized enforcement agency prior to the time of the test.
(4) The prohibition shall not apply to any non-storm water discharge permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations, and provided that written approval has been granted for any discharge to the storm drain system.
(b) Prohibition of Illicit Connections.
(1) The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the storm drain system is prohibited.
(2) This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.
(3) A person is considered to be in violation of this chapter if the person connects a line conveying sewage to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue. (Ord. 22-20. Passed 3-16-22.)