The director may order the immediate suspension or shutoff of a responsible party's discharge or storm sewer system access (after informal notice to the responsible party) whenever such suspension or shutoff is necessary in order to stop an actual or threatened discharge which reasonably appears to present or cause a risk of an imminent or substantial:
A. Damage to the storm sewer system or harm to the receiving waters,
B. Endangerment to the health, safety or welfare of any person served by the storm sewer system,
C. Interference with the operation of the storm sewer system,
D. Violation of the city's discharge permit or agreements, or
E. Endangerment to the environment.
Any responsible party notified of a suspension of its discharge shall immediately stop or eliminate its contribution or discharge. In the event of a responsible party's failure to immediately comply voluntarily with the suspension order, the director may take such steps as deemed necessary, including immediate severance of the storm sewer system connection, to enforce such order. The director shall allow the responsible party to recommence its discharge when the responsible party has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the director that the period of endangerment has passed, unless the termination proceedings set forth in section 17.87.450 of this chapter are initiated against the responsible party. A responsible party that is responsible in whole or in part, for any discharge presenting imminent endangerment, shall submit to the director a detailed written statement describing the causes of the harmful contribution and the measures taken to prevent any future occurrence, prior to the date of any show cause or termination of discharge hearing under sections 17.87.200 and 17.87.450 of this chapter. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring a hearing prior to any emergency suspension under this section. (Ord. 29-20, 2020: Ord. 53-07 § 19, 2007)