(A) It is unlawful for any person to discharge, or cause to be discharged, any unpolluted water such as stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff, surface drainage, or non-contact cooling water to any sanitary sewer.
(B) Stormwater, and all other unpolluted drainage, shall be discharged to the 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 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) It is unlawful for any person to 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 treatment works, 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 one-half inch in any dimension, animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshings, entrails, flushable wipes, 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 five, or greater than ten, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage, or hazard, to structures, equipment, and personnel of the wastewater treatment works;
(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 treatment works. A toxic pollutant shall include, but not be limited to, any pollutant identified pursuant to § 307(a) of the Act; and
(5) Sludges, floats, or skimmings generated by an industrial, or commercial, pretreatment system. The sludges, floats, or skimmings shall be contained, transported, and disposed of in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulations.
(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 and/or soil, vegetation, and groundwater, or will not otherwise endanger lives, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance. The Wastewater Superintendent may set limitations lower than limitations established in the regulations below if, in his or her opinion, the more severe limitation are necessary to meet the above objectives. In forming his or her opinion as to the acceptability of wastes, the Wastewater Superintendent will give consideration to the 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 wastewater treatment process, the city’s NPDES and/or SDS permit, capacity of the 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 Wastewater 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°F and 150°F (0°C 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 herein;
(4) Any garbage not properly shredded, as herein defined. 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) Non-contact cooling water or unpolluted stormwater, storm drainage, or groundwater;
(7) 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 the quantities that would cause disruption of the wastewater treatment works;
(8) Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of the half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the Wastewater Superintendent in compliance with applicable state, or federal, regulations;
(9) Any waters, or wastes, containing the following substances to the degree that any such material received in the composite wastewater at the wastewater treatment works will cause it to be in excess of limitations set by the Wastewater Superintendent for such materials:
(a) Arsenic;
(b) Copper;
(c) Lead;
(d) Mercury;
(e) Silver;
(f) Zinc;
(g) Phenolic compounds which cannot be removed by city’s wastewater treatment system; and
(h) Phosphorus.
(10) Any waters, or wastes, containing, at the point of discharge into the wastewater treatment works, heavy metals in excess of limits as established in the discharge permit issued to the industry by the city;
(11) Any wastewater which creates conditions at, or near, the wastewater treatment works which violates any statute, city code provision, rule, regulation, or ordinance of any regulatory agency, or state, or federal, regulatory body; and
(12) Any waters, or wastes, containing BOD5, TSS, TKN, or phosphorus of the character, and quantity, that unusual attention, or expense, is required to handle the materials at the wastewater treatment works, except as may be permitted by specific written agreement, subject to the provisions of this section.
(E) The total allowable industrial loading allocation of the toxic pollutants to the wastewater treatment system is shown in the following table. The individual allocations are to be included in the user’s wastewater discharge permit.
Toxic Pollutants
|
Total LBS/Day*
|
Toxic Pollutants
|
Total LBS/Day*
|
Cadmium | 0.14 |
Chromium +6 | 1.58 |
Copper | 1.69 |
Cyanide | 0.72 |
Lead | 0.12 |
Mercury | 0.07 |
Nickel | 1.38 |
Total chromium | 3.85 |
Zinc | 2.85 |
Notes to Table: * Monthly average | |
(F) (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 herein, and/or which, in the judgment of the Wastewater Superintendent, may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater treatment works, processes, or equipment; receiving waters and/or soil, vegetation, and groundwater; 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, being 33 U.S.C. § 1317(b), and all addendums thereof;
(c) Require control over the quantities, and rates, of discharge; and/or
(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.
(G) It is unlawful for any user to 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 herein, or contained in the National Categorical Pretreatment Standards, or any state requirements.
(H) 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.
(I) Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Wastewater Superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing floatable grease in excessive amounts, as specified herein, any flammable wastes, as specified herein, sand, or other harmful ingredients; except, that the 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 Wastewater Superintendent. Any removal, and hauling, of the collected materials not performed by the owner’s personnel must be performed by a currently licensed waste disposal firm.
(J) 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 the necessary meters, and other appurtenances, in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of wastes. The 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.
(K) 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 a manner, as prescribed by the city. The owner shall bear the expense of all measurements, analyses, and reporting, as 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.
(L) All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters, and wastes, to which reference is made in this chapter, shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of 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 Wastewater Superintendent.
(M) 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 chapter. 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 Wastewater Superintendent for review, and approval, prior to construction of the facility. Review, and approval, of the 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 chapter. Users shall notify the Wastewater Superintendent immediately upon having a slug, or accidental discharge, of substances of wastewater in violation of this chapter to enable countermeasures to be taken by the Wastewater Superintendent to minimize damage to the wastewater treatment works. The 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. Employers shall ensure that all employees who may cause, or discover, a discharge are advised of the emergency notification procedure.
(N) It is unlawful for any person having charge of any building, or other premises, which drains into the public sewer, to permit any substance, or matter which may form a deposit or obstruction, to flow, or pass, into the public sewer. Within 30 days after receipt of written notice from the city, the owner shall install a suitable, and sufficient, catch basin or waste trap, or if one already exists, shall clean out, repair, or alter the same, and perform the other work as the Wastewater 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 60 days, the Wastewater Superintendent may cause the work to be completed at the expense of the owner, or representative thereof.
(O) 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 the work to be done, as the Wastewater Superintendent may direct. Each day after three days that a person neglects, or fails, to so act shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter, and the Wastewater Superintendent may then cause the work to be done, and recover from the owner, or agent, the expense thereof by an action in the name of the city.
(P) 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 sewer system.
(Q) In addition to any penalties that may be imposed for violation of any provision of this chapter, 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 the person, and may collect the assessment as an additional charge for the use of the public sewer system, or in any other manner deemed appropriate by the city.
(R) National Categorical Pretreatment Standards promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pursuant to the Act, shall be met by all users which are subject to the standards in any instance where they are more stringent than the limitations in this chapter, unless the city has applied for, and obtained, from the state approval to modify the specific limits in the National Categorical Pretreatment Standards. When requested, an application for modification of the National Categorical Pretreatment Standards will be considered for submittal by the city when the wastewater treatment system achieves consistent removal of the pollutants. CONSISTENT REMOVAL shall be defined as in 40 C.F.R. part 403 of the General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution. Conditional revisions of the National Categorical Pretreatment Standards may be made by the city in accordance with 40 C.F.R. part 403 of the General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution if requested by an industry, in accordance with the requirements of 40 C.F.R. part 403.
(S) State requirements and limitations on discharges shall be met by all users which are subject to the standards in any instance in which they are more stringent than federal requirements and limitations, or those in this chapter, or any other applicable city code provision.
(T) The city reserves the right to establish, by ordinance, more stringent limitations, or requirements, on discharges to the wastewater treatment system if deemed necessary to comply with the objectives presented in this chapter.
(U) No statement contained in this section shall be construed as preventing any special agreement, or arrangement, between the city and industrial concern, 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; provided, that National Categorical Pretreatment Standards and the city’s NPDES, and/or state disposal system permit limitations, are not violated.
(Prior Code, § 3.40) Penalty, see § 52.99