(a) (1) No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, downspouts, sub foundation building drainage, subsurface drainage, unpolluted cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process water to any sanitary sewer. Storm waters and other polluted drainage shall be discharged to sewers specifically designated as storm sewers by the Superintendent. Otherwise, all such waters designated above, which are above ground level, shall be discharged on the ground surface.
(2) Sub foundation building drains connected to sanitary sewers before the effective date of these regulations shall be removed if it is established by the Superintendent that such connection is detrimental to the satisfactory operation of the sewage works and that such removal is cost-effective. Such connections shall be prohibited after the effective date of these regulations and shall be considered illegal.
(3) No person shall discharge garbage grindings into a public sewer except properly shredded garbage generated in preparation of food normally consumed on the property. Garbage grinders shall not be used to grind plastic, paper products, insert materials or garden refuse.
(b) General Discharge Prohibitions. Except as herein provided, no person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any of the following described water or wastes to any public sewer:
(1) Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65.6 degrees Celsius), or which causes the influent temperature at the treatment plant to exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
(2) Any water or wastes containing petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil or products of mineral oil origin are now prohibited if discharged in amounts that can pass through or cause interference.
(3) Any water or wastes which create a fire or explosive hazard in the sewer or wastewater treatment plant, including, but not limited to waste streams with a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Centigrade using the test method specified in 40 CFR 261.21.
(4) Any garbage that has not been shredded to a degree that all particles will be carried freely under normal flow conditions prevailing in the public sewer.
(5) Any water or wastes containing substances that will solidify or become discernibly viscous at temperatures between 30 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit, including but not limited to ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rage, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, paunch manure or any other solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other interference with the operation of the sewage works.
(6) Any water or wastes having pH lower than 6.0 or higher than 10.5, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and division personnel.
(7) Any water or wastes containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the wastewater treatment plant.
(8) Any water or wastes containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the wastewater treatment plant.
(9) Any water or wastes containing pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the sewer or wastewater treatment plant in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems.
(10) Any water or wastes which cause the effluent or any other product of the treatment process residues sludge's or scum's to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse, or interfere with the reclamation process.
(11) Any water or wastes which cause a detrimental environmental impact or a nuisance in the Waters of the State, cause a condition unacceptable to any public authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the sewage works, or cause the quality of the wastewater treatment plant effluent to violate the NPDES permit limitations.
(12) Any water or wastes which cause discoloration or any other condition in the quality of the wastewater treatment plant effluent, such that receiving water quality requirements, established by law, cannot be met.
(13) Any radioactive waste except when the person is authorized to use radioactive materials by the State Department of Health or other governmental agency empowered to regulate the use of radioactive materials.
(14) Wastewater containing in excess of:
Arsenic 0.15 mg/l
Ammonia Nitrogen (as N) 15.00 mg/l
Barium 5.00 mg/l
Cadmium 0.10 mg/l
Chromium (total) 2.00 mg/l
Chromium (hexavalent) 0.2 mg/l
Copper 2.5 mg/l
Cyanide 1.00 mg/l
Fluoride 5.00 mg/l
Iron (dissolved) 15.00 mg/l
Lead 0.50 mg/l
Manganese (dissolved) 5.00 mg/l
Mercury 0.005 mg/l
Nickel 2.00 mg/l
Oil & Grease 100.00 mg/l
Phenols 1.00 mg/l
Phosphorus (total) 50.00 mg/l
Selenium 0.10 mg/l
Silver 0.02 mg/l
Sulfides (as S) 10.00 mg/l
Zinc 2.0 mg/l
Copper cannot be discharged in excess of background concentrations, 0.15 mg/l, unless specifically ordered by the Director.
(15) Any water or wastes containing in excess of 0.02 mg/l total identifiable chlorinated hydrocarbons.
(16) Any water or wastes containing in excess of 1.0 mg/l phenolic compounds.
(17) Any slug load, as defined in Section 1040.02, including oxygen demanding pollutants (e.g., BOD), released in a single extra-ordinary discharge episode of such volume or strength to cause interference in the sewage works.
(c) National Categorical Pretreatment Standards,
(1) National Categorical Pretreatment Standards as promulgated by the USEPA pursuant to the Federal Act shall be met by all dischargers of the regulated industrial categories. Where these National Categorical Pretreatment Standards are more stringent than those specified in these regulations, the regulations shall be amended within nine months of the promulgation of a National Categorical Pretreatment Standard, to require compliance by dischargers subject to such standards within the time frame specified by same. All National Categorical Pretreatment Standards adopted after the promulgation of these regulations shall be adopted by the City as part of these regulations. All dischargers regulated by the more stringent categorical pretreatment standards shall be notified of any proposed regulation change prior to the effective date, and shall comply with applicable standards by the effective date. Any change or new provision in these regulations shall include a reasonable time schedules for compliance.
(2) Where a person subject to Categorical Pretreatment Standards has not submitted a discharge report required in Section 1040.29, he shall file a completed discharge report within six months after promulgation of the applicable Categorical Pretreatment Standards. Where a person has submitted an acceptable discharge report, he shall submit to the Division any additional information (Section 1040.29(b)(1)G. and H.) required by the Categorical Pretreatment Standards within six months after promulgation.
(d) Dilution. No user shall increase the use of potable or process water in any way, not mix separate waste streams for the purpose of diluting a discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with the standards or local limits set forth in these regulations.
(e) Right of Revision.
(1) The City reserves the right to amend these regulations to provide for more stringent limitations or requirements on discharges to the sewage works where deemed necessary to comply with the objectives set forth in Section 1040.01 and to comply with applicable State and Federal laws and regulations.
(2) These sewer use regulations shall be reviewed annually by the Superintendent, if, in his opinion, changes or additions are required, he shall submit them to the Director for approval. Upon approval, the amendments shall be submitted to the City Council for ratification as part of the Codified Ordinances of the City.
(3) Users shall be informed of any proposed changes in these regulations. The Division shall notify all users affected by changes in these regulations which result in new limitations on discharges or reporting requirements.
(f) The Superintendent may develop Best Management Practices (BMPs), by ordinance or in individual wastewater discharge permits, to implement local limits and the requirements of this section.
(g) Special Interceptors. Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Superintendent, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease or excessive amounts of any flammable wastes, sand or other harmful ingredients. However, such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.
(1) Construction. Grease and oil interceptors shall be constructed of impervious materials capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperatures. They shall be of substantial construction, be watertight and equipped with easily removable covers which shall be gastight and watertight when bolted in place.
(2) Maintenance. Where installed, all grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be maintained by the owner, at his expense, in continuously efficient operation at all times.
(h) The admission into the public sewers of any water or wastes having any of the following properties shall be subject to the review and approval of the Superintendent.
(1) A five day BOD greater than 200 mg/l;
(2) A COD greater than 500 mg/l;
(3) More than 250 mg/l of suspended solids; or
(4) An average daily flow greater than two percent of the average daily sewage flow of the City.
(i) Where necessary, in the opinion of the Superintendent, the user shall provide, at his expense, such preliminary treatment as may be necessary to:
(1) Reduce the BOD to 200 mg/l, the COD to 500 mg/l, and the suspended solids to 250 mg/l;
(2) Reduce objectionable characteristics or constituents to within the maximum limits provided for in subsection (b) hereof;
(3) Control the quantities and rates of discharge of such water or wastes; or
(4) Adjust pH to fall within the range of 6.0 to 9.0.
Plans, specifications, operating procedures, a completion schedule and any other pertinent information relating to proposed pretreatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of the Superintendent. No construction of such facilities shall commence until written approval of the Superintendent is obtained. Any subsequent changes in the pretreatment facilities or operating procedures shall be submitted to and be approved by the Superintendent before the changes are made.
(j) No person shall access the sewer system or wastewater treatment plant for any activity including discharge of hauled septic or industrial waste except at locations and at times as designated by the Superintendent. Any removal of manhole lids or other access to the sewer system for the purpose of discharging wastes at times and/or locations other than those designated by the Superintendent, or without the expressed permission of the Superintendent, shall be considered a violation and shall be subject to enforcement action including fines and penalties allowed under this chapter.
(k) The Superintendent has the authority to issue orders to any industrial user to require compliance with any requirements contained in these regulations, including categorical pretreatment standards, other discharge limits and reporting requirements. Any violation of these orders shall be considered a violation of these regulations and shall subject the user to the penalty provisions contained herein. The City has the right to refuse to accept any waste that might be harmful to the sewage works in any way.
(Ord. 2014-09. Passed 4-7-14; Ord. 2023-61. Passed 12-18-23.)