Chapter 13.32
SEWER USE
Sections:
13.32.010 Prohibited discharges – Uncontaminated waters.
13.32.020 Prohibited discharges – Industrial wastewater.
13.32.030 Prohibited discharges – Wastes generally.
13.32.040 Prohibited discharges – Wastes enumerated.
13.32.050 Prohibited discharges – Criteria for determining.
13.32.060 Prohibited discharges – List preparation.
13.32.070 Interceptors – Required.
13.32.080 Interceptors – Maintenance.
13.32.090 Preliminary treatment – Required for certain discharges.
13.32.100 Preliminary treatment – Maintenance of facilities.
13.32.120 Measurements and tests.
13.32.160 City’s right of revision.
13.32.010 Prohibited discharges – Uncontaminated waters.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any rainwater, stormwater, groundwater, street drainage, subsurface drainage, yard drainage, water from yard fountains, ponds, or lawn sprays, cooling water, or any other uncontaminated water into any sewerage facility which directly or indirectly discharges to facilities owned by the city. (Ord. 76-360 § 601).
13.32.020 Prohibited discharges – Industrial wastewater.
No industrial wastewaters shall be discharged to a trunk sewer or to a sewer discharging directly or indirectly to a trunk sewer until a permit for industrial wastewater discharge has been approved by the city.
A. No user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW any pollutant or wastewater which causes pass through or interference. These general prohibitions apply to all users of the POTW whether or not they are subject to categorical pretreatment standards or any other national, state, or local pretreatment standards or requirements.
B. No person shall discharge any substances directly into a manhole or other opening in a community sewer other than through an approved building sewer unless, upon a written application by the user and the payment of the applicable user charges and fees, the city issues a permit for such direct discharges. (Ord. 2019-735 § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 76-360 § 602).
13.32.030 Prohibited discharges – Wastes generally.
In most cases, the concentration or amount of any particular constituent which will be judged to be excessive or unreasonable cannot be foreseen but will depend on the results of technical determinations and the actions of regulatory agencies. The list of constituents which may be regulated provides specific limits only where they are now reasonably well established. The other constituents in the list are presented with the objectives of enumerating the types of wastes which will be regulated from time to time. (Ord. 76-360 § 603).
13.32.040 Prohibited discharges – Wastes enumerated.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to a public sewer, which directly or indirectly connects to the city’s sewerage systems, any of the following wastes:
A. Pollutants which create a fire or explosive hazard in the municipal wastewater collection and POTW, including, but not limited to, waste streams with a closed-cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21;
B. Any wastewater having a pH less than 5.5 or more than 12.5, or otherwise causing corrosive structural damage to the POTW or equipment, or endangering city personnel;
C. Solid or viscous substances in amounts which will cause obstruction of the flow in the POTW resulting in interference, but in no case solids greater than one inch or 25.4 millimeters in any dimension;
D. Any wastewater containing pollutants, including oxygen demanding pollutants (BOD and the like), released in a discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, will cause interference with either the POTW, or any wastewater treatment or sludge process; or which will constitute a hazard to humans or animals;
E. Any wastewater having a temperature greater than 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65.5 degrees Celsius), or which will inhibit biological activity in the treatment plant resulting in interference, but in no case wastewater which causes the temperature at the introduction into the treatment plant to exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius);
F. Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin, in amounts that will cause interference or pass through;
G. Any pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors or fumes within the POTW in a quantity that may cause worker health and safety problems;
H. Any trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the city in accordance with FMC 13.36.150;
I. Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, solids, or other wastewater which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to create a public nuisance, a hazard to life, or to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance and repair;
J. Any wastewater which imparts color which cannot be removed by the treatment process, such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions, which consequently imparts color to the treatment plant’s effluent thereby violating the city’s NPDES permit. Color (in combination with turbidity) shall not cause the treatment plant effluent to reduce the depth of the compensation point for photosynthetic activity by more than 10 percent from the seasonably established norm for aquatic life;
K. Any wastewater containing any radioactive wastes or isotopes, except as specifically approved in writing by the city manager, in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations;
L. Stormwater, surface water, groundwater, artisan well water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, swimming pool drainage, condensate, deionized water, noncontact cooling water, and unpolluted industrial wastewater, unless specifically authorized in writing by the city manager;
M. Any sludges, screenings, or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial wastes;
N. Any medical wastes, except as specifically authorized in writing by the city manager in a wastewater discharge permit;
O. Any wastewater causing the treatment plant’s effluent to fail a toxicity test;
P. Any wastes containing detergents, surface active agents, or other substances which may cause excessive foaming in the POTW;
Q. Any discharge of fats, oils, or greases of animal or vegetable origin that results in interference;
R. Any discharge of petroleum/mineral oil products that will cause interference or pass through;
S. Nonbiodegradable cutting oils, commonly called soluble oil, which form persistent water emulsions;
T. Nonbiodegradable oil, petroleum oil, or refined petroleum products;
U. Dispersed biodegradable oils and fats, such as lard, tallow, or vegetable oil, in excessive concentrations that would tend to cause adverse effects on the sewerage system;
V. Waste with an excessively high concentration of cyanide;
W. Unreasonably large amounts of undissolved or dissolved solids;
X. Wastes requiring an excessive quantity of chlorine or other chemical compound used for disinfection purposes;
Y. Excessive amounts of chlorinated hydrocarbon or organic phosphorus-type compounds;
Z. Excessive amounts of deionized water, steam condensate or distilled water;
AA. Wastes containing substances that may precipitate, solidify, or become viscous at temperatures between 50 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit;
BB. Garbage or wastes that are not ground sufficiently to pass through a three-eighths-inch screen;
CC. Wastes containing excessive quantities of iron, boron, chromium, phenol, plastic resins, copper, nickel, zinc, lead, mercury, cadmium, selenium, arsenic or any other objectionable materials toxic to humans, animals, the local environment or to biological or other wastewater treatment processes;
DD. Blow-down or bleed water from cooling towers or other evaporative coolers exceeding one-third of the makeup water; and
EE. Septic tank wastes.
Wastes prohibited by this section shall not be processed or stored in such a manner that they could be discharged to the POTW. All floor drains located in process or materials storage areas must discharge to the industrial user’s pretreatment facility before connecting with the POTW. (Ord. 2019-735 § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 76-360 § 603).
13.32.050 Prohibited discharges – Criteria for determining.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any public sewer which directly or indirectly connects to the city’s sewerage system any wastes if, in the opinion of the city engineer such wastes may have an adverse or harmful effect on sewers, maintenance personnel, wastewater treatment plant personnel or equipment, treatment plant effluent quality, public or private property, or may otherwise endanger the public, the local environment or create public nuisance. The city engineer, in determining the acceptability of specific wastes, shall consider the nature of the waste and the adequacy and nature of the collection, treatment and disposal system available to accept the waste. (Ord. 76-360 § 603).
13.32.060 Prohibited discharges – List preparation.
The city engineer shall from time to time prepare a list of the maximum permissible quantities or concentrations of certain constituents in industrial wastewater flows and otherwise issue detailed directions for meeting the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 76-360 § 603).
13.32.070 Interceptors – Required.
Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the public works director or the city engineer, they are necessary for the proper handling of wastewater containing excessive amounts of grease and oil, or sand; except that such interceptors shall not be required for residential users. All interception units shall be of type and capacity approved by the public works director or city engineer and shall be so located to be easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. All interception units shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Such interceptors shall be inspected, cleaned, and repaired regularly, as needed, by the owner at their sole expense. New and existing users that are determined by the public works director or city engineer to have a reasonable potential to adversely impact the POTW shall install a grease interceptor.
A. Users that are required to have a grease interceptor may be required to connect fixtures or drains that have a reasonable potential to allow fats, oils, and grease to be discharged to the POTW to an appropriately sized grease interceptor.
B. Users with garbage grinders shall discharge the garbage grinder to a grease interceptor with a minimum capacity of 1,000 gallons or remove the garbage grinder.
C. Users with dishwashers shall discharge the dishwasher directly to the POTW or to a grease interceptor with a minimum capacity of 750 gallons.
D. Accumulated grease and sediment shall be removed as required. At a minimum gravity grease interceptors and grease traps shall be cleaned when the combined depth of sediment and grease equals or exceeds 25 percent of the total depth of the sediment, water, and grease. For multiple chambered interceptors the measurements of sediment and grease are to be performed in the final interceptor chamber prior to discharge. All other grease interceptors shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
E. Grease interceptors shall be kept free of nonfood waste including, but not limited to, grit, rocks, gravel, sand, eating utensils, cigarettes, trash, towels, and rags.
F. The addition of chemicals, enzymes, emulsifiers, live bacteria or other grease cutters or additives used for purposes of grease reduction to a grease interceptor is specifically prohibited.
G. If the public works director or city engineer determines that a grease interceptor is not being adequately cleaned or maintained, a correction notice may be issued requiring the deficiency be corrected within seven working days. Maintenance programs including BMPs and defined cleaning frequencies may be mandated. Users that fail to adhere to a maintenance program may be required to install additional pretreatment devices.
H. The city will develop and implement a fats, oils, and grease policy. (Ord. 2019-735 § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 76-360 § 604).
13.32.080 Interceptors – Maintenance.
All grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be maintained by the owner, at his expense, in continuously efficient operation at all times.
A. Accumulated grease and sediment shall be removed as required. At a minimum gravity grease interceptors and grease traps shall be cleaned when the combined depth of sediment and grease equals or exceeds 25 percent of the total depth of the sediment, water, and grease. For multiple chambered interceptors the measurements of sediment and grease are to be performed in the final interceptor chamber prior to discharge. All other grease interceptors shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
B. Grease interceptors shall be kept free of nonfood waste including, but not limited to, grit, rocks, gravel, sand, eating utensils, cigarettes, trash, towels, and rags.
C. The addition of chemicals, enzymes, emulsifiers, live bacteria or other grease cutters or additives used for purposes of grease reduction to a grease interceptor is specifically prohibited.
D. If the public works director or city engineer determines that a grease interceptor is not being adequately cleaned or maintained, a correction notice may be issued requiring the deficiency be corrected within seven working days. Maintenance programs including BMPs and defined cleaning frequencies may be mandated. Users that fail to adhere to a maintenance program may be required to install additional pretreatment devices. (Ord. 2019-735 § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 76-360 § 605).
13.32.090 Preliminary treatment – Required for certain discharges.
A. The admission into the public sewers of any waters or wastes having any of the following characteristics shall be subject to the review and approval of the director of public works:
1. Five-day biochemical oxygen demand greater than 250 milligrams per liter; or
2. Containing more than 250 milligrams per liter of suspended solids; or
3. Containing any quantity of substance having the characteristics described in FMC 13.32.030 through 13.32.060; or
4. Having an average daily flow greater than two percent of the average daily flow of the city.
B. Where necessary, in the opinion of the director of public works, the owner shall provide, at his expense, such preliminary treatment as may be necessary to:
1. Reduce the biochemical oxygen demand to 300 milligrams per liter and the suspended solids to 350 milligrams per liter; or
2. Reduce objectionable characteristics or constituents to within the maximum limits provided for in FMC 13.32.030 through 13.32.060; or
3. Control the quantities and rates of discharge of such waters or wastes.
C. Plans, specifications, and any other pertinent information relating to proposed preliminary treatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of the city engineer and no construction of such facilities shall be commenced until the approvals are obtained in writing. (Ord. 76-360 § 606).
13.32.100 Preliminary treatment – Maintenance of facilities.
Where required by the city, preliminary treatment facilities for any waters or wastes shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense and to the satisfaction of the city. (Ord. 76-360 § 607).
13.32.110 Control manholes.
When required by the city, the owner of any property served by the side sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole in the side sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessible and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the city engineer. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense, and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times. (Ord. 76-360 § 608).
13.32.120 Measurements and tests.
All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in FMC 13.32.030 through 13.32.060 and FMC 13.32.090 shall be determined in accordance with standard methods and shall be determined at the control manhole provided for in FMC 13.32.110, or upon suitable samples taken at the control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the side sewer is connected. (Ord. 76-360 § 609).
13.32.130 Special agreements.
No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the city and any 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 and subject to such terms and conditions as might be required by city. (Ord. 76-360 § 610).
13.32.140 Swimming pools.
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge the contents of a swimming pool into a sanitary sewer without prior approval of the city manager. (Ord. 2019-735 § 2 (Exh. 1); Ord. 76-360 § 611).
13.32.150 Dilution.
No industrial user or wastewater hauler shall ever increase the use of process water, or in any way attempt to dilute a discharge, as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with a discharge limitation, unless expressly authorized by an applicable pretreatment standard or requirement. The city manager may impose mass limitations on industrial users which are using dilution to meet applicable pretreatment standards or requirements or in other cases when the imposition of mass limitations is appropriate. (Ord. 2019-735 § 2 (Exh. 1)).
13.32.160 City’s right of revision.
The city reserves the right to enter into special written agreements with industrial users setting out special terms under which they may discharge to the POTW. In no case will a special agreement waive compliance with a pretreatment standard or requirement. However, the industrial user may request a net gross adjustment to a categorical standard in accordance with 40 CFR 403.15. They may also request a variance from the categorical pretreatment standard from EPA. Such a request will be approved only if the industrial user can prove that factors relating to its discharge are fundamentally different from the factors considered by EPA when establishing that pretreatment standard. An industrial user requesting a fundamentally different factor variance must comply with the procedural and substantive provisions in 40 CFR 403.13.
A. Users with garbage grinders shall discharge the garbage grinder to a grease interceptor with a minimum capacity of 1,000 gallons or remove the garbage grinder.
B. Users with dishwashers shall discharge the dishwasher directly to the POTW or to a grease interceptor with a minimum capacity of 750 gallons. (Ord. 2019-735 § 2 (Exh. 1)).
13.32.170 Time of compliance.
All commercial facilities and food establishments that are required to have a sand and/or grease interceptor or grease trap according to FMC 13.32.070 shall be required to install a sand and/or grease interceptor or grease trap within the 60-day period after the first occurrence of any of the following events:
A. Transfer of any ownership or interest in the commercial facility;
B. The issuance of any building permit for the construction, reconstruction or related work to be performed on the premises costing more than $5,000;
C. The backup or discharge of raw sewage on or from the premises due to grease build up in their service lateral; or
D. Ninety days after receiving written notice from the city manager of the necessity for installation of such facilities. (Ord. 2019-735 § 2 (Exh. 1)).