CHAPTER 2
SEWERS
ARTICLE 7. USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS FOR DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE CHARGES
SECTION:
§3706.5 Restricted Waste Discharges
§3706.6 Screening Requirements
§3706.7 Implementing Provisions
§3706.9 Changes In Pretreatment And Waste Discharge Requirements
§3706.1 OBJECTIVE
It is the objective of the City to regulate and control the quantity and quality of discharges into the sewer system so that they will not adversely affect the various collection, transmission, treatment, discharge requirements or environmental conditions and permit the City to treat wastewater to meet requirements of the Federal government and the State of California and their designated agencies.
The adverse effects can include:
A. Health and safety of personnel employed in the operation maintenance of the sewage collection, transmission, and treatment facilities.
B. The operational cost, maintenance and durability of collection, transmission and treatment facilities.
C. The quality of the receiving waters with respect to requirements established by the Federal government and the State of California through their properly designated and responsible agencies.
D. The air quality and pollution abatement requirements established by the Federal government and the State of California through their properly designated and responsible agencies.
E. Damage, deterioration, or excessive maintenance costs to sewage collection, pumping treatment or disposal facilities.
It is the general intent of the City to provide collection and treatment of domestic sanitary sewage and for commercial and industrial wastewaters that do not adversely affect the objectives stated hereinbelow and to provide equitable charges for the costs incurred. (Ord. 845, §4, adopted 1985)
§3706.2 PERMITS
Permits to discharge into the sewerage system of the City anything but domestic sewage will only be granted in accordance with, and in consideration of, the special conditions of each case, and shall be subject to reasonable rules, regulations and requirements to prevent excessive alkalinity, acidity, organic, inorganic, odor producing, toxic or other deleterious substances. (Ord. 845, §4, adopted 1985)
§3706.3 ACCEPTABLE WASTES
Domestic Sanitary Sewage: The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of domestic sanitary sewage shall be based on a daily composite average of the discharge and shall conform to the following limits:
|
Waste Characteristics |
Maximum Concentration |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Hydrogen Ion Concentration(pH) |
5.5-10.00 |
|
Total Dissolved Solids |
500 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Turbidity |
250 JTU |
|
Color |
550 PCU |
|
Biochemical Oxygen Demand |
200 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Chemical Oxygen Demand |
500 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Suspended Solids |
300 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Settleable Solids |
10 Milliliters/Liter/Hour |
|
Sulfide |
0.5 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Grease |
75 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Toxicity (TLm Bioassay) |
25% |
|
Detergent (MBAS) |
10 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Ammonia |
60 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Phosphate (Total) |
25 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Boron |
1 Milligram/Liter |
|
Chloride |
250 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Sulfate |
250 Milligrams/Liter |
(Ord. 845, §4, adopted 1985)
§3706.4 PROHIBITED WASTES
Except as hereinafter provided, no person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following water or wastewaters into public sewers.
A. Rainwater or Uncontaminated Water: No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any rainwater, storm water, ground water, street drainage, subsurface drainage, yard drainage, water from yard fountains, geothermal well water, ponds or lawn sprays or any other uncontaminated water into any sewerage facility which directly or indirectly discharges to facilities owned by the City. The provisions of this Section shall apply only to sanitary sewers.
B. Explosive or Flammable Substances: Any gasoline, benzine, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive solid, liquid, or solvent with a flash point less than one hundred degrees (100o) Fahrenheit.
C. Corrosive Materials: Any waste having a pH lower than 5.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment or personnel of the City.
D. Obstructions and Interferences: Solids or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interferences with the proper operation of the sewerage works, such as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, rocks, gravel, mud, straw, shavings, sawdust, oil, grease, metal, glass, rags, hair, hides, wool, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, paper dishes, cups, containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinder.
E. Garbage: Any garbage excepting properly shredded garbage from dwellings or restaurants engaged in preparation of foods and beverages for consumption. Properly shredded garbage shall contain less than five percent (5%) (dry weight basis) of material and able to pass a three eighths inch (3/8") screen.
F. Petroleum Products: Any mineral oils, greases or products of a petroleum origin or any excessive concentrations of nonbiodegradable oil, petroleum oil or refined petroleum products, or cutting oils, commonly called soluble oil, which form persistent water emulsions.
G. Suspended Solids: Any industrial process water or wastes containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such materials at the sewage treatment plant. Suspended solids discharged in industrial process wastewater shall have a dimension no larger than that of a one-fourth inch (1/4") mesh.
H. Cooling Water: Uncontaminated cooling water, unless special permission has been granted by the City Engineer.
I. Toxic Substances: Any waters or wastes containing a toxic or poisonous substances in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with or create any hazard in the sewage treatment processes, effluent quality, or receiving water quality requirements to humans, animals or plant life.
The following is a partial list of toxic substances and their maximum concentration allowable by any discharge for admission into the sewerage system:
|
Toxicant |
Maximum Allowable Concentration Milligrams/Liter |
|---|---|
|
Aluminum |
10.0 |
|
Ammonia (as nitrogen) |
0.5 |
|
Antimony |
0.5 |
|
Arsenic and Arsenicals |
1.0 |
|
Barium |
10.0 |
|
Benzine and Derivatives |
0.5 |
|
Berrylium |
2.0 |
|
Boron |
1.0 |
|
Bromine |
1.0 |
|
Cadmium |
0.1 |
|
Casium |
5.0 |
|
Chlorine |
5.0 |
|
Chromium (Hexavalent) |
0.1 |
|
Chromium (Trivalent) |
1.0 |
|
Cobalt |
1.0 |
|
Copper |
0.5 |
|
Cyanide and Nitrils |
0.2 |
|
Flouride |
2.0 |
|
Formaldehyde |
1.0 |
|
Halogenated Phenols |
0.01 |
|
Hydrogen Sulfide |
0.5 |
|
Iodine |
5.0 |
|
Iron |
10.0 |
|
Lead |
0.1 |
|
Lithium |
5.0 |
|
Manganese |
1.0 |
|
Mercury |
0.005 |
|
Molybdenum |
5.0 |
|
Nickel |
1.0 |
|
Phenol, Cresols and Derivatives |
0.5 |
|
Rubidium |
10.0 |
|
Selenium |
0.5 |
|
Silver |
0.05 |
|
Sulfur |
20.0 |
|
Thallium |
1.0 |
|
Thorium |
0.5 |
|
Tin |
5.0 |
|
Titanium |
4.0 |
|
Toluene |
5.0 |
|
Trichloroethylene |
5.0 |
|
Trinttophenol |
0.5 |
|
Tungsten |
50.0 |
|
Vanadium |
2.5 |
|
Zinc |
1.0 |
The maximum allowable concentration of toxic or potentially toxic materials not listed above will be determined on an individual basis. No industrial wastes shall be discharged which have a lethal toxicity as determined by a ninety six (96) hour static bioassay stickleback of less than a twenty five percent (25%) concentration of wastewater.
J. Chemical Pesticides and Similar Toxicants: No chlorinated hydrocarbon, organo-phosphate or similar chemical compounds used as algaecides, bacteriocides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, or pesticides shall be discharged into the sewerage system in any concentration except as specifically approved by a written permit.
K. Oxidizing and Reducing Agents: Strong oxidizing and reducing agents shall not be discharged into the sewerage system at concentrations exceeding the following concentrations except by special permit:
|
|
Maximum Concentration |
|---|---|
|
Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, Potassium Permanganate, Ozone and other strong oxidants |
5 Milligrams/Liter |
|
Sulfite, Thiosulfate, Nitrate and other strong reducing agents |
5 Milligrams/Liter |
L. Radioactive Wastes: Radioactive wastes of any kind, except where:
1. The person is authorized to use radioactive materials by the State of California Department of Public Health, Atomic Energy Commission, or other governmental agency empowered to regulate the use of radioactive materials;
2. The waste is discharged in strict conformity with current State of California Department of Public Health or Atomic Energy Commission recommendations for safe disposal of radioactive wastes;
3. The person discharging the radioactive waste assumes full responsibility for any injury to personnel or damage to the sewerage system that may result from such discharge;
4. Radioactivity of the treated wastewater prior to disposal does not exceed limits established by the designated agencies of the State of California; and,
5. Residual radioactivity is within limits permitted by State or local regulation in final disposal.
Any person discharging a radioactive waste to the sewerage system in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply for a permit to discharge such wastes, and submit a periodic report of discharge occurrences and quantities. In the event of an accidental spill or any radioactive material into the sewerage system, the person responsible shall immediately notify the Director of Public Works.
M. Nondegradable Wastes: Any water or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or which cause the treatment plant effluent to fail to meet any discharge requirements established by the State of California or the United States Federal government.
1. Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids.
2. Excessive discoloration.
3. Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment plant.
4. Unusual volume of flow or slugs. As used herein, slug shall mean any discharge of water, sewage or waste which in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow exceeds for any period of duration longer that fifteen (15) minutes more than five (5) times the average twenty four (24) hour concentration or flow during normal dry weather operation.
N. Noxious and Malodorous Substances: Any noxious or malodorous substances which by themselves or by interaction with other wastes may create a public nuisance or hazard or make human entry into the sewers or other sewerage appurtenances extraordinarily hazardous.
O. Extreme Temperature: Any wastewater with a temperature exceeding one hundred fifty degrees (150o) Fahrenheit or a temperature lower than thirty three degrees (33o) Fahrenheit. (Ord. 845, §4, adopted 1985)
§3706.5 RESTRICTED WASTE DISCHARGES
Any substances in any commercial or industrial waste discharge which may result in operational costs and maintenance of sewage collection and treatment facilities in excess of that required for normal domestic sanitary sewage of waste concentration as listed in §3706.3 or with any of the prohibited waste characteristics as listed in §3706.4, and/or having an average daily flow greater than one-half of one percent (1/2%) of the average daily dry weather flow of the District/City shall be subject to the review and approval of the City. The discharges shall provide any of the following restrictions as approved by the City for acceptance of the wastewater into the sewer system.
A. Pretreatment: Pursuant to Section 307(b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, as presently existing or subsequently amended, all pretreatment for incompatible pollutants discharged at each industrial plant site to the public sewer shall be consistent with the effluent guidelines published by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Sections 301(b) and 304(b) of the Act.
B. Flow Control: Limitation of the volume and rate of flow discharging into the sewer system to limit and equalize extremes of flow and waste concentration.
C. Surcharge Payment: Require a payment, in an amount established by the Council to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes. If the City requires pretreatment or equalization of flow, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the City and no construction of such facilities shall commence until said approval is obtained in writing.
D. Damage Caused by Discharge: When the discharge of a commercial waste causes an obstruction, damage or other impairment to the sewerage system, the District may assess a reasonable charge against the discharger for the work required to clean or repair the facility.
E. Limitations of Discharge Quantity and Rate of Discharge: The City Director of Public Works may limit the quantity and rate of any waste discharge, when in his judgment, the capacity of any part of the sewerage system would be overtaxed by the discharge, or the quantity or rate of discharge would impose a disproportionate cost to the operation of the sewerage system. In addition to commercial and industrial waste discharges, the provisions of this paragraph shall apply to septic tank pumpages, cooling water, discharges, or other discharges from building heating, cooling or air conditioning systems. Discharge of any waste covered by this Section shall not be discharged into the sewerage system until after specific approval of the quantity and procedures proposed has been granted by the City. (Ord. 845, §4, 1985)
§3706.6 SCREENING REQUIREMENTS
A. Domestic Sewage: Domestic sewage, if consisting essentially of human wastes, may be passed into sewers without screens.
B. Screening Required for Other Sewage: The City Engineer may require such screening of any flow of "commercial or industrial" or other sewage as is required to protect the usefulness of the sewage system of the City. Such screens shall have the equivalent to twenty (20) meshes to the linear inch, both directions. No insoluble material of such size that will not pass through the screen herein required, may be discharged or permitted to enter the sewage system of the City. (Ord. 845, §4, adopted 1985)
§3706.7 IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS
A. Waste Discharge Report: When required by the district/city, a commercial or industrial discharger shall complete and file with the city, within thirty (30) days after written notification, a waste discharge report acceptable to the city. The city may require additional information as a part of the report, if, in the opinion of the city, insufficient information has been reported. On written request, the district/city may extend the time for filing an additional thirty (30) days. The waste discharge report shall include, but not be limited to, nature of the process, volume, rates of flow, substances and concentrations in the waste discharge. The foregoing examples are in explanation and not in limitation of the information which the city may require. The city may, if the discharger fails to file a waste discharge report, after notice, take action as set forth in section 3710.4, "Disconnection", of this chapter.
B. Sampling Facilities: A discharger of any industrial waste shall, at his own expense, install a sampling manhole and metering and monitoring equipment to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of the discharger’s waste. Such sampling facility shall be acceptable to the city for the purposes required, shall be safely located, accessible at all times, and constructed in a manner and with materials in conformance with city regulations. These facilities shall be maintained in good condition at all times by the discharger at his expense. Sampling facilities shall be installed within ninety (90) days after notice by the city.
C. Notice Of Violation: Whenever the director of public works finds that discharge of any waste is, or threatens to become a public nuisance or a violation of established requirements, including, but not limited to, this ordinance, other ordinances and resolutions, he shall issue an order specifying such nuisance, violations, or threatened violations, and ordering compliance within the time schedule specified therein. Noncompliance with such order shall constitute a violation of this ordinance.
D. Serious And Immediate Hazards: Notwithstanding the provisions of any other section of this ordinance, whenever in the judgment of the director of public works, it appears that any waste discharge is causing any condition constituting a hazard to the life, health or safety of any person, or to the sewage system, the director of public works is empowered to terminate service immediately.
E. Maintenance Of Pretreatment Facilities: Where pretreatment facilities are provided for any waters, or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense and to the satisfaction of the city.
F. Interceptors Required: In accordance with article 17.5 of this chapter, commencing with section 3798A.1, grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when in the opinion of the city they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes, containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand and other harmful ingredient; except that such interceptors shall not be required for buildings used for residential purposes. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity currently designated by the California plumbing code, and shall be so located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. In addition, commercial or industrial waste discharges may be required to provide holding tanks with provision for neutralization, temperature control or rate of discharge control to avoid slug loadings or excessive flow rates.
The director of public works may require screening of any flow of commercial or industrial sewage as is required to protect the usefulness of the sewage system of the city. Such screens shall have the equivalent to twenty (20) meshes to the linear inch, both directions. No insoluble material of such size that will not pass through the screen herein required, may be discharged or permitted to enter the sewage system of the city.
G. Maintenance Of Interceptors: All grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be maintained by the owner at his expense, in continuously efficient operation at all times, and corrected immediately on notice of deficient operation, and in accordance with article 17.5 of this chapter, commencing with section 3798A.1.
H. Measurements And Tests: All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this ordinance shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of "Standard Methods For The Examination Of Water And Wastewater", or EPA standard procedures, and shall be determined at the control manhole provided for, or upon suitable samples taken at said control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the side sewer is connected.
I. Special Agreements: No statement contained in this article 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 for treatment, subject to city payment therefor by the industrial concern and subject to such terms and conditions as might be required by the district/city.
J. Right Of Entry: The director of public works, and other duly authorized employees of the district/city bearing proper credentials and identification, shall be permitted to enter all properties served by the city for the purpose of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance. (Ord. 845, §4, adopted 1985; Ord. 1114, §1, adopted 2009)
§3706.8 ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGES
A. Each discharger shall provide protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes regulated by this ordinance. Where necessary, or as directed by the district/city, retention basins, dikes, storage tanks or other facilities designed to eliminate, neutralize, offset or otherwise negate the effects of prohibited materials or wastes discharged in violation of this ordinance shall be installed.
B. Dischargers shall notify the director of public works immediately when accidental discharges of wastes in violation of this ordinance occur so that countermeasures may be taken by the district/city to minimize damage to the sewer system, treatment plant, treatment processes and the receiving waters. Such notification will not relieve dischargers of liability for any expense, loss or damage to the sewer system, treatment, or treatment process, or for any fines or judgments imposed on the district/city on account thereof under section 13000 et seq., of the California Water Code or violation of section 5650 of the California Fish and Game Code.
C. In the event of accidental discharge in violation of this ordinance, discharger shall furnish the district and city, within fifteen (15) days of the date of occurrence, a detailed written statement describing the causes of the accidental discharge and the measures being taken to prevent future occurrence.
D. In order that employees of dischargers be more fully informed of city requirements, copies of this ordinance shall be permanently posted on bulletin boards of dischargers together with such other industrial waste information and notices which may be furnished by the city from time to time directed toward more effective water pollution control.
E. Sewer connections within the discharger’s plumbing or drainage system shall be appropriately labeled to warn operating personnel against discharge of any substance in violation of this ordinance. (Ord. 845, §4, adopted 1985)
§3706.9 CHANGES IN PRETREATMENT AND WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS
The provisions contained herein relating to pretreatment and to prohibited waste discharges and as to limitations and restrictions on waste discharges are subject to regulations by state and federal authorities and are subject to the terms and conditions of the national pollution discharge elimination system permit heretofore issued to the city. Should the state and federal regulations be modified or should the national pollution discharge elimination system permit be amended, the requirements of this ordinance shall be suspended to the extent that such standards shall be immediately applicable upon the effective date of such state or federal regulations or of the amendment to the national pollution discharge elimination system permit. (Ord. 845, §4, adopted 1985)