Chapter 6.55
GENERAL PROHIBITIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON DISCHARGES
Sections:
6.55.010 Prohibited waste discharges.
6.55.020 Dilution prohibited as a substitute for treatment.
6.55.030 Limitations on groundwater, surface runoff, and subsurface drainage.
6.55.040 Limitations on unpolluted water.
6.55.050 Limitations on domestic wastewater and septage waste.
6.55.060 Limitations on point of discharge.
6.55.070 Limitations on the use of grinders.
6.55.080 Limitations on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
6.55.090 Limitations on infectious waste disposal.
6.55.100 Limitations on disposal of spent solutions and sludges.
6.55.120 Limitations on wastewater originating from outside the service area.
6.55.130 Federal categorical pretreatment standards.
6.55.010 Prohibited waste discharges.
Except as hereinafter provided, no person or user shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the Brine Line or tributaries thereto or any opening, sump, tank, clarifier, piping or waste treatment system which drains or flows into the Brine Line or tributaries thereto any of the following:
A. Any earth, sand, rocks, ashes, cinders, spent lime, stone, stone cutting dust, gravel, plaster, diatomaceous earth, containers, concrete, food packaging, glass, metal filings, or metal or plastic objects, garbage, grease, viscera, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides, or fleshings, whole blood, dead animals, feathers, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, nondispersible products, spent grains, spent hops, waste paper, wood, plastic, tar, asphalt residues, residues from refining or processing fuel or lubrication oil and similar substances, or solid, semi-solid or viscous material in quantities or volume which will obstruct the flow of sewage in the Brine Line or tributaries thereto or any object which will cause clogging of a sewer or sewage lift pump, or interferes with the normal operation of the Brine Line or tributaries thereto or OCSD’s POTW.
B. Any compound or material which will produce noxious odors in the Brine Line or tributaries thereto or OCSD’s POTW.
C. Any discharge resulting in toxic gases, vapors or fumes within the Brine Line or tributaries thereto in a quantity that may cause acute health and safety problems for district, SAWPA or OCSD employees, contract employees, the public, and OCSD’s POTW.
D. Any recognizable portions of human or animal anatomy.
E. Any discharge from an alkaline hydrolysis process, used for the disposal of animal and/or human cadavers, or parts thereof, unless otherwise authorized by SAWPA’s general manager.
F. Any solids, liquids, gases, devices, or explosives which by their very nature or quantity are or may be sufficient either alone or by interaction with other substances or sewage to cause fire or explosion hazards, exceed 10 percent of the lower explosive limit (LEL) at the point of discharge or in the collection system, or in any other way create imminent danger to district, SAWPA or contract wastewater personnel, OCSD’s POTW, the environment, or public health.
G. Any wastewater or material with a closed cup flash point of less than 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21.
H. Any overflow from a septic tank, cesspool or seepage pit, or any liquid or sludge pumped from a cesspool, septic tank or seepage pit, except as may be permitted by the general manager.
I. Any discharge from the wastewater holding tanks of recreational vehicles, trailers, buses and other vehicles, except as may be permitted by the general manager.
J. Any quantity of wastewater flow in excess of permitted limits or purchased capacity.
K. Any substance or heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in OCSD’s POTW resulting in interference or which will cause the temperature of the sewage in the Brine Line or tributaries thereto to be higher than 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit). In no case shall any substance or heat be discharged to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto which will raise OCSD’s POTW influent higher than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
L. Any radioactive waste in excess of federal, state or county regulations.
M. Any pollutants, material, or quantity of material which will cause:
1. Damage to any part of the Brine Line or tributaries thereto;
2. Abnormal maintenance of the Brine Line or tributaries thereto;
3. An increase in the operational costs of the Brine Line or tributaries thereto;
4. A nuisance or menace to public health;
5. Interference or pass through in OCSD’s POTW, its treatment processes, operations, biosolids processes, use or disposal. This applies to each user introducing pollutants into the Brine Line or tributaries thereto whether or not the user is subject to other national pretreatment standards or any national, state, or local pretreatment requirements; or
6. A violation of the OCSD’s NPDES permit, or any federal, state, or local regulatory requirement.
N. Any quantities of herbicides, algaecides, or pesticides in excess of local limits or national pretreatment standards.
O. Any petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin in excess of local limits or national pretreatment standards.
P. Any material or quantity of material(s), including but not limited to fats, oil, and grease (FOG), which will cause abnormal sulfide generation, obstruct flows within the collection system, or contribute to or cause a sanitary sewer overflow.
Q. Any water or wastewater used to artificially raise the industrial user’s volume and added for the purpose of diluting wastes which would otherwise exceed applicable permitted discharge limitations.
R. Any wastewater having a corrosive property capable of causing damage to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto, OCSD’s POTW, equipment, or structures or presenting a hazard to SAWPA or contract personnel. However, in no case shall wastewater be discharged to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto or OCSD’s POTW with a pH less than 6.0, or greater than 12.0.
S. Any substance which will cause discoloration of OCSD’s POTW influent which results in a violation of OCSD’s NPDES permit.
T. Any pollutant, including oxygen demanding pollutants (BOD, COD, etc.), released in a discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which will cause interference with OCSD’s POTW or SAWPA’s Brine Line or tributaries thereto.
U. Any substance which may cause OCSD’s POTW effluent or any other product such as residues, biosolids, or scums to be unsuitable for reclamation or reuse or which will interfere with any of the reclamation processes. This includes any material which will cause the biosolids at OCSD’s POTW to violate applicable biosolids use or disposal regulations developed under the Federal Clean Water Act, 33 USCA, Section 1251 et seq., or any regulations affecting biosolids use or disposal developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 USCA, Section 6901 et seq.; Clean Air Act, 42 USCA, Section 7401 et seq.; Toxic Substance Control Act, 15 USCA, Section 2601 et seq., or any other applicable state regulations. Examples include food packaging, product containers, and nondispersible products.
V. Hazardous waste as defined in 40 CFR 261 which violates the objectives of the general pretreatment regulations (40 CFR 403.12(p)), this division, or any statute, rule, regulation or chapter of any public agency having jurisdiction over said discharge.
W. Any material, pollutants, or wastewater in excess of the quantities and limitations established by resolution.
X. Any radiator fluid or coolant, cutting oil, water-soluble cutting oil, or water-based solvent.
Y. Detergents, surface-active agents, or other substances that might cause excessive foaming, as determined by the general manager, that may cause or contribute to additional treatment costs incurred by the district or SAWPA or a violation of OCSD’s NPDES permit, or cause or contribute to pass through, interference, or other known damages in the Brine Line and/or OCSD’s POTW.
Z. Any discharges of reclaimable wastewater to the Brine Line that originate in the SAWPA Brine Line service area shall be minimized and may only be disposed to the Brine Line as identified in the wastewater discharge permit.
AA. Any trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the delegated control authority, with concurrence of the control authority.
BB. Any discharges of solid wastes consisting of, but not limited to, hypodermic needles, syringes, instruments, utensils or other paper and plastic items from hospitals, clinics, offices of medical doctors, convalescent homes, medical laboratories or other medical facilities.
CC. Unused, unwanted, or expired pharmaceuticals (both over the counter and prescription-only medications) shall not be disposed of in the Brine Line, except in accordance with federal and state regulations, or in the absence of such regulations, using best management practices.
DD. Any discharges of mixed loads from a liquid waste hauler at a Brine Line collection station.
EE. Any discharge that causes fouling, occlusion, or damage to the POTW beyond normal wear and tear. (Ord. 389 § 2.1, 2018)
6.55.020 Dilution prohibited as a substitute for treatment.
No user shall increase the use of water, or in any other manner, attempt to dilute a wastewater discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with this division and the user’s wastewater discharge permit, or to establish an artificially high flow rate for permitted mass emission rates or permitted flow amounts. (Ord. 389 § 2.2, 2018)
6.55.030 Limitations on groundwater, surface runoff, and subsurface drainage.
A. Stormwater, groundwater, surface runoff water, or subsurface drainage, yard drainage, or runoff from any field, roof, yard, driveway, or street shall not be discharged into the Brine Line or tributaries thereto, except as provided herein. The general manager may approve the discharge of such water when no alternative method of disposal is reasonably available and to mitigate an environmental risk or health hazard.
B. Special purpose discharges (i.e., groundwater, surface runoff water, or subsurface drainage) shall require approval by both the SAWPA general manager and the OCSD general manager for discharge to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto. Such approval does not constitute a vested entitlement to discharge. Such a discharge shall require a wastewater discharge permit or letter to discharge. Special purpose discharge permits may have a limited duration for more than one discharge event. One-time discharge events less than 1,000,000 gallons are covered through a letter to discharge. (Ord. 389 § 2.3, 2018)
6.55.040 Limitations on unpolluted water.
A. Unpolluted water which may include cooling water, heating water, stormwater, groundwater, surface runoff, subsurface runoff, single pass cooling water, and single pass heating water shall not be discharged to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto, except as provided herein. The general manager may approve the discharge of such water when no reasonable alternative method of disposal or reuse is available, or to mitigate an environmental risk or health hazard. The user shall pay all applicable user charges and fees. Stormwater discharges to the Brine Line are not authorized. The general manager may provide authorization for stormwater discharges that comply with SAWPA’s policy, which is based on OCSD’s policy. Any deviation from OCSD’s stormwater policy must be approved by OCSD’s general manager followed by SAWPA’s issuance of a wastewater discharge permit, special purpose discharge permit, or letter of discharge.
B. Unpolluted water approved for discharge to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto shall require a wastewater discharge permit from SAWPA. (Ord. 389 § 2.4, 2018)
6.55.050 Limitations on domestic wastewater and septage waste.
A. Domestic wastewater or septage waste from a private sewage disposal system shall not be discharged to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto, except in specific cases authorized by the general manager. The general manager may approve the discharge on a temporary basis when no reasonable alternative method is available.
B. Any temporary user wanting to discharge domestic or septage to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto shall be required to apply for and obtain a wastewater discharge permit or letter to discharge from SAWPA. The user granted approval shall be responsible for all applicable charges and fees and shall abide by all conditions, as contained in the wastewater discharge permit or letter to discharge. (Ord. 389 § 2.5, 2018)
6.55.060 Limitations on point of discharge.
No person or user shall discharge any wastewater directly into a maintenance access structure, manhole or other opening in the Brine Line or tributaries thereto other than through an approved building sewer connection, unless written permission for the discharge has been granted by the general manager. This prohibition shall not apply to authorized SAWPA personnel, contract employees, or member agency and contract agency employees involved with the maintenance, cleaning, repair, or inspection of the Brine Line or tributaries thereto. (Ord. 389 § 2.6, 2018)
6.55.070 Limitations on the use of grinders.
Waste from industrial or commercial grinders shall not be discharged to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto, except waste generated in packing or preparing food or food products, but not food service establishments. Such grinders shall shred the waste to a degree that all particles will be carried freely under normal flow conditions prevailing in the Brine Line or tributaries thereto. Waste from food service establishments operating a grinder is prohibited and shall not be discharged into the Brine Line unless written authorization from the SAWPA general manager is provided. (Ord. 389 § 2.7, 2018)
6.55.080 Limitations on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
All wastewater discharged to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto shall have a monthly average limit for BOD. All BOD discharges in excess of the established limitations shall be subject to a surcharge fee and/or a noncompliance fee. These limitations, surcharge fees and noncompliance fees shall be established via resolution by SAWPA’s commission. (Ord. 389 § 2.8, 2018)
6.55.090 Limitations on infectious waste disposal.
A. Those users that generate liquid infectious and/or etiologic waste must obtain written permission from the general manager prior to disposal of the liquid infectious or etiologic waste to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto. The user must submit a written request to the general manager that shall include:
1. The source and volume of the infectious or etiologic waste;
2. The procedures and equipment used for waste disinfection; and
3. Employee training procedures.
B. If the general manager determines that the waste would not be completely disinfected or rendered inactive, the general manager shall issue a written denial to the user and state the reasons for the denial. This denial shall be issued within 30 days from receipt of the written request.
C. If the general manager determines that complete disinfection or inactivation of the waste can be achieved prior to discharge of the waste to the collection system, then conditional written approval may be granted by the general manager for the disposal of the waste. Such written letter of approval shall be sent to the user within 30 days of receipt of the written request.
D. If the user is granted permission for disposal, the user shall:
1. Completely disinfect or render inactive the liquid waste prior to discharge to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto as outlined in the approval letter;
2. Not dispose of solid infectious or etiologic waste to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto, including hypodermic needles, syringes, instruments, utensils or other paper and plastic items of a disposable nature, or recognizable portions of the human or animal anatomy; and
3. Permit the general manager to conduct periodic inspections to verify that all disinfection methods, procedures, and practices are being performed. (Ord. 389 § 2.9, 2018)
6.55.100 Limitations on disposal of spent solutions and sludges.
All spent solutions, sludges, and materials in violation of the user’s wastewater discharge permit limitations for discharge to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto, shall be disposed of in a legally approved manner at a legally approved disposal site specific for the waste being disposed. All disposed waste shall be properly manifested as to its origin, type, amount, and disposal site in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. (Ord. 389 § 2.10, 2018)
6.55.110 Slug discharges.
A. If the general manager determines that a user has caused a slug discharge into the Brine Line or tributaries thereto in quantities or concentrations and in a manner or method not previously approved by the general manager, then the user shall be liable for any noncompliance monetary fee, fine or penalty as established by resolution by SAWPA’s commission. If the user’s slug discharge has resulted in damage to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto or caused interference or pass through at OCSD’s POTW, then the user shall be liable for all associated costs including administrative costs and overhead, treatment, repairs, regulatory fines, penalties, legal expenses, damages, and attorney’s fees. All wastewater discharge permits issued to SIUs will contain slug control requirements in accordance with 40 CFR 403.8(f)(1)(iii)(B)(6). Non-SIUs may be evaluated to determine if a slug discharge prevention control plan (SDPCP) is required.
B. Upon finding that a user has caused a slug discharge into the Brine Line or tributaries thereto, then the user shall submit a written report to the general manager explaining how the slug discharge occurred and how it will be prevented in the future. This report shall be due within five days of notification to the user by the general manager.
C. Repeated slug discharges by the user shall be grounds for permit revocation and cessation of all wastewater discharges to the Brine Line or tributaries thereto. (Ord. 389 § 2.11, 2018)
6.55.120 Limitations on wastewater originating from outside the service area.
Discharge of wastewater originating from outside the SAWPA Inland Empire Brine Line service area is prohibited and is a violation of this division and the user’s permit, if the user holds a permit at the time of the prohibited discharge. On a case-by-case basis, SAWPA may seek approval from OCSD to allow the discharge of wastewater originating from outside SAWPA’s Inland Empire Brine Line service area. SAWPA shall make the request on behalf of the potential user who seeks to discharge such wastewater to the Inland Empire Brine Line. Any approval provided by OCSD will be reflected in a subsequent permit or letter to discharge issued by SAWPA. (Ord. 389 § 2.12, 2018)
6.55.130 Federal categorical pretreatment standards.
All industrial users subject to a national categorical pretreatment standard shall comply with all requirements of such standard, and shall also comply with any limitation contained in this division. The National Categorical Pretreatment Standards found in 40 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N and amendments thereto are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Where duplication of the same pollutant limitation exists, the limitation which is more stringent shall prevail. (Ord. 389 § 2.13, 2018)