Chapter 13.12
USE OF PUBLIC SEWERS – DISCHARGES
Sections:
13.12.010 Storm water, etc., prohibited in sanitary sewer.
13.12.020 Storm water, etc., discharged to storm sewer, combined sewer or natural outlet.
13.12.030 Harmful wastes prohibited in public sewer.
13.12.040 Grease, oil and sand interceptors required – Specifications.
13.12.050 Maintenance of grease, oil and sand interceptors.
13.12.060 Preliminary treatment required for certain wastes – Approval of facilities.
13.12.070 Maintenance of preliminary treatment facilities.
13.12.080 Monitoring stations.
13.12.090 Tests and analysis – Standards.
13.12.100 Industrial wastes – Special agreement for treatment.
13.12.110 Industrial wastes – Screening of coarse solids.
13.12.120 Penalties for certain discharges.
13.12.130 Industrial discharge contracts required.
13.12.010 Storm water, etc., prohibited in sanitary sewer.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, or cooling water to any sanitary sewer. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.020 Storm water, etc., discharged to storm sewer, combined sewer or natural outlet.
Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as combined sewers or storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the public works director. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged, upon approval of the public works director, to a storm sewer, combined sewer or natural outlet. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.030 Harmful wastes prohibited in public sewer.
Except as provided in this chapter, no person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewer:
A. Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit;
B. Any water or waste containing fats, grease, or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 milligrams per liter or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit;
C. Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas;
D. Any garbage that does not meet the definition of properly shredded garbage;
E. Any ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feather, 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 proper operation of the sewage works;
F. Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than five or higher than 11 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the sewage works;
G. Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous substances in sufficient quantity, either single or by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process or constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment plant, including but not limited to cyanides in excess of two milligrams per liter;
H. Any waters or wastes containing suspended solids of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle such material at the sewage treatment plant;
I. Any noxious or malodorous gas or substance capable of creating a public nuisance;
J. Any cleaning or disinfectant chemicals which destroy or retard the organisms which are essential to the efficient operation of the sewage works and sewage treatment plant; any such cleaning or disinfectant chemical proposed for use together with its chemical composition shall be submitted to the public works director for evaluation prior to usage;
K. Any septic tank waste;
L. Any waters or wastes containing strong acid iron pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solutions whether neutralized or not;
M. Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste or odor producing substances, in such concentrations exceeding limits which may be established by the public works director as necessary, after treatment of the composite sewage, to meet the requirements of the state, federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such discharge to the receiving waters;
N. Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the public works director in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations;
O. Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances; or wastes exerting an excessive chlorine requirement, to such degree that any such material received in the sewage at the sewage treatment plant exceeds the limits established by the public works director;
P. Materials which exert or cause:
1. Unusual concentrations of 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);
2. Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions);
3. BOD, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment plant;
4. Unusual flow or concentration of wastes constituting “slugs” as defined herein;
Q. Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment by the sewage treatment plant, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.
In the event of the discharge or proposed discharge to the sewage works of any waters or wastes which contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in this section, and which in the judgement of the public works director may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, sewage treatment plant, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the public works director may:
1. Reject the wastes;
2. Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewer;
3. Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or
4. Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under the provisions of this title.
If the public works director permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plant(s) and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the public works director, and subject to the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances and laws.
To adequately assess the impact to the sewage works, sewage treatment plant, or receiving waters, or the potential hazard to life, or the potential to constitute a public nuisance, written notification shall be given to the public works director. Written notification shall be provided for discharges or proposed discharges as follows:
1. Slug discharges without prior written notification and accidental discharges without subsequent written notification to the city shall be subject to a penalty of $1,000 per day per occurrence plus the cost of mitigating the impact of the discharge on the sewer system and treatment facilities;
2. Accidental discharges with oral notice to the public works director and written notification to the public works director shall be subject to a penalty equal to the cost of mitigating the impact of the discharge on the sewer system and treatment facilities; and
3. Planned slug discharges with prior written notification to and approval by the city shall be subject to a penalty equal to the cost of mitigating the impact of the discharge on the sewer system and treatment facilities. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.040 Grease, oil and sand interceptors required – Specifications.
A. Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the public works director, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand, and other harmful ingredients; except, that such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the public works director, and shall be so located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.
B. Grease and oil interceptors shall be constructed of impervious materials capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature. They shall be of substantial construction, watertight, and equipped with easily removable covers which, when bolted in place, shall be gastight and watertight. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.050 Maintenance of grease, oil and sand interceptors.
Where installed, all grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be maintained by the owner, at his expense, in continuously efficient operation at all times. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.060 Preliminary treatment required for certain wastes – Approval of facilities.
A. The admission into the public sewers of any water or wastes:
1. Having a five-day biochemical oxygen demand greater than 300 milligrams per liter, or
2. Containing more than 350 milligrams per liter of suspended solids, or
3. Containing any quantity of substances having the characteristics described in GMC 13.12.030, or
4. Having an average daily flow greater than two percent of the average daily sewage flow of the city;
shall be subject to the review and approval of the city.
B. Where necessary in the opinion of the city, 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 GMC 13.12.030, 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 public works director and of the appropriate state regulatory agency if required, and no construction of such facilities shall be commenced until said approvals are obtained in writing. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.070 Maintenance of preliminary treatment facilities.
Where preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation, by the owner at his expense. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.080 Monitoring stations.
As determined by the city, large industrial or commercial users will be required to install monitoring stations no later than September 1, 1995. When monitoring stations are required, the city shall designate when, where, and how many stations shall be installed. Monitoring stations shall be constructed by, and at the expense of, the large industrial or commercial user, in accordance with plans, and a list of acceptable equipment provided by the city. Once installed, the city will own, operate and maintain all monitoring stations (except industrial or commercial user shall pay for electricity to operate the station). Upgrades in equipment needed to accommodate growth of the user, or replacement of damaged equipment resulting from negligence of the user, shall be at the expense of the large industrial or commercial user. Large industrial or commercial users shall provide unrestricted city access to all monitoring stations. The rates and charges for large industrial or commercial users utilizing monitoring stations shall be based upon the volume, strength and other characteristics of the discharges (as determined through monitoring, measurements, tests, and analyses) and costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the monitoring stations. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.090 Tests and analysis – Standards.
All measurements, tests and analyses of the volume, strength and characteristics of discharges, to which reference is made in GMC 13.12.060(B) and 13.12.080, 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, and shall be determined through samples collected at, or measurements made at, the monitoring stations. In the event that no monitoring station has been required, the nearest downstream manhole shall be considered to be the point where sample collection or measurements are to be made. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect of constituents upon the sewage works and to determine the existence of hazards to life, limb and property. The particular analyses involved will determine whether a 24-hour composite or whether a grab sample should be taken. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.100 Industrial wastes – Special agreement for treatment.
No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the city and any industrial user whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the city for treatment, subject to payment therefor by the industrial user. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.110 Industrial wastes – Screening of coarse solids.
Each and every industrial plant, and such other commercial user as the public works director may deem necessary, shall install, operate and maintain satisfactory screens or other devices, approved by the public works director, to screen coarse solids from industrial waste before water is discharged to sewers. (Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.120 Penalties for certain discharges.
The city of Grandview shall charge monetary penalties for slug and/or accidental discharges of wastes from large industrial or commercial users. Penalties for slug or accidental discharges of BOD and TSS, and any other waste containing constituents in excess of those allowed by this code, shall be as follows:
A. Slug discharges without prior written notification and accidental discharges without subsequent written notification to the city shall be subject to a penalty of $1,000 per day per occurrence plus the cost of mitigating the impact of the discharge on the sewer system and treatment facilities;
B. Accidental discharges with immediate oral and written notification to the city public works director, or, if unavailable, to the Grandview police department, shall be subject to a penalty equal to the cost of mitigating the impact of the discharge on the sewer system and treatment facilities; and planned slug discharges with prior written notification to and approval by the city shall be subject to a penalty equal to the cost of mitigating the impact of the discharge on the sewer system and treatment facilities; and
C. Any discharge of wastes from large industrial or commercial user having either:
1. A gravity discharge of wastewater to the sewer system for an average over a 15-minute period within a 60-minute duration; or
2. A pumped discharge of wastewater to the sewer system of 25 percent of the pumped volume within a 60-minute period or for 25 percent of the pumping period within a 60-minute period;
of wastewater with a pH lower than five or higher than 11 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the sewage works after June 1, 1997 shall be subject to a penalty of $103.00 per hour for each hour said violation continues to occur. In addition, the city may charge the discharger for actual costs of mitigating the effects of the impact of the discharge on the sewer system and treatment facilities. The amount of said fine may be revised from time to time by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 1488 § 1, 1997; Ord. 1429 § 2, 1995).
13.12.130 Industrial discharge contracts required.
Beginning July 1, 1996, all large industrial or commercial users shall be required to enter into an industrial discharge contract with the city. The language and format of the contract shall be as determined and approved by the city. Included in the contract shall be the allocation of available industrial wastewater facility capacity to the user.
Any large industrial or commercial user that fails to enter into an industrial discharge contract with the city may not continue to discharge into the city wastewater system unless the city has excess industrial capacity that has not been allocated to the contracting industrial and commercial users. Said usage may be terminated without notice in the event the city has reached its industrial capacity either under the terms of its permits or by reason of lack of treatment capacity.
The discharges of a large industrial or commercial user may be restricted to the capacity allocated in the industrial discharge contract, or the State Waste Discharge Permit issued to the user by the Washington Department of Ecology, whichever results in the smaller capacity. If a large industrial or commercial user does not enter into an industrial discharge contract, then the limits of the State Waste Discharge Permit shall apply when the city agrees to provide sewer service of excess capacity.
Any large industrial user who is allowed to discharge to the city wastewater system, but has not entered into an industrial contract with the city, shall be subject to a surcharge on the normal wastewater rates charged to the user if said user had entered into an industrial discharge contract with the city. The following surcharges, expressed as a percentage of the normal wastewater rates, shall be added to the normal wastewater rates charged to large industrial or commercial users and included in the charges for providing wastewater service to the user without a contract.
|
Date |
Surcharge |
|
July 1, 2001 |
10 percent |
|
July 1, 2002 |
25 percent |
|
July 1, 2003 |
50 percent |
|
July 1, 2004 |
75 percent |
|
July 1, 2009 |
100 percent |
|
July 1, 2014 |
125 percent |
|
July 1, 2019 |
150 percent |
The above surcharges shall double for those users who have neither an industrial discharge contract nor a State Waste Discharge Permit. The above surcharges shall also be doubled and apply to that portion of the wastewater or its constituents discharged in excess of the permit limits by those users without a contract, but who have a State Waste Discharge Permit and discharge wastewater and its constituents in excess of the limits stipulated in the said State Waste Discharge Permit.
Any new large industrial or commercial business shall have a one-year period of operation before any surcharges as provided herein shall apply. (Ord. 1749 § 1, 2006; Ord. 1603 § 1, 2001; Ord. 1539 § 1, 1999; Ord. 1484 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1456 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1440 § 1, 1995; Ord. 1430 § 1, 1995).