Chapter 13.52
RESTRICTED DISCHARGES AND PRETREATMENT
Sections:
13.52.010 Standard methods for testing and analysis.
13.52.020 Sanitary sewers – Prohibited discharges.
13.52.030 Storm sewer use requirements.
13.52.040 Hazardous discharges designated.
13.52.050 Prohibited discharges.
13.52.060 Rejection or pretreatment conditions.
13.52.070 Grease, oil and sand interceptors.
13.52.080 Pretreatment facilities – Operation and maintenance.
13.52.090 Control manhole for tests.
13.52.100 Special agreements not restricted.
13.52.010 Standard methods for testing and analysis.
A. All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in Chapters 13.32 through 13.60 SMC 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 at the control manhole provided, or upon suitable samples taken at such control manhole. In the event that no special manhole is required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer is connected.
B. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect the effluent may be having on the sewer works and to determine the possible impact to the public welfare. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 9, 1983)
13.52.020 Sanitary sewers – Prohibited discharges.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or polluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 1, 1983)
13.52.030 Storm sewer use requirements.
Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the city engineer. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged to a storm sewer or natural outlet, upon written approval of the city engineer. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 2, 1983)
13.52.040 Hazardous discharges designated.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any one of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewers:
A. Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas; nor any kerosene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides and sulfides;
B. Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, 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 mg/l of cyanide in the wastes as discharged to the public sewer;
C. Any waters and wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the sewage works;
D. Solids or visceral substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works such as, but not limited to, ashes, feathers, tar, asphalt, lubricating oil, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshing, entrails, paper dishes, cups, milk containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 3, 1983)
13.52.050 Prohibited discharges.
A. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged the following described substances, materials, waters or wastes if it appears likely, in the opinion of the public works director or city engineer, that such wastes can harm either the sewers, sewage treatment process or equipment, have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or can otherwise endanger public health, safety or welfare, or constitute a nuisance. In forming such opinion, the public works director or city engineer will give consideration to such factors as to quantities of wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, nature of the sewage treatment process, capacity of the sewage treatment plant, degree of treatability of wastes in the sewage treatment plant, and other pertinent factors.
B. The substances prohibited are:
1. Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees centigrade);
2. Any water or waste containing fats, gas, grease or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 mg/l, or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit (zero and 65 degrees centigrade), or which has a temperature which will inhibit biological activity in the treatment plant, and in no case wastewater with a temperature at the introduction into the treatment plant receiving waters which exceeds 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees centigrade);
3. Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three-fourths horsepower or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the city engineer;
4. Any waters or wastes containing strong acid, iron pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solutions, whether neutralized or not;
5. Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, silver, mercury, cadmium or other similar toxic substances which exceed EPA or DEQ standards;
6. Any waters or wastes containing high concentrations of phenols or other taste- or odor-producing substances;
7. Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed state or federal requirements;
8. Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of 9.5;
9. Materials which exert or cause:
a. Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids, such as fuller’s earth, lime slurries and lime residues, or of dissolved solids such as sodium chloride and sodium sulphate,
b. Excessive discoloration, such as dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions,
c. Unusual BOD or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment works,
d. Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting slugs, as defined in Chapter 13.32 SMC;
10. Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes employed, 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. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 4, 1983)
13.52.060 Rejection or pretreatment conditions.
If any waters or wastes are discharged, or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics outlined in SMC 13.52.050, and which may have a detrimental effect upon the sewage works, processes, equipment or receiving waters, or which otherwise may create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the director of public works may:
A. Reject the wastes;
B. Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewer;
C. Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or
D. Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes, fees or other charges under the provisions of Chapters 13.32 through 13.60 SMC. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 5, 1983)
13.52.070 Grease, oil and sand interceptors.
Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the director of public works, they are necessary for the proper handling of wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, and/or 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 city engineer, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 6, 1983)
13.52.080 Pretreatment facilities – Operation and maintenance.
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 the owner’s own expense. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 7, 1983)
13.52.090 Control manhole for tests.
When required by the director of public works, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole, together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessible and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the city engineer. Any cost to the city for required sampling or testing beyond the capacity of the city staff shall be paid by the owner affected. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at the owner’s own expense, and shall be maintained by the owner so as to be safe and accessible at all times. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 8, 1983)
13.52.100 Special agreements not restricted.
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 provided such agreements are in compliance with EPA and DEQ regulations. (Ord. 801 Art. 6 § 10, 1983)