Chapter 13.04
ILLICIT DISCHARGE AND/OR DUMPING DETECTION AND ELIMINATION
Sections:
13.04.030 Prohibited discharges.
13.04.040 Allowable discharges.
13.04.050 Conditional discharges.
13.04.060 Prohibition of illicit connections.
13.04.065 Best management practices required.
13.04.070 Inspections and warrants.
13.04.080 Violations and remedies.
13.04.090 Administration – Rules and regulations.
13.04.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the City’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4 or stormwater drainage system) regarding the introduction of pollutants that would adversely impact surface and ground water quality of the State of Washington in order to comply with the requirements of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The intent of this chapter is to:
(1) Control the introduction of pollutants to the stormwater drainage system by any person and/or entity.
(2) Prohibit illicit connections and discharges to the stormwater drainage system and receiving waters.
(3) Establish legal authority to carry out all inspection, surveillance and monitoring procedures necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter. (Ord. 509 § 1, 2010)
13.04.020 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following shall mean:
(1) “AKART” means all known, available, and reasonable methods of prevention, control, and treatment. See also the State Water Pollution Control Act, RCW 90.48.010 and 90.48.520.
(2) “Best management practices (BMPs)” means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general good housekeeping practices, pollution prevention and educational practices, maintenance procedures, and structural or managerial practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to stormwater, receiving waters, or stormwater conveyance systems. BMPs also include treatment practices, operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage.
(3) “Clean Water Act” means the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 USC Section 1251 et seq.), and any subsequent amendments thereto.
(4) “Ground water” means water in a saturated zone or stratum beneath the surface of the land or below a surface water body.
(5) “Hazardous materials” means any material, including any substance, waste, or combination thereof, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, a substantial present or potential hazard to human health, safety, property or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.
(6) “Hyperchlorinated” means water that contains more than 10 mg/liter chlorine.
(7) “Illicit discharge” means any direct or indirect nonstormwater discharge to the City’s storm drain system, except as expressly allowed by this chapter.
(8) “Illicit connection” means any manmade connection to the City’s storm drain system without a permit, excluding roof drains and other similar type connections. Examples include sanitary sewer connections, floor drains, channels, pipelines, conduits, inlets, or outlets that are connected directly to the municipal separate stormwater system.
(9) “Municipal separate stormwater system (MS4)” means a conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with ditches, manmade channels, or storm drains) that is owned or operated by the City of Woodinville; designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater; which is not part of a publicly owned treatment works (POTW).
(10) “Publicly owned treatment works (POTW)” means any device or system used in treatment of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature which is publicly owned; and which is not a combined sewer.
(11) “Combined sewer” means a system that collects sanitary sewage and stormwater in a single sewer system.
(12) “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater discharge permit” means a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (or by the Washington Department of Ecology under authority delegated pursuant to 33 USC Section 1342(b)) that authorizes the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States, whether the permit is applicable on an individual, group, or general area-wide basis.
(13) “Nonstormwater discharge” means any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of stormwater.
(14) “Person” means any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity recognized by law.
(15) “Pollutant” means anything which causes or contributes to pollution. Pollutants may include, but are not limited to: paints, varnishes, and solvents; oil and other automotive fluids; nonhazardous liquid and solid wastes and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects and accumulations, so that same may cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; hazardous substances and wastes; sewage, fecal coliform and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes; wastes and residues that result from constructing a building or structure; and noxious or offensive matter of any kind.
(16) “Premises” means any building, or portion of building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land, whether improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips.
(17) “Storm drainage system” means facilities, including the City’s municipal separate stormwater system, by which stormwater is collected and/or conveyed, including but not limited to any roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, gutters, curbs, inlets, piped storm drains, pumping facilities, retention and detention basins, natural and human-made or altered drainage channels, reservoirs, and other drainage structures.
(18) “Stormwater” means runoff during and following precipitation and snowmelt events, including surface runoff and drainage.
(19) “Stormwater pollution prevention plan” means a document which describes the best management practices and activities to be implemented by a person to identify sources of pollution or contamination at a premises and the actions to eliminate or reduce pollutant discharges to stormwater, stormwater conveyance systems, and/or receiving waters to the maximum extent practicable. (Ord. 509 § 1, 2010)
13.04.030 Prohibited discharges.
(1) Illicit discharges are prohibited. No person shall throw, drain, or otherwise discharge, cause or allow others under its control to throw, drain or otherwise discharge into the City’s storm drainage system and/or surface and ground waters any materials, including hazardous materials and pollutants, other than stormwater.
(2) Examples of prohibited contaminants include but are not limited to the following:
(a) Trash or debris;
(b) Construction materials;
(c) Petroleum products including but not limited to oil, gasoline, grease, fuel oil and heating oil;
(d) Antifreeze and other automotive products;
(e) Metals in either particulate or dissolved form;
(f) Flammable or explosive materials;
(g) Radioactive material;
(h) Batteries;
(i) Acids, alkalis, or bases;
(j) Paints, stains, resins, lacquers, or varnishes;
(k) Degreasers and/or solvents;
(l) Drain cleaners;
(m) Pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers;
(n) Steam cleaning wastes;
(o) Soaps, detergents, or ammonia;
(p) Swimming pool or spa filter backwash;
(q) Chlorine, bromine, or other disinfectants;
(r) Heated water;
(s) Domestic animal wastes;
(t) Sewage;
(u) Recreational vehicle waste;
(v) Animal carcasses;
(w) Food wastes and food processing waste;
(x) Bark and other fibrous materials;
(y) Lawn clippings, leaves, or branches;
(z) Silt, sediment, concrete, cement or gravel;
(aa) Dyes;
(bb) Chemicals not normally found in uncontaminated water;
(cc) Prescription and nonprescription pharmaceuticals;
(dd) Any other process-associated discharge except as otherwise allowed in this section; and/or
(ee) Any other hazardous material or waste not listed above. (Ord. 509 § 1, 2010)
13.04.040 Allowable discharges.
The following types of discharges shall not be considered illicit discharges for the purposes of this chapter unless the City determines that the type of discharge, whether singly or in combination with others, is causing or is likely to cause pollution of surface water or ground water:
(1) Diverted stream flows;
(2) Rising ground waters;
(3) Uncontaminated ground water infiltration, as defined in 40 CFR 35.2005(20);
(4) Uncontaminated pumped ground water;
(5) Water from foundation drains;
(6) Air conditioning condensation;
(7) Irrigation water from agricultural sources that is commingled with urban stormwater;
(8) Springs;
(9) Uncontaminated water from crawl space pumps;
(10) Water from footing drains;
(11) Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands; and
(12) Discharge from emergency fire fighting activities. (Ord. 690 § 1, 2019; Ord. 509 § 1, 2010)
13.04.050 Conditional discharges.
The following types of discharges shall not be considered illicit discharges for the purposes of this chapter if they meet the stated conditions, or unless the City determines that the type of discharge, whether singly or in combination with others, is causing or is likely to cause pollution of surface water or ground water:
(1) Potable water, including water from water line flushing, hyperchlorinated water line flushing, fire hydrant system flushing, and pipeline hydrostatic test water. Planned discharges shall be dechlorinated to a concentration of 0.1 ppm or less, pH-adjusted if necessary, and in volumes and velocities controlled to prevent resuspension of sediments in the stormwater system; provided, that written approval has been granted by the Public Works Director;
(2) Lawn watering and other irrigation runoff are permitted but shall be minimized;
(3) Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges. These discharges shall be dechlorinated to a concentration of 0.1 ppm or less, pH-adjusted if necessary, in volumes and velocities controlled to prevent resuspension of sediments in the stormwater system, and thermally controlled to prevent an increase in temperature of the receiving water; provided, that written approval has been granted by the Public Works Director; and provided, that swimming pool cleaning wastewater and filter backwash shall not be discharged to the stormwater system;
(4) Street and sidewalk wash water, water used to control dust, and routine external building wash down that does not use detergents are permitted if the amount of street wash and dust control water used is minimized. At active construction sites, street sweeping must be performed prior to washing the street;
(5) Nonstormwater discharges covered by another NPDES permit; provided, that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations; and provided, that written approval has been granted by the Public Works Director for any discharge to the storm drain system; and
(6) Other nonstormwater discharges. The discharges shall be in compliance with the requirements of a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) reviewed and approved by the City, which addresses control of such discharges by applying AKART to prevent contaminants from entering surface or ground water; provided, that written approval has been granted by the Public Works Director. (Ord. 690 § 2, 2019; Ord. 509 § 1, 2010)
13.04.060 Prohibition of illicit connections.
(1) The construction, use, maintenance, or continued existence of illicit connections to the City’s storm drainage system is prohibited.
(2) This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.
(3) A person is considered to be in violation of this chapter if the person connects a line conveying sewage to the MS4, or allows such a connection to continue. (Ord. 509 § 1, 2010)
13.04.065 Best management practices required.
(1) Compliance with this chapter shall be achieved through the use of BMPs described in the 2021 King County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual, which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the 2021 King County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual is on file with the office of the City Clerk for examination by the public.
(2) BMPs shall be applied to any business or residential activity that may result in prohibited discharges as specified in the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual. Activities that may result in prohibited discharges include but are not limited to:
(a) Potable water line flushing;
(b) Lawn watering with potable water;
(c) Dust control with potable water;
(d) Automobile and boat washing;
(e) Pavement and building washing;
(f) Swimming pool and hot tub maintenance;
(g) Auto repair and maintenance;
(h) Building repair and maintenance;
(i) Landscape maintenance;
(j) Hazardous waste handling;
(k) Solid and food waste handling;
(l) Application of pesticides.
(3) In applying the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual, the Director shall first require the implementation of source control BMPs. If these are not sufficient to prevent contaminants from entering surface water, stormwater, or groundwater, the Director may require implementation of treatment BMPs as set forth in AKART.
(4) In applying the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Manual to prohibited discharges from normal single-family residential activities, the Director shall use public education and warnings as the primary methods for gaining compliance with the chapter and shall not use citations, notice and orders, assessment of civil penalties and fines, or other compliance actions unless the Director determines that the discharge from a normal single-family residential activity, whether singly or in combination with other discharges, is causing a significant contribution of contaminants to surface water, stormwater, or groundwater or is causing a hazard. (Ord. 726 § 1, 2021; Ord. 634 § 17, 2016)
13.04.070 Inspections and warrants.
(1) Authority. Whenever implementing the provisions of this chapter or whenever there is cause to believe that a violation of this chapter has been or is being committed, the City’s inspector is authorized to inspect during regular working hours and at other reasonable times all new development, redevelopment, and construction sites within Woodinville to determine compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Inspection Procedures.
(a) Prior to making any inspections on private property, the inspector shall present identification credentials, state the reason for the inspection and request entry. Any private landowner engaging in new development, redevelopment, or construction activities requiring on-site stormwater collection or detention connected to the City’s storm drain system must, as a condition of the building permit required for such development/construction, consent to the creation of an easement for purposes of ingress and egress from time to time by the City for inspection of the on-site stormwater collection or detention facilities. The landowner shall cause the easement to be recorded.
(b) If the property or any building or structure on the property is unoccupied, the inspector shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person(s) having charge or control of the property or portions of the property and request entry.
(c) If after reasonable effort the inspector is unable to locate the owner or other person(s) having charge or control of the property, and has reason to believe the condition of the stormwater system creates an imminent hazard to persons or property, the inspector may enter.
(d) Unless entry is consented to by the owner or person(s) in control of the property or portion of the property or unless conditions are reasonably believed to exist which create imminent hazard, the inspector shall obtain a search warrant, prior to entry, as authorized by the laws of the State of Washington.
(e) The inspector may inspect the stormwater system without obtaining a search warrant provided for in subsection (2)(d) of this section, provided the inspection can be conducted while remaining on public property or other property on which permission to enter is obtained.
(3) Inspection Requirements. The Director is authorized to develop inspection procedures and requirements, including checklists, for all stormwater facilities in the City of Woodinville.
(4) Inspection Fees. Inspection fees shall be established by resolution. (Ord. 509 § 1, 2010)
13.04.080 Violations and remedies.
(1) The violation of or failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter is unlawful and constitutes a nuisance. The remedies and penalties provided in this section, whether civil or criminal, shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other remedy provided by law.
(2) If the City observes any violation of the provisions of this chapter, the City may notify the person of the violation in writing, and require the person to cure or correct the violation within a period of time as specified by the City. However, if a violation presents an imminent and material risk of danger to persons, property or the public health, safety or welfare, the City may take any action as may be necessary to protect the persons, property or public. The City may assess any cost incurred by the City against the person that is responsible for the violation.
(3) The City may pursue any civil remedy at law or in equity, pursuant to Chapter 1.06 WMC and/or nuisance abatement as provided by law.
(4) Criminal Violation. A violation of this chapter is a gross misdemeanor. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 or jail time not exceeding one year or both for each and every violation. Each day that the violation continues shall be a separate offense. (Ord. 509 § 1, 2010)
13.04.090 Administration – Rules and regulations.
The City Manager is authorized to implement this chapter. The City Manager is authorized to promulgate and adopt administrative rules and regulations under the procedures specified in Ordinance No. 159 (Chapter 2.31 WMC) for the purposes of implementing and enforcing this chapter. (Ord. 634 § 18, 2016)