Chapter 13.54
OVERFLOW PREVENTION

Sections:

13.54.010    Purpose.

13.54.020    Duty of the discharger.

13.54.030    Duty of tributary jurisdictions.

13.54.040    House lateral maintenance.

13.54.050    Illicit discharge prohibited.

13.54.060    Limitations – Director may establish.

13.54.070    Existing FOG disposal system.

13.54.080    Investigation of SSO incidents.

13.54.090    Use of unauthorized substances prohibited.

13.54.100    FOG control programs.

13.54.110    Minimum standards – Director may develop.

13.54.120    Food service establishments – Operating permit required.

13.54.130    Food waste disposal units and dishwashers.

13.54.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to implement additional specific requirements for the use of the sanitary sewer system to ensure compliance with Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems, State Board Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ (state board order) and as may be hereinafter amended or superseded. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.020 Duty of the discharger.

All dischargers to the sanitary sewer system shall implement BMPs to ensure that their discharge, either singularly or in combination with other dischargers, does not create a condition in the system that might cause damage to the system or an SSO. Commercial and industrial discharges shall be made only in full compliance with the provisions of this title. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.030 Duty of tributary jurisdictions.

Jurisdictions owning sanitary sewer systems greater than one mile in length that are tributary to or within the city’s sewer maintenance district shall enroll in the state board order and shall develop a sewer system management plan (SSMP) including adopting legal authority for the control of SSO equivalent to the provisions of this title. Jurisdictions that do not contract with the city for industrial waste control program services shall provide the director with evidence of FOG control program elements to effectively control FOG discharges from industrial and commercial sources. If a tributary enrollee determines that a FOG program is not needed, the enrollee shall provide justification to the director for why it is not needed.

Tributary jurisdictions shall furnish evidence to the director of compliance with the state board order within 60 calendar days from the effective date of this section, or any submittal date specified in the state board order, whichever occurs later. Failure to submit the required information may cause the director to initiate procedures to exclude the jurisdiction from a sewer maintenance district. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.040 House lateral maintenance.

Dischargers to the sanitary sewer system shall use house lateral maintenance procedures that maximize the recovery of deleterious materials and minimize the passage of FOG, debris, cut roots and similar materials to the main line sewers. No person shall interfere with the director’s access to house laterals extending from the main line sewer and the right-of-way boundary or property line. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.050 Illicit discharge prohibited.

No person shall cause any discharge to the sanitary sewer system unless such discharge:

A. Consists entirely of domestic sewage; or

B. Consists of industrial waste that is authorized pursuant to the provisions of this title. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.060 Limitations – Director may establish.

The director may establish numerical limitations on the amount of fats, oils, and grease, and other debris that may cause blockages or contribute to SSOs on discharges to all or portions of the sanitary sewer system where the director finds that such limitation is necessary to protect the system from damage or potential SSOs. Industrial waste disposal permits issued pursuant to this title shall include such limitations where imposed. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.070 Existing FOG disposal system.

Existing grease interceptors, grease traps or other FOG disposal systems, previously approved by the director, may remain in service, provided such systems are properly maintained to effectively reduce FOG discharges, are operating within original design parameters, have not been altered in a manner not approved by the director, and where required are operated under a valid industrial waste disposal permit pursuant to this title. Such authorization does not preclude the director from establishing discharge limitations which may require the modification, enlargement, addition, or replacement of FOG disposal systems to protect the sanitary sewer system from blockages or overflows. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.080 Investigation of SSO incidents.

The director shall investigate and determine the probable cause of an actual or potential SSO incident. In the course of any such investigation, the director may enter the premises of any discharger to the sanitary sewer system to determine the presence of potential sources of FOG, inspection of FOG disposal systems, review wastewater disposal procedures, ascertain if BMPs are in place and adequate, review records, photograph disposal systems, and take samples and other measurements in order to determine the cause or sources of an SSO. CMC 13.54.060 notwithstanding, where the director determines that additional, improved, upgraded, repaired or more frequently maintained FOG removal systems are required to prevent the contribution to actual or potential SSOs, the director may serve notice on the discharger to implement such improvements. Such notices may include prohibitions against unauthorized discharges, timetables and/or deadlines. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.090 Use of unauthorized substances prohibited.

No person shall introduce or use any chemical, biological, enzyme or bacterial agent or substance into a FOG disposal system with the intent to enhance performance and/or reduce maintenance of such system without the specific authorization of the director. Such prohibition is not intended to preclude the use of commercial drain-cleaning substances within plumbing fixtures not tributary to a FOG disposal system unless the director has found that such substances present a general hazard to the sanitary sewer system. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.100 FOG control programs.

Where a discharger is required to install and maintain a FOG disposal system pursuant to the provisions of this title and/or is found to be a potential uncontrolled source of FOG, the director may require that the discharger develop and implement a FOG control program. Where required, such a program is subject to the approval of the director and may be included as a part of the conditions and limitations of any permit issued pursuant to this title. Such a program may be required to include but is not limited to the following provisions:

A. A plan and schedule for the education and training of personnel or employees that may dispose of FOG-containing effluent to the sanitary sewer system.

B. The development of source control measures to minimize the discharge of FOG to the sanitary sewer system and to maximize the efficiency of any required FOG disposal system and/or GRD.

C. A plan and schedule for the removal and legal disposal of FOG removed from effluent by a FOG disposal system and/or GRD. When so required by the director, such a plan and schedule may include the maintenance of a log record detailing cleaning, repair, inspection, accidental spill and disposal events in connection with the system or device. The director shall have access to any required log during all reasonable business hours and may specify a time period during which such a log is maintained.

D. A description of facilities used to store removed FOG prior to disposal and measures taken to prevent accidental and/or uncontrolled discharge of FOG to the sanitary sewer system, sidewalks, parking lots, streets, gutters, storm drains, or other private or public property.

E. A description of equipment and supplies, including the location of such materials, available for the cleanup of accidental and/or uncontrolled spills of FOG or similar materials.

F. The posting in a conspicuous place of notification requirements to the director or other specified entity in the event of any accidental and/or uncontrolled spill of FOG or similar materials that leave or may be carried off the discharger’s premises. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.110 Minimum standards – Director may develop.

The director may develop minimum standards for the performance, construction, installation and maintenance of FOG disposal systems, gravity grease interceptors, GRDs, hydromechanical grease interceptors, and/or components associated with such devices. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.120 Food service establishments – Operating permit required.

Where the director has determined that installation of a FOG disposal system at a food service establishment is necessary to protect the sanitary sewer system, such installation shall be subject to plan review and operating industrial waste disposal permit requirements pursuant to this title. Each separate system connected to the public sewer system shall require a separate permit. The director may authorize multiple food service establishments to discharge through a single FOG disposal system; provided, that each establishment enters into an agreement with a single entity that maintains the device including continuous maintenance of any permits required for operation of the facility. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)

13.54.130 Food waste disposal units and dishwashers.

Unless specifically required or permitted by the director, no food waste disposal unit, garbage grinder or dishwasher shall be connected to or discharge into any FOG disposal system. Commercial food waste disposers shall discharge directly into the building’s sewage drainage system. (Ord. 10-1982 § 17, 2010.)