Chapter 14.10
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Sections:
14.10.010 Prohibited discharge standards.
14.10.020 Federal categorical pretreatment standards.
14.10.050 City’s right of revision.
14.10.080 Pretreatment facilities.
14.10.090 Deadline for compliance with applicable pretreatment requirements.
14.10.100 Additional pretreatment measures.
14.10.110 Accidental discharge/slug control plans.
14.10.010 Prohibited discharge standards.
A. General Prohibitions. No user or domestic user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW any pollutant or wastewater that causes pass through or interference. These general prohibitions apply to all users of the POTW whether or not they are subject to categorical pretreatment standards or any other national, state, or local pretreatment standards or requirements.
B. Specific Prohibitions. No user or domestic user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW the following pollutants, substances, or wastewater:
1. Pollutants which may create a fire or explosive hazard in the POTW, including, but not limited to, wastestreams with a closed-cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21;
2. Wastewater having a pH less than 5.0 or more than 11.0, or otherwise causing corrosive structural damage to the POTW or equipment;
3. Solid or viscous substances in amounts which will cause obstruction of the flow in the POTW resulting in interference but in no case solids greater than one-quarter inch;
4. Pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released in a discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, will cause interference with the POTW;
5. Wastewater having a temperature which will inhibit biological activity in the treatment plant resulting in interference, but in no case wastewater which causes the temperature at the introduction into the treatment plant to exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius);
6. Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin, in amounts that will cause interference or pass through;
7. Pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the POTW in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems;
8. Trucked or hauled pollutants (including sanitary wastes and grease wastes) unless authorized by the Director in writing;
9. Noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, solids, or other wastewater which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to create a public nuisance or a hazard to life, or to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance or repair;
10. Wastewater which imparts color which cannot be removed by the treatment process, such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions, which consequently imparts color to the treatment plant’s effluent, thereby violating the city of Edmonds’ NPDES permit. Color (in combination with turbidity) shall not cause the treatment plant effluent to reduce the depth of the compensation point for photosynthetic activity by more than 10 percent from the seasonably established norm for aquatic life;
11. Wastewater containing any radioactive wastes or isotopes except as specifically approved in writing by the Director in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations;
12. Stormwater, surface water, ground water, artesian well water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, swimming pool drainage, condensate, deionized water, noncontact cooling water, and unpolluted wastewater, unless specifically authorized in writing by the Director;
13. Any sludges, screenings, or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial or commercial wastes or from industrial or commercial processes, except as authorized in writing by the Director;
14. Medical wastes, except as specifically authorized in writing by the Director;
15. Wastewater causing, alone or in conjunction with other sources, the treatment plant’s effluent to exhibit toxicity in an analytical test;
16. Detergents, surface-active agents, or other substances in amounts which may cause excessive foaming in the POTW;
17. Any liquids, solids, or gases which by reason of their nature or quantity are, or may be, sufficient either alone or by interaction with other substances to cause fire or explosion or be injurious in any other way to the POTW or to the operation of the POTW. At no time shall two successive readings on an explosion meter, at the point of discharge into the system (or at any point in the system), be more than five percent nor any single reading over 10 percent of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the meter;
18. Animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshings, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, sand, spent lime, stone or marble dusts, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, waste paper, wood, plastics, gas, tar asphalt residues, residues from refining or processing of fuel or lubricating oil, mud, or glass grinding or polishing wastes;
19. Any substance that will cause the POTW to violate its NPDES and/or other disposal system permits;
20. Any wastewater, which in the opinion of the Director can cause harm either to the sewers, sewage treatment process, or equipment; have an adverse effect on the receiving stream; or can otherwise endanger life, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance, unless authorized in a wastewater discharge permit;
21. The contents of any tank or other vessel commercially owned or used by any person in the business of collecting or pumping sewage, effluent, septage, or other wastewater, unless said person has first obtained testing and approval as may be generally required by the City, or by the city of Edmonds, or by King County, and paid all fees assessed for the privilege of said discharge;
22. Any hazardous or dangerous wastes as defined in rules published by the state of Washington (Chapter 173-303 WAC) and/or in EPA rules 40 CFR Part 261;
23. Persistent pesticides and/or pesticides regulated by the Federal Insecticide Fungicide Rodenticide Act (FIFRA);
24. Any slug load;
25. Any substance that may cause the POTW’s effluent or treatment residues, sludges, or scums to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse, or to interfere with the reclamation process;
26. Fats, oils and grease in amounts that may cause obstructions or maintenance problems in the collection/conveyance system, or interference in the POTW.
C. Pollutants, substances, or wastewater prohibited by this chapter shall not be processed or stored in such a manner that they are likely to be discharged to the POTW unless the user has in place an approved accidental spill prevention plan (ASPP)/slug control plan. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.020 Federal categorical pretreatment standards.
National categorical pretreatment standards as adopted and hereafter amended by the EPA pursuant to the Act shall be met by all users in the regulated industrial categories. These standards, found in 40 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N, Parts 405 through 471, as the same now exists or is hereinafter amended, are hereby incorporated by reference. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.030 State requirements.
A. State requirements and limitations on discharges to the POTW shall be met by all users which are subject to such standards in any instance in which they are more stringent than federal requirements and limitations, or those in this title or other applicable City code provisions or code provisions of the city of Edmonds or King County. This includes the requirement to meet “AKART” as defined in this title whenever applicable and more stringent than the limits of MTMC 14.10.040, and to comply with the requirements of Chapter 14.15 MTMC.
B. Any user determined by the City to qualify as a significant industrial user shall file an application for a state waste discharge permit with the Department in accordance with the requirements of WAC 173-216-070. Proof of acceptance of the application and payment of permit fees shall be kept at the user’s facilities, and produced upon request by the City. Failure to submit the application or rejection of the application by the Department may be considered sufficient grounds to terminate or refuse to provide sewer service. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.040 Local limits.
A. The following pollutant limits are established to protect against pass through and interference. No person shall discharge wastewater containing in excess of the following daily maximum allowable discharge limits:
|
arsenic |
0.36 mg/L |
|
cadmium |
0.27 mg/L |
|
chromium |
1.99 mg/L |
|
copper |
2.98 mg/L |
|
cyanide |
0.29 mg/L |
|
lead |
1.09 mg/L |
|
mercury |
0.07 mg/L |
|
nickel |
2.14 mg/L |
|
silver |
1.44 mg/L |
|
zinc |
5.13 mg/L |
|
nonpolar fats, oils, and grease (NPFOG) |
100 mg/L |
B. The above limits apply at the point where the wastewater is discharged to the POTW (i.e., end of the user’s pipe). Categorical pretreatment standards apply at the end of the process. However, the Director may elect to have local limits apply after pretreatment and/or prior to mixing with dilution flows.
C. All concentrations for metallic substances are for “total” metal unless indicated otherwise. The Department may impose mass limitations in addition to (or in place of) the concentration-based limitations above.
D. Where a user is subject to a categorical pretreatment standard and a local limit for a given pollutant, the more stringent limit or applicable pretreatment standard shall apply. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.050 City’s right of revision.
The City reserves the right to establish more stringent standards or requirements on discharges to the POTW. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.060 Special agreement.
A. The City reserves the right to enter into written agreements with users as may be approved by the city of Edmonds to accept pollutants compatible with the treatment system at concentrations greater than those typical of domestic wastewater. Within such agreements, the City may establish terms of the user’s discharge to the POTW including maximum flow rates and concentrations. The City may also establish fees to recover costs associated with treating such wastes and monitoring schedules in such agreements, as provided by MTMC 14.65.010. In no case will a special agreement waive compliance with a state or federal pretreatment standard or requirement including federal categorical pretreatment standards.
B. Users discharging or intending to discharge pollutants other than BOD and TSS, and claiming compatibility, must prove to the satisfaction of the Director that such pollutants are compatible with the POTW. The Director may require any claim of compatibility to be endorsed by the Department. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.070 Dilution.
User shall not increase the use of process water, or in any way attempt to dilute a discharge, as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with an applicable pretreatment standard or requirement unless expressly authorized by an applicable pretreatment standard or requirement. The Director may request the Department to impose mass limitations on users which he believes may be using dilution to meet applicable pretreatment standards or requirements, or in other cases when the imposition of mass limitations is appropriate. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.080 Pretreatment facilities.
A. General Pretreatment Requirements.
1. Users shall procure and properly install, operate, and maintain the wastewater facilities which combined with appropriate practices are necessary to achieve “AKART” as defined in this title. Such pretreatment facilities shall be designed to achieve compliance with all applicable pretreatment standards and requirements set out in this title within the time limitations specified by the EPA, the state, or the Director, whichever is more stringent.
2. Detailed plans showing the pretreatment facilities and operating procedures shall be submitted to the Department for review and approval in accordance with the procedures of Chapter 173-240 WAC, and shall be submitted to the City before construction of the facility. The review of such plans and operating procedures will in no way relieve the user from the responsibility of modifying the facility as necessary to produce an acceptable discharge to the City and the POTW and/or the Department and meet discharge limitations under the provisions of this title. Any facilities required to pretreat wastewater to a level acceptable to the City, and the POTW, shall be provided, operated, and maintained at the user’s expense.
3. Users shall comply with approved engineering reports, plans and specifications, and operations and maintenance manuals, and shall modify such documents to reflect any proposed modifications of industrial wastewater (pretreatment) facilities. Users shall submit proposals to modify pretreatment facilities to the Department before implementation in accordance with Chapter 173-240 WAC. Users shall submit a copy of such revised plans and the Department’s acceptance to the Director before implementing changes to approved pretreatment facilities. The Director may audit the compliance of any user, and require changes in operating procedures deemed necessary by the Director to ensure continued compliance with applicable pretreatment standards and requirements.
4. New sources, and new users determined to be SIUs, must have pretreatment facilities installed and operating prior to discharge, if required.
5. Users who operate restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, delis, cafeterias, bars, or clubs, or hotel, hospital, sanitarium, factory or school kitchens, butcher shops, grocery stores or other establishments where food (polar) grease may be introduced to the sewer system shall have pretreatment facilities to prevent the discharge of fat, oil, and grease. Such pretreatment facilities shall be either a grease interceptor or grease trap as determined by the Director, and installed in the wastewater line leading from sinks, drains, or other fixtures where grease may be discharged.
6. Users who operate automobile or truck repair facilities, steam cleaning facilities for motorized equipment, air compressor(s), or any other establishments or equipment where petroleum based (nonpolar) grease and oil may be introduced to the sewer system shall have pretreatment facilities to prevent the discharge of oil and grease. These pretreatment facilities shall be oil/water separators or interceptors located to collect such mixture of grease, oil, and water. Such facilities shall be in accordance with City, city of Edmonds and state standards.
7. Oil or grease of petroleum or mineral origin (nonpolar) shall not be discharged to the City’s sewer system at a concentration in excess of 100 mg/L.
8. A plumbing permit is required for the installation of a grease trap. Fee schedule on file with City Clerk’s office.
9. A side sewer permit is required for the installation of a grease interceptor. Fee schedule on file with the City Clerk’s office.
B. Pretreatment Requirements for FOG.
1. The wholesale shredding and subsequent discharge of food wastes into the POTW is prohibited. Dry scraping dishes and cooking ware and the installation of flat screens and/or baskets in the prerinse, preparation and pot sinks is encouraged to reduce the solid waste load and the discharge of fats and oils. A food or garbage disposal unit, if used, must be connected to a grease interceptor, which may require more frequent cleaning due to the increased solid waste load. A food or garbage disposal unit shall not be used in a facility that is served by a grease trap. For purposes of this section, a “food or garbage disposal unit” is any device designed to chop, cut, or grind food and other waste material and discharge such waste to the wastewater drainage system.
2. Users that recycle fats, oils and grease must do so in a way that complies with all applicable state, City, city of Edmonds and Health Department regulations.
3. The Director will determine the type of grease removal equipment required according to the following criteria:
a. For New Facilities. After the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, June 1, 2005, food service facilities which are newly proposed or constructed, or existing facilities which will be expanded or renovated to include a food service facility where such facility did not previously exist, shall be required to install, operate and maintain a grease interceptor.
The Director may, in his or her sole discretion, allow new facilities to install a grease trap instead of a grease interceptor according to the following criteria:
i. A grease trap may be utilized instead of a grease interceptor if it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Director that the installation of a grease interceptor is physically impracticable. For purposes of this determination, “physically impracticable” shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following conditions: (1) the lack of available space on the premises; (2) unavoidable interference from underground utilities or structures; and (3) topographical conditions such as slope that unavoidably prevent installation of a grease interceptor.
ii. A grease trap may be utilized instead of a grease interceptor if both of the following conditions are present: (1) the City’s interceptor sizing formula results in a required capacity of 500 gallons or less for the facility; and (2) the facility has a seating capacity of 60 or less; provided, that if either condition subsequently ceases to exist, the Director may require said facility to install a grease interceptor.
Notwithstanding the above, nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the Director to allow a grease trap in lieu of a grease interceptor.
b. For Existing Facilities. Subject to the provisions of this subsection, food service facilities operating prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, June 1, 2005, shall be permitted to install, operate, and maintain grease traps that are properly sized and installed according to the City’s guidelines in lieu of grease interceptors. However, the Director may, in his or her sole discretion, require an existing facility to install a grease interceptor if the facility meets one or both of the following conditions: (1) continues to deposit FOG in the wastewater collection system; or (2) repeatedly violates BMPs or maintenance standards.
i. Continued FOG Deposition. The facility shall be notified in writing by the Director if it must upgrade to a properly sized and installed grease trap. Immediately following the allowable period for installation and upgrade, the Director may begin evaluation of performance and FOG removal effectiveness by inspection of the affected sewer main line, lateral and side sewer or by other appropriate means. If the facility is found to still be contributing FOG in quantities and at a projected deposition rate sufficient to necessitate cleaning the affected portion of the City’s wastewater collection system more frequently than once every five years, or if the lateral or side sewer continues to require cleaning one or more times per year to prevent grease blockages, then the Director may require installation of a grease interceptor.
ii. Violation of Maintenance Standards or BMPs. If the facility demonstrates an unwillingness or incapacity to apply appropriate BMPs or to conduct proper grease trap maintenance by receiving four or more written notices of violation within a 12-month period, or six or more within a 24-month period, then the Director may require installation of a grease interceptor in addition to or in lieu of any other fees, penalties, or other enforcement action.
iii. The Director shall give written notification to a facility that is required to install a grease interceptor and shall require such installation to be completed within 12 months of receipt of written notification.
iv. Approval by the Director of proposed grease removal equipment does not in any way guarantee that this equipment will function in the manner described by its constructor or manufacturer; nor shall it relieve a person or facility of the responsibility of replacing, enlarging, or otherwise modifying such equipment to accomplish the intended purpose. Approval by the Director to install and operate a grease trap shall not be construed to mean that a grease interceptor may not subsequently be required according to the aforementioned criteria.
c. Exempt Facilities. The Director, in his or her sole discretion, may grant exemption from the requirement for grease removal equipment to facilities that have little or no potential to contribute oil and grease to the wastewater collection system because they do not cook or prepare food. The Director may revoke a facility’s exemption if that facility’s operation changes to include cooking or food preparation or if it becomes apparent that FOG is being discharged and accumulating in the facility’s lateral, side sewer or the POTW main line.
4. The use of any additive, such as enzymes, chemicals, or bacteria, as a substitute for grease traps or interceptors or the maintenance of grease traps or interceptors is prohibited. In no case shall any additive that emulsifies fats, oils or grease be used. Any use of additives as a supplement to grease interceptors shall first be authorized in writing by the Director prior to their use by the facility owner or the grease hauler. MSDS sheets and any other applicable information concerning the composition, frequency of use and mode of action of the proposed additive shall be sent to the City together with a written statement outlining the proposed use of the additive(s). Based upon the information received and any other information solicited from the potential user or supplier, the City shall allow or deny the use of the additive in writing. Permission to use any specific additive may be withdrawn by the City at any time if violations of this chapter occur that can be demonstrated to be due to the use of the additive.
5. Alternative grease/oil removal systems may be approved in writing by the Director on a case-by-case basis to augment or replace grease interceptors to achieve acceptable discharge. Testing of alternative devices to demonstrate acceptable removal of FOG shall be at the expense of the user.
6. Authorized City employees shall be allowed ready access at all reasonable times to all parts of the user’s premises for the purpose of inspection, observation, records examination, measurement, sampling and testing in accordance with the provisions of this title. The refusal of any user to allow the Director entry to or upon the user’s premises for purposes of inspection, sampling effluents or inspecting and copying records or performing such other duties as shall be required by this title shall constitute a violation of this title. The Director may seek a warrant or use such other legal procedures as may be advisable and reasonably necessary to discharge his duties under this title.
7. Inspections. City employees, or persons, agents or entity appointed by the City, may inspect the user’s premises on both an unscheduled and unannounced basis or on a scheduled basis to ascertain whether the intent of this title is being met and all requirements are being complied with. The official may also determine if the facility has implemented best management practices as fully as possible. Inspections may include all equipment, food processing and storage areas and shall pay special attention to the processes that produce wastewater which is discharged from the facility through the grease interceptor/trap. The official may also inspect the interceptor/trap maintenance record, other pertinent data, the grease interceptor/trap and may check the level of the interceptor/trap contents and/or take samples as necessary. Noted deficiencies may include but not be limited to:
a. Failure to properly maintain the grease interceptor or trap in accordance with the provisions of this title.
b. Failure to record pumping activities or keep copies of manifest forms or receipts.
c. Failure to maintain logs, files, records or access for inspection or monitoring activities.
8. Reinspections. The City official shall reinspect users’ facilities that received deficiency notices at a previous inspection. The City official shall inspect the repairs or other deficiencies and shall provide written notice of compliance or noncompliance as the case may be. In the event of continuing noncompliance, successive reinspections will be scheduled and appropriate fees shall be charged to the user concerned. A first reinspection shall be performed after a minimum of 30 working days has elapsed to allow for corrective action by the user to be completed.
9. Monitoring. The City shall have the right to inspect a facility’s side sewer or to sample and analyze the wastewater from any facility at any time to determine compliance with the requirements of the MTMC and to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of equipment and procedures to remove FOG from the waste stream. Evidence of the deposition of FOG in the facility’s lateral or side sewer or the City’s sewer line may cause enforcement action to be initiated, and the City’s monitoring costs may be billed to the user.
10. If a failure to maintain grease traps or interceptors results in partial or complete blockage of the building sewer, private sewer system discharging to the City sewer system, or other parts of the City sewer system, or adversely affects the treatment or transmission capabilities of the POTW, or requires excessive maintenance by the City, or poses a possible health hazard, the discharger responsible for the facilities shall be subject to the remedies herein, including cost recovery, enforcement and penalties.
C. Grease Traps. All grease trap installations must meet the following criteria:
1. Trap Design and Location. Grease traps shall conform to the standards in the current edition of the UPC. Grease traps shall be installed in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Grease traps shall be equipped with a cover and a mechanism for a secure closing. Flow control devices shall be required where the water flow through the grease trap may exceed its rated flow. Dishwashers and food or garbage disposal units shall not be connected to grease traps. No more than four fixtures shall connect to an individual grease trap. Grease traps shall be located in the facility’s sewer line between all fixtures which may introduce grease into the sewer system and the connection to the City’s wastewater collection system. Wastewater from sanitary facilities and other similar fixtures shall not be introduced into the grease trap under any circumstances.
2. Trap Capacity. The required flow capacity of the grease trap in gallons per minute shall be determined according to sizing guidelines adopted by the Director. The Director may require installation of a grease trap having a greater capacity than that indicated by said guidelines if deemed necessary to protect the City’s sewer system.
3. Flow Control Device. Grease traps shall be equipped with a device to control the rate of flow through the unit. The rate of flow shall not exceed the manufacturer’s rated capacity recommended in gallons per minute for the unit.
4. Inspection, Cleaning and Maintenance. Each facility shall be solely responsible for the cost of trap installation, inspection, cleaning and maintenance. Each facility may contract with a grease hauler, or it may develop a written protocol and perform its own grease trap cleaning and maintenance procedures. Cleaning and maintenance must be performed when the total volume of captured grease and solid material displaces more than 25 percent of the total volume of the unit. Each facility shall determine the frequency at which their grease trap shall be cleaned, but all grease traps shall be opened, inspected, cleaned and maintained at a minimum of once per week. However, the Director, in his or her sole discretion, may authorize in writing a different schedule based upon the rate at which 25 percent of the unit’s volume is displaced by retained grease and solids as determined by inspections.
5. Inspection. Grease traps may be inspected by the City as necessary to assure compliance with this title and to assure proper cleaning and maintenance schedules are being adhered to.
6. Repairs. The facility shall be responsible for the cost and scheduling of all repairs to its grease trap(s). Repairs required by the City shall be completed within 14 working days after the date of written notice of required repairs is received by the facility. Users may utilize a different schedule for repair upon prior written approval from the City.
7. Disposal. Grease and solid materials removed from a grease trap shall be disposed of in the solid waste disposal system.
8. Record Keeping. The facility shall maintain records of the date and time of all cleaning and maintenance of each grease trap, and shall make this record available for inspection by the City on demand.
D. Grease Interceptors. All grease interceptor installations must meet the following criteria:
1. Interceptor Design and Location. Grease interceptors shall conform to the standards in the current edition of the UPC. Grease interceptors shall have a minimum of two compartments and shall be capable of separation and retention of grease and storage of settled solids. Extended inlet and outlet sanitary tees must be provided that extend down to within 12 inches from the bottom of the tank. The owner/operator must provide, at his or her sole expense, an access manhole over each compartment for monitoring purposes. The inlet and outlet tees must be a minimum of six inches in diameter, and the influent and effluent flow must be visible and easily accessible from the access manhole for sampling. Covers shall have a gas-tight fit. The grease interceptor shall be designed, constructed and installed for adequate load-bearing capacity. Grease interceptors shall be located in the facility’s side sewer line between all fixtures which may introduce grease into the sewer system and the connection to the City’s wastewater collection system. Such fixtures shall include but not be limited to sinks, dishwashers, automatic hood wash units, floor drains in food preparation and storage areas, and any other fixture which is determined to be a potential source of grease. Wastewater from sanitary facilities and other similar fixtures shall not be introduced into the grease interceptor under any circumstances. Interceptors shall be installed in a location outside of the building which provides easy access at all times for inspections, cleaning and proper maintenance, including pumping. The Director is authorized to adopt additional criteria and specifications for grease interceptors.
2. Interceptor Capacity. Grease interceptor capacity calculations shall be performed by each facility based on size and type of operation according to the formulas contained in the sizing guidelines adopted by the Director. The minimum capacity of any one unit shall be 500 gallons and the maximum capacity of any one unit shall be 4,000 gallons.
3. Inspection, Pumping and Maintenance. Each facility shall be responsible for the costs of installing, inspecting, cleaning and maintaining its grease interceptor. All facilities that have grease interceptors shall utilize a grease hauler. Pumping services shall include the complete removal of all contents, including floating materials, wastewater, and bottom sludges and solids. Decanting or discharging of removed wastes back into the grease interceptor from which the wastes were removed, or into any other grease interceptor, for the purpose of reducing the volume to be disposed of is strictly prohibited. Grease interceptor cleaning shall include removal of excessive solids from the walls, floors, baffles and all pipework. Each facility shall ensure that all fittings and fixtures inside the interceptor are in good condition and functioning properly after the pumping procedure, and that the unit is filled with enough clean, cool tap water to prevent any FOG from passing through the unit as it fills.
4. Interceptor Pumping Frequency. Each facility shall clean its grease interceptor at a minimum frequency of once every 90 days. Each facility shall determine the frequency at which its grease interceptor shall be pumped according to the following criteria:
a. When the floatable grease layer exceeds 12 inches in depth as measured in the inlet compartment; or
b. When the total volume of captured grease and solid material displaces more than 25 percent of the capacity of the interceptor as measured in the inlet compartment; or
c. When the interceptor is not retaining/capturing oils and greases; or the removal efficiency of the device, as determined through sampling and analysis, is less than 80 percent.
5. Cleaning Variance. If a facility believes that quarterly pumping of their grease interceptor is unnecessary in order to remain in compliance with the criteria of subsection (D)(4) of this section, the facility may make written application to the Director for a written variance from the quarterly pumping requirements. City employees, or its designee, will review cleaning maintenance records and perform physical inspections of the interceptor as needed to verify compliance with subsection (D)(4) of this section. The City will base the new cleaning frequency schedule upon observed accumulation for the user requesting the variance.
6. Inspection. Grease interceptors may be inspected by the City as necessary to assure compliance with this title and to assure proper cleaning and maintenance schedules are being adhered to.
7. Repairs. The facility shall be responsible for the cost and scheduling of all repairs to its grease interceptor(s). Repairs required by the City shall be completed within 14 working days after the date of written notice of required repairs is received by the facility or other schedule upon written approval from the City.
8. Disposal. Wastes removed from each grease interceptor shall be disposed of at a facility that is permitted to receive such wastes. Grease or gray water shall not be returned to any grease interceptor, private sewer line or to any portion of the City’s wastewater collection system.
9. Record Keeping. Each facility shall maintain records of the date and time of all cleaning and maintenance of each grease interceptor, and shall make this record available for inspection by the City on demand.
E. Other Interceptors.
1. Dischargers who operate automatic and coin-operated laundries, car washes, filling stations, commercial garages or similar businesses having any type of washing facilities (including pressure washing and steam cleaning) or any other dischargers producing grit, sand, oils, lint, or other materials which have the potential of causing partial or complete obstruction of the building side sewer or other areas in the POTW shall, upon order of the Director, install approved interceptors, oil/water separators, or tanks in accordance with specifications adopted by the city of Edmonds which is incorporated herein and adopted by reference such that excessive amounts of oil, sand and inert solids are effectively prevented from entering the POTW.
2. Installation and Maintenance. All grease interceptors, oil/water separators, settling tanks and grit traps shall be properly installed, maintained and operated by the discharger at his own expense. The installation shall be kept in continuous operation at all times, and shall be maintained in a manner that shall prevent oil or grease, and inert solids from being carried into the sewer system at all times. A service contractor qualified to perform such cleaning must perform cleaning. All material removed shall be disposed of in accordance with all state and federal regulations. Records and certification of maintenance shall be made readily available to the Director for review and inspection, and must be maintained for a minimum of three years.
3. If a failure to maintain settling tanks, grit traps, grease interceptors, or oil/water separators results in partial or complete blockage of the building sewer, private sewer system discharging to the City sewer system, or other parts of the City sewer system, or adversely affects the treatment or transmission capabilities of the POTW, or requires excessive maintenance by the City, or poses a possible health hazard, the discharger responsible for the facilities shall be subject to the remedies herein, including cost recovery, enforcement and penalties. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.090 Deadline for compliance with applicable pretreatment requirements.
A. Pretreatment Facilities for FOG. All restaurants, cafes, lunch counters, delis, cafeterias, bars, or clubs, or hotel, hospital, sanitarium, factory or school kitchens, butcher shops, or other establishments where food (polar) grease may be introduced to the sewer system which do not have grease traps or interceptors, or do not have adequately sized or correctly installed traps or interceptors shall meet the requirement for removal of fats, oils, and grease by installing or properly connecting an approved grease trap or interceptor, as determined by the Director.
Facilities that are required to install approved grease interceptors shall do so within 12 months after receiving written notification from the Director.
Compliance by facilities that are allowed to install approved grease traps or to upgrade existing trap installations, as provided elsewhere in this chapter, shall be in accordance with and governed by subsection C of this section, Implementation.
Facilities which are newly proposed or constructed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, June 1, 2005, shall meet the requirements in this chapter for installation of grease removal equipment prior to commencement of discharge.
B. Significant Industrial Users. Compliance by existing sources (categorical users) covered by categorical pretreatment standards shall be within three years of the date the standard is effective unless a shorter compliance time is specified in the appropriate standard. The Department shall establish a final compliance deadline date for any categorical user when the local limits for said user are more restrictive than EPA’s categorical pretreatment standards.
New source dischargers, and “new users” that are determined to be SIUs, are required to comply with applicable pretreatment standards within the shortest feasible time (not to exceed 90 days from the beginning of discharge). New sources, and “new users” that are determined to be SIUs, shall install and have in operating condition, and shall “start-up” all pollution control equipment required to meet applicable pretreatment standards before beginning to discharge.
C. Implementation. Facilities which are allowed shall install approved grease traps or upgrade existing trap installations within 90 days of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, June 1, 2005, which shall be known as the “compliance period.” Provided, however, all permit and inspection fees for those facilities or businesses that have been issued a valid Mountlake Terrace business license on or before June 1, 2005, the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, shall be waived if and only if the facility or business has been issued a valid permit for the installation and the inspection request occurs within the compliance period. If a facility or business is not in compliance at the end of the initial 90-day compliance period, then, in that event, the facility or business shall be granted by the Director one 90-day extension to achieve compliance. There shall be no waiver of permit and inspection fees for facilities or businesses in the process of substantial remodeling as defined in the International Building Code. Provided further, there shall be no waiver of permit or inspection fees charged to a facility or business for permits or inspections requested after the “compliance period” expires.
If a facility or business complies with this section but subsequently the installation is found to be failing or defective, the Director shall grant a 90-day extension to achieve compliance from the date the installation is determined to be failing or defective. Provided further, that there shall be no permit or inspection fee waiver granted during the extension period. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.100 Additional pretreatment measures.
A. Whenever deemed necessary, the Director may require users to restrict their discharge during peak flow periods, designate that certain wastewater be discharged only into specific sewers, relocate and/or consolidate points of discharge, separate sewage wastestreams from industrial wastewater streams, and such other conditions as may be necessary to protect the POTW and determine the user’s compliance with the requirements of this title.
B. When determined necessary by the Director, with concurrence with the city of Edmonds, each user discharging into the POTW shall install and maintain, on his property and at his expense, a suitable storage and flow-control facility to ensure equalization of flow. The Director may require the facility to be equipped with alarms and a rate of discharge controller, the regulation of which shall be determined by the Director. A wastewater discharge permit or discharge authorization may be issued solely for flow equalization.
C. Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Director, they are necessary for the proper handling of wastewater containing excessive amounts of grease and oil, or sand; except that such interceptors shall not be required for residential users. All interception units shall be of type and capacity approved by the Director and shall be so located to be easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Such interceptors shall be inspected, cleaned, and repaired regularly, as needed, by the user at his expense.
D. Users with the potential to discharge flammable substances may be required to install and maintain an approved combustible gas detection meter. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.110 Accidental discharge/slug control plans.
A. The Director may require any user to install, properly operate and maintain, at its own expense, facilities to prevent slugloads or accidental discharges of pollutants to the POTW. The Director may require users to produce and/or implement spill plans developed in compliance with applicable OSHA, health, fire, and Department regulations applicable to discharges to POTWs. Where deemed necessary by the Director, facilities to prevent accidental discharge or slug discharges of pollutants shall be provided and maintained at the user’s cost and expense. When such plans are required by the Director, they shall contain at least the following elements:
1. Description of discharge practices, including nonroutine batch discharges;
2. Description of stored chemicals;
3. Procedures for immediately notifying the POTW of any accidental or slug discharge. Such notification must also be given for any discharge which would violate any of the standards in MTMC 14.10.010 through 14.10.040; and
4. Procedures to prevent adverse impact from any accidental or slug discharge. Such procedures include, but are not limited to, inspection and maintenance of storage areas, handling and transfer of materials, loading and unloading operations, control of plant site runoff, worker training, building of containment structures or equipment, measures for containing toxic organic pollutants (including solvents), and/or measures and equipment for emergency response.
B. Users shall notify the City and the Edmonds wastewater treatment plant orally or in writing immediately upon the occurrence of a slug load or “accidental discharge” of substances regulated by this title. The notification shall include location of discharge, date and time thereof, type of waste, concentration and volume, and corrective actions. Any affected user shall be liable for any expense, loss, or damage to the POTW, in addition to the amount of any fines imposed on account thereof under state or federal law.
C. Within seven days following an accidental discharge, the user shall submit to the Director a detailed written report describing the cause of the discharge and the measures to be taken by the user to prevent similar future occurrences. Such notification shall not relieve the user of any expense, loss, damage, or other liability which may be incurred as a result of damage to the POTW, fish kills, or any other damage to person or property; nor shall such notification relieve the user of any fines, civil penalties, or other liability which may be imposed by this title or other applicable law.
D. Signs shall be permanently posted in conspicuous places on the user’s premises advising employees whom to call in the event of a slug or accidental discharge. Employers shall instruct all employees who may cause or discover such a discharge with respect to emergency notification procedures. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).
14.10.120 Septic tank wastes.
No septic tank wastes shall be discharged to the POTW. (Ord. 2381 § 2, 2005).