§ 98-37. Prohibited discharges.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    No user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW any pollutant or wastewater which 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)

    Under this article, it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge:

    (1)

    Any wastewater or cooling water having a temperature which will inhibit biological activity in the POTW plant resulting in interference, and no wastewater or cooling water with a temperature which causes the POTW influent temperature to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

    (2)

    Any waters or wastes which contain wax, grease or oil, plastic or other substance that will solidify or become discernibly viscous at temperatures between 60 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

    (3)

    Any discharge of pollutants which 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 or 60 degrees Celsius using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21.

    (4)

    Pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants such as BOD, 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)

    Any garbage that has not been properly comminuted or shredded to particles not greater than one-half-inch in dimension.

    (6)

    Any noxious or malodorous substance that can form a gas, that, either singly or through interaction with other wastes, is capable of causing objectionable odors or presents a hazard to life and property or that forms solids in concentrations exceeding limits established in this article, or creates any other condition deleterious to structures or treatment processes or requires unusual facilities, attention or expense to handle.

    (7)

    Any trucked waste into the POTW, except at points designated by the POTW.

    (8)

    Free or emulsified oil and grease exceeding, on analysis, an average of 200 mg/l of either or combinations of free or emulsified oil and grease, if such wastes:

    a.

    Can deposit grease or oil in the sewer lines in such manner as to clog the sewers;

    b.

    Can overload the user/discharger's skimming and grease handling equipment;

    c.

    Are not amenable to biological oxidation and will therefore pass to the receiving waters without being affected by normal sewage treatment processes; or

    d.

    Can have deleterious effects on the treatment process due to the excessive quantities.

    (9)

    Acids or alkalies that attack or corrode the POTW or have a pH value lower than 5.0 or higher than 11.0, respectively.

    (10)

    Compounds of the heavy metals, in solution or suspension, in concentrations exceeding those established in a discharge permit or in the technically based local limits as set out in section 90-60.

    (11)

    Cyanide or cyanogen compounds capable of liberating hydrocyanic gas on acidification in excess of one ppm by weight of cyanide in the wastes from any outlet into the public sewers.

    (12)

    Radioactive materials exceeding the existing standards of the state department of health.

    (13)

    Any wastewaters containing phenols or other taste producing substances in such concentrations that produce an odor or taste in the effluent and affects the taste and odor of the receiving water.

    (14)

    Materials that exert or cause:

    a.

    Unusual concentrations of solids or compositions, as for example total suspended solids of inert nature, such as Fuller's earth, and sodium sulfate;

    b.

    Excessive discoloration;

    c.

    Unusual biochemical oxygen demand, unusual COD or an immediate oxygen demand;

    d.

    High hydrogen sulfide content; or

    e.

    Unusual flow and concentration.

    (15)

    Any pollutant, including oxygen demanding pollutants, released at a flow rate or pollutant concentration that a user knows or has reason to know will cause interference to the POTW.

    (16)

    A slug or slug load.

    (17)

    Toxic substances that are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the wastewater treatment process employed or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the wastewater treatment plant cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters without first pretreating to a concentration acceptable to the city.

    (18)

    Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantities, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, that causes interference to the POTW.

    (19)

    Any substance that may cause interference with the POTW's effluent or any other product of the POTW such as residue, sludges or scum.

    (20)

    Any substance that will cause the POTW to violate its NPDES or state disposal system permit or the receiving water quality standards.

    (21)

    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.

    (22)

    Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin, in amounts that will cause interference or pass through.

    (c)

    Any person desiring to discharge wastewater that contains arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, cyanide, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, zinc, or phenolics must submit an application to the city to obtain a permit as outlined in sections 98-43 and 98-44. The city shall establish permit limits in accordance with the allocation method contained in the city's EPA approved pretreatment program.

    (d)

    Users must comply with the categorical pretreatment standards found at 40 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter N, Parts 405—471.

    (e)

    Right of revision.

    (1)

    The city may initiate program modification at any time to reflect changing conditions at the POTW. Program modification is necessary whenever there is a significant change in the operation of the pretreatment program that differs from the information in the city's submission approved by the TCEQ.

    (2)

    Approval procedures for non-substantial modifications.

    a.

    The city shall notify the TCEQ of any non-substantial modification at least 45 days prior to implementation by the city by providing a statement of the basis for the desired program modification, a modified program description, or such other documents the TCEQ determines to be necessary under the circumstances.

    b.

    Within 45 days after the submission of the city's statement, the TCEQ shall notify the city of its decision to approve or disapprove the non-substantial modification.

    c.

    If the TCEQ does not notify the city within 45 days of its decision to approve or deny the modification, or to treat the modification as substantial, the POTW may implement the modification.

(Ord. No. O-15-11, § I, 4-11-2011; Ord. No. O-44-15 , § I, 11-9-2015)