Part 3 — Industrial Waste

The provisions of this part shall pertain to the disposal of industrial waste to the public sewer only.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County build, operate, and maintain trunk sewers and wastewater treatment and disposal facilities. The City builds, operates, and maintains a system of local wastewater collecting systems. The two agencies jointly issue permits for industrial wastewater disposal, with the Sanitation Districts having ultimate authority with regard to the quality and quantity of the discharge. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

Applicants for a permit for industrial wastewater discharge shall complete a Sanitation Districts' application form available at the Office of the City Engineer. Following approval by the City Engineer, the City shall forward the application form and appurtenant plans and data to the Sanitation District No. 2 for review and approval. The District may require additional information on the characteristics of the wastewater discharge beyond that required on the application form. Detailed instructions for obtaining a permit are contained in the Sanitation Districts' booklet, "Instructions for Obtaining a Permit for Industrial Wastewater Discharge," which can be obtained at the office of the City Engineer.

Upon receipt of all required information, the application shall be processed and, upon approval, be signed by representatives of both the City and the Districts and one copy returned to the applicant. When properly signed, the application form together with any documents attached thereto shall constitute a valid permit for industrial wastewater discharge. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

The Districts may change the restrictions or conditions of a permit for industrial wastewater discharge from time to time as circumstances may require. The industrial discharger shall be allowed a reasonable period of time to comply with any changes required. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

A permit for industrial wastewater discharge may be suspended by the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts in accordance with the provisions of the wastewater ordinance, as adopted by the Districts.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

The Board of Directors of District No. 2 may revoke a permit for industrial wastewater discharge upon a finding that the discharger has violated any provision of the wastewater ordinance, as adopted by the Districts. No revocation shall be ordered until a hearing on the question has been held by the Board of Directors of District No. 2. At this hearing, the discharger may appear personally or through counsel, cross-examine witnesses, and present evidence in his own behalf. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the discharger at least 15 days prior to the date of the hearing.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, to any public sewer any wastes which may have an adverse or harmful effect on sewers, maintenance personnel, wastewater treatment plant personnel or equipment, treatment plant effluent quality, public or private property, or which may otherwise endanger the public, the local environment, or create a public nuisance. Included within the prohibition above set forth is the discharge or any wastes which may adversely affect water reclamation procedures.

The City Engineer, in determining the acceptability of specific wastes, shall consider the nature of the wastes and the adequacy and nature of the collection, treatment, and disposal system available to accept the waste.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, to the public sewer any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, solvent, fuel oil, or any liquid, solid, or gas that would cause, or tend to cause, flammable or explosive conditions to result in the sewerage system. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, to any public sewer any waste containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in such quantities that, alone or in combination with other waste substances, may create a hazard for humans, animals, or the local environment, interfere detrimentally with wastewater treatment processes, cause a public nuisance, or cause any hazardous condition to occur in the sewerage system. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged, to any public sewer any waste having a pH lower than 6.0 or having any corrosive or detrimental characteristic that may cause injury to wastewater treatment or maintenance personnel or may cause damage to structures, equipment, or other physical facilities of the sewerage system, or any wastes with a pH high enough to cause alkaline incrustations on sewer walls or other adverse effects on the sewerage system. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, to any public sewer any solids or viscous substance of such size or in such quantity that may cause obstruction to flow in the sewer or be detrimental to proper wastewater treatment plant operations. These objectionable substances include, but are not limited to, asphalt, dead animals, offal, ashes, sand, mud, straw, industrial process shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, woods, whole blood, paunch manure, bones, hair and fleshings, entrails, paper dishes, paper cups, milk containers, or other similar paper products, either whole or ground. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, to any public sewer any rainwater, stormwater, groundwater, street drainage, subsurface drainage, roof drainage, yard drainage, water from yard fountains, ponds or lawn sprays, or any other uncontaminated water. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, to any public sewer any excessive amounts of petroleum or mineral based cutting oils, commonly called soluble oil and which form persistent water emulsions.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, to any public sewer any dispersed biodegradable oils, fats and greases, such as lard, tallow, or vegetable oil in excessive concentrations that would tent to cause adverse effects on the sewerage system. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, to any public sewer any waste with an excessively high concentration of cyanide. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any strongly odorous waste or waste tending to create odors. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any wastes containing dissolved sulfides above a concentration of 0.1 milligram/liter. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any waste having a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any waste containing substances that may precipitate, solidify, or become viscous at temperatures between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any garbage or waste that is not ground sufficiently to pass through a three-eighths inch screen. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any wastes containing excessive quantities of iron, boron, chromium, phenols, plastic resins, copper, nickel, zinc, lead, mercury, cadmium, selenium, arsenic, or any other objectionable materials toxic to humans, animals, the local environment, or to biological or other wastewater treatment processes. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

No person shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any excessive quantities of radioactive material wastes.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

Hospitals, clinics, offices of medical doctors, and convalescent homes may discharge certain wastes into the public sewer system and shall refrain from discharging certain other wastes, as designated in the wastewater ordinance approved by the Sanitation Districts. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

The City Engineer shall promptly investigate, or cause to be investigated, every complaint charging violation of any of the provisions of this part, and he shall take action, or cause action to be taken, to correct any violation discovered. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

The City Engineer may serve, or cause notice to be served, of any violation upon the person owning or operating premises, describing the conditions and requiring prompt correction thereof when he finds that:

• (a) Industrial waste, effluent, or any other material is being maintained, discharged, or deposited in such a manner as to create, or if allowed to continue, will create any one or more of the following conditions:

  • (1) A public nuisance,

  • (2) A menace to the public safety,

  • (3) Pollution of surface or underground waters,

  • (4) Adverse effect or damage to any public sewer, storm drain, channel, or public or private property; or that:

• (b) The permittee has failed to conform with conditions or limitations of any permit issued in accordance with this part. Failure to comply with such notice shall constitute a willful violation of this part.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

The applicant of a permit for an industrial wastewater discharge shall be required to pay to the City, prior to issuance of such permit, all requisite fees. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

Before processing and approving a permit for an industrial wastewater discharge connection to the public sewer system, the applicant shall pay to the City Engineer in advance an issuance fee of $25.

(Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

A surcharge fee is payable annually or quarterly to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and in an amount as specified in the Districts' wastewater ordinance. The first payment will be due no later than the end of the first full quarter of sewer use. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

In addition to an issuance fee for a permit for an industrial wastewater discharge, the applicant shall pay to the City an inspection fee for work to be done within the public right-of-way. Such fee shall be paid in advance and shall be based on the estimated number of hours of inspection multiplied by the prevailing hourly wage, plus overhead, of the inspector. The applicant shall only be charged with the actual time of inspection. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)

Any industrial wastewater discharger who discharges, or causes the discharge of, prohibited wastewaters which cause damage to public sewerage facilities, detrimental effects on treatment processes, or any other damage shall be liable to the City and the Sanitation Districts for all damages occasioned thereby.

Any industrial wastewater discharger who discharges, or causes the discharge of, industrial wastewater into public facilities other than public sewerage facilities, shall be liable for any cleanup and restoration of such facilities. (Added by Ord. 674, adopted 10-27-81)