Fillmore Municipal Code Ch. 12.11 Pretreatment Requirements

If wastewater containing excess concentrations of a regulated substance or any of a prohibited substance referred to in Section 12.10.030 or 12.10.040 respectively is discharged or proposed to be discharged to the sewerage system, the city manager may at his option do any one or more of the following (40 CFR 403.8(f)(1)(i)):

(1) Prohibit the discharge of the wastewater;

(2) Require the discharger to demonstrate that in-plant modifications will reduce or eliminate the discharge in conformity with prohibitions, limitations and requirements of this title;

(3) Require pretreatment to reduce, eliminate or alter the nature of pollutants to a less harmful state before discharge to the city's sewerage system;

(4) Require the person making, causing or allowing the discharge to pay noncompliance penalties (Section 12.14.080); or

(5) Take such other remedial action as he may deem necessary to achieving the purpose and requirements of this title.

(Ord. 625 § 1 (part), 1989)

A wastewater pretreatment device or system may be required by the city manager to pretreat industrial wastewater before discharge to the sewerage system. Pretreatment may be necessary to restrict or prevent the discharge of certain waste constituents, to distribute more equally over a longer time period any peak discharges of industrial wastewaters, or to accomplish any pretreatment results required by this title (40 CFR 403.8(f)(1)(ii)). Pretreatment facilities required by the city manager shall be maintained in good working order and operated as efficiently as possible, at the expense of the discharger, and are subject to the requirements of this title. Where pretreatment or flow equalization prior to discharge into the sewerage system is required, plans, specifications and other pertinent data and information relating to such pretreatment or flow control shall first be submitted to the city manager for approval. Such approval shall not exempt the discharger from compliance with the requirements of any other governmental authority. No alteration or addition to such pretreatment facilities shall be made without the city manager's prior review and approval. All federal pretreatment standards applicable to local industry which specify quantities or concentrations of pollutants that may be discharged by a specific industrial subcategory shall be enforced by the city as required in Section 309(e) and (f), et seq., of the Act. Existing industrial users shall comply with categorical pretreatment standards within three years of the date the standard is promulgated, unless a shorter time is specified by the EPA. All domestic wastewaters including, but not limited to, those from restrooms, showers and drinking fountains shall be kept separate from industrial wastewaters until the industrial wastewaters have passed through any required pretreatment or monitoring device or system.

(Ord. 625 § 1 (part), 1989)

Each industrial user shall provide protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials, other regulated wastes or wastewater or any other materials in concentration or quantities which could be detrimental to the sewerage system, its operation or personnel. Each floor drain or floor sink located in an area where regulated chemicals are stored or used shall be protected in a manner approved by the city manager to prevent a regulated constituent from directly entering the sewerage system by accident. Facilities to prevent accidental discharge shall be provided and maintained at the owner's or operator's expense. Detailed plans in the form of a spill prevention control and countermeasures plan (showing facilities and operating procedures to provide the protection) shall be submitted to the city manager for review and approval before construction of such facilities. Review and approval of plans and operating procedures shall not relieve the industrial user from the responsibility of modifying facilities as necessary to meet the other requirements of this title. A notice shall be permanently posted on the user's bulletin board or other prominent place advising employees whom to call in the event of a dangerous discharge. Employers shall ensure that all employees who may cause or allow a dangerous discharge to occur are advised of the emergency notification procedure. Any person who causes or discovers an uncontrolled or accidental discharge of regulated wastes or wastewater into the sewerage system shall immediately telephone the facts of the matter to the city manager, the fire chief and the 911 emergency response system. In addition, the person responsible for the discharge of wastes or wastewater shall file a written report with the city manager detailing the date, time and cause of the accidental discharge, the quantity and characteristics of the discharge and corrective action taken to prevent future discharges. The report shall be filed within five days of the occurrence of the uncontrolled or accidental discharge (40 CFR 403.12(f)).

(Ord. 625 § 1 (part), 1989)

No person shall discharge into the sewerage system any industrial waste or wastewater, the contents of any gravity separating device or interceptor, or of any septic tank, seepage pit, or cesspool, or recreational vehicle waste, or wastewater transported by or discharged from a vacuum truck, cesspool pump, truck or other waste or wastewater transport vehicle, at a location not approved by the city manager. Transported industrial wastes shall be discharged only at locations specified by the city manager for the specific waste. Payment for any excessive treatment and disposal costs may be required and permission to discharge prohibited waste or wastewater may be refused by the city manager.

(Ord. 625 § 1 (part), 1989)

(a) Restaurants. Restaurants or similar establishments shall install an approved grease interceptor of sufficient size to prevent excessive discharges of grease into the sewerage system. The grease interceptor shall be easily accessible for inspection by the city manager. Exceptions to the installation of a grease interceptor shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the city manager. The city manager shall take into account the following items when determining exceptions:

(1) Size of restaurant;

(2) Meals served per day;

(3) Seating capacity;

(4) Dishwashing and garbage disposal facilities on hand; and

(5) Any other criteria the city manager deems applicable.

(b) Car Washes, Vehicle Service Stations and Garages. Car washes and vehicle service stations and garages shall install a gravity separating device designed to prevent the discharge of sand, silt, oil and grease to the sewerage system.

(c) Laundries and Dry Cleaners. Laundries and dry cleaners or similar establishments first entering into business on or after December 31, 1989 shall install a gravity separating device and any other pretreatment facility, as required and according to a design approved by the city manager. Establishments that existed before December 31, 1989 shall install an approved pretreatment system, if in the opinion of the city manager the system is warranted.

(d) Existing Gravity Separating Device and Grease Interceptors. If the city manager finds that a grease interceptor or gravity separating device installed before December 31, 1989 is incapable of retaining adequately the grease, sand or oil in the wastewater flow from a service station, car wash or restaurant or similar establishment, the city manager shall give the proprietor a written notice requiring that an adequate interceptor or gravity separating device be installed within a reasonable time period.

(e) Approved Designs. The city manager may maintain an information file, available for public use, of acceptable designs of grease interceptors and gravity separating devices. The installation of a design shown in the file or of any design meeting the size requirement set forth in this title or any recommendation or requirement made by the city manager shall not constitute a ground for attaching liability to the city for the adequacy of or any fault in the interceptor or gravity separating device under the actual conditions of use. Such installation shall not relieve the owner or proprietor of responsibility for keeping prohibited substances or substances above the limitations of this title out of the sewerage system. If the interceptor, gravity separating device or other pretreatment facility is not adequate under the conditions of use, one shall be constructed which accomplishes the intended purpose.

(Ord. 625 § 1 (part), 1989)

Any grease interceptor or gravity separating device shall be readily accessible for inspection and properly maintained to assure that accumulations of grease, sand, or oil do not impair its efficiency or pass out with the effluent. All users required to use and maintain a grease interceptor or gravity separating device shall maintain a maintenance record showing the date, the name of the person who cleaned it and the disposal site of the waste. The report shall be reviewed by the city manager at each routine inspection. Persons hauling waste and wastewater removed from interceptors or gravity separating devices shall be registered to do so by the proper permitting agency. An interceptor or gravity separating device is not properly maintained if material accumulations total more than twenty-five percent of the operating fluid capacity. The city will endeavor to inspect all grease interceptors and gravity separating devices at least annually. If found improperly maintained or adequate records are not being kept, a warning will be issued to the owner or user of the property. If on subsequent inspection it is found that the deficiency has not been remedied, a fine shall be levied against the owner or user of the property (See Section 12.14.080).

(Ord. 625 § 1 (part), 1989)