Article III — Sewer Use Regulations

No person shall discharge any substances directly into a manhole or other opening in a public sewer other than through a city-approved sewer connection. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

It is unlawful to discharge any sanitary sewage, industrial waste, or other polluted waters into any storm drain, natural outlet, or channel without a valid NPDES permit. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

The discharge of unscreened garbage, fruit, vegetable, animal, or other solid industrial waste into any part of the sanitary sewer system in violation of any provision of this chapter is declared to be a public nuisance.

(Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

Each user shall provide protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other wastes regulated by this chapter into either the storm drainage or sanitary sewer systems. Facilities to prevent accidental discharge of prohibited materials shall be provided and maintained at the user's expense.

(Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

All industrial users shall provide immediate notice to the city manager of any accidental discharge into the sanitary sewer system of wastes of reportable quantities as determined in 40 CFR 117 so that the city may take countermeasures to minimize damage to the system, the treatment process, and the receiving waters. Immediate notice shall be followed, within 15 days of the date of occurrence, by a detailed written statement describing the causes of the accidental discharge and the measures being taken to prevent future occurrences. Immediate notice shall not relieve industrial users of liability for any expense, loss, or damage to the sanitary sewer system, the treatment process, or the receiving waters, or for any fines imposed on the city on account thereof under applicable provisions of state or federal law. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, or subsurface drainage, or any water acceptable into the storm drainage system according to standards maintained by the state.

(Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any unpolluted cooling water or unpolluted industrial process water. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged, thrown, or deposited into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, or into any plumbing fixture or private sewer or drain connected either directly or indirectly to the sanitary sewer system, any substance of any kind whatsoever tending to obstruct or injure the sanitary sewer system, or to cause a nuisance or hazard, or which will in any manner interfere with the proper operation or maintenance of the sanitary sewer system, or which will cause damage or imbalance to any portion of the treatment sludge disposal process.

(Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or any flammable or explosive liquid, solid, vapor, gas, or thing. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any liquid, solid, vapor, gas, or thing having or developing a temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit or more, or which may cause the temperature of wastewater at the wastewater treatment plant to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any liquid or other waste containing floatable and/or dispersed grease, oil, or fat of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin in excess of 150 parts per million by weight. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, deposit, or throw, or cause to be discharged, deposited, or thrown into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any ashes, cinders, dead animals, offal, pulp, paper, sand, cement, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, asphalt, resins, plastics, wood, whole blood, paunch manure, bones, hair, fleshings, entrails, paper dishes, paper cups, milk containers, or other similar paper products, either whole or ground, or any heavy, solid or viscous substance capable of causing obstruction to the flow in the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, or which would interfere with the proper operation of the wastewater treatment plant or the treatment of sanitary sewage or industrial waste. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

• A. No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any liquid, solid, vapor, gas, or thing having a pH lower than 5.0 or more than 10.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, or to any personnel operating, maintaining, repairing, or constructing the system, or working in or about the system.

• B. No person shall discharge or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any liquid, solid, vapor, gas, or thing which shall cause the pH of the total wastewater flow at the wastewater treatment plant to be less than 6.5 or more than 8.0.

• (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any toxic or poisonous substances or any other pollutant, including BOD, in sufficient quantity to injure or cause an interference with the sewage treatment process, or in sufficient quantity to constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or in sufficient quantity to create a hazard for humans, animals, or fish in any waters receiving effluent from the system, or which may create a hazard in the use or disposal of sewage sludge. No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any industrial waste containing any of the following toxic substances exceeding the concentration set forth in this section:

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Maximum Allowable
Toxic Substance Concentration
Aldehyde 5.0 mg/L
Antimony 5.0 mg/L
Arsenic 1.0 mg/L
Barium 5.0 mg/L
Beryllium 1.0 mg/L
Boron 1.0 mg/L
Cadmium 0.7 mg/L
Chlorinated hydrocarbons, including, but not limited to,
trace
pesticides, herbicides, algicides
Chromium, total 1.0 mg/L
Copper 2.7 mg/L
Cyanides 1.0 mg/L
Fluorides 10.0 mg/L
Formaldehydes 5.0 mg/L

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Maximum Allowable
Toxic Substance Concentration
Lead 0.4 mg/L
Manganese 0.5 mg/L
Mercury 0.01 mg/L
Methyl ethyl ketone and other water insoluble ketones 5.0 mg/L
Nickel 2.6 mg/L
Phenol and derivatives 30.0 mg/L
Selenium 2.0 mg/L
Silver 0.7 mg/L
Sulfides 1.0 mg/L
Toluene 5.0 mg/L
Xylene 5.0 mg/L
Zinc 2.6 mg/L

In no event shall any person discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any industrial waste having a 96-hour median tolerance limits (TLm), as determined in accordance with "Standard Methods," of less than 50 percent.

(Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

The following discharge requirements shall apply to the electroplating point source category, as defined by the "Effluent Guidelines and Standards; Electroplating Point Source Category" of the EPA, found at 40 CFR 413, and these requirements supersede requirements for pollutants as set forth in HMC § 13.04.330 as follows:

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Maximum Allowable
Concentration
Pollutant (in milligrams per liter)
Cadmium (Cd) 0.7
Chromium (Cr) 1.0
Copper (Cu) 2.7
Cyanide, total (CN-T) 1.0
Lead (Pb) 0.4
Nickel (Ni) 2.6
Silver (Ag) 0.7
Zinc (Zn) 2.6

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Maximum Allowable
Concentration
Pollutant (in milligrams per liter)
Total metals (copper + nickel + zinc + chromium) 6.8

In no event shall any person discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any industrial waste having a 96-hour median tolerance limit (TLm), as determined in accordance with "Standard Methods," of less than 50 percent.

(Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

The use of diluting waters to meet the standards for discharge of wastes is prohibited. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any liquid containing suspended solids or dissolved matter of such character and quantity that unusual attention or expense is required to handle, process, or treat such matter at the wastewater treatment plant.

(Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any solid, liquid, vapor, gas, or thing which is so malodorous or noxious that its discharge into the system would cause a public nuisance or hazard. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any radioactive matter. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any wastewater with objectionable color not removed in the treatment process such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

• A. No person shall discharge, deposit, or throw, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged, deposited, or thrown into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any garbage, or any fruit, vegetable, animal, or other solid material from any food processing plant or other industrial plant or retail grocery store, irrespective of whether or not the same has first passed through a mechanical grinder, and no person shall install, operate, use, or maintain upon the premises of any food processing plant or any other industrial plant or retail grocery store, any mechanical grinder or waste grinder that is connected directly or indirectly to the system.

• B. No person shall discharge, deposit, or throw, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged, deposited, or thrown into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any garbage, or any fruit, vegetable, animal or other solid kitchen waste material resulting from the preparation of any food or drinks, in any dwelling, restaurant, or eating establishment unless the same shall have first been passed through a mechanical garbage or waste grinder in conformance with the provisions of the plumbing and electrical code of the city.

• (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any septic tank sludge or effluent. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

No person shall discharge, or cause, allow, or permit to be discharged into the sanitary sewer system or any part thereof, any substance which will cause the sanitary sewer system to violate any state or federal disposal system conditions or receiving water quality standards. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

• A. Any type of business or establishment where grease, oil, sand, or other objectionable materials may be discharged into a public or private sewer shall have a grease trap. All existing businesses or establishments requiring grease traps shall install a trap if one is not already in place within 120 days from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

• B. All grease traps shall be of a size and design approved by the city engineer prior to installation and shall be constructed in accordance with such design.

• C. All grease traps shall be installed and connected so that they are at all times easily accessible for inspection, cleaning, and removal of intercepted grease, oil, sand, or other objectionable material.

• D. All grease traps shall be situated on the user's premises, but the city may, when such a location would be impractical or cause undue hardship on the user, allow the facility to be constructed in the public street or sidewalk area and located so that it will not be obstructed by landscaping or parked vehicles.

• E. Any waste discharge from fixtures and equipment in the above-mentioned types of businesses or establishments, which may contain grease, oil, sand, or other objectionable materials including, but not limited to, scullery sinks, pot and pan sinks, dishwashers, food waste disposals, soup kettles, and floor drains located in areas where such objectionable materials may exist, may be drained into the sanitary sewer system through the grease trap when approved by the city engineer; provided, however, that toilets, urinals, wash basins, and other fixtures containing fecal material shall not flow through the grease trap.

• F. All grease traps shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the accumulated grease, oil, sand, or other objectionable material. The use of chemicals to dissolve grease is specifically prohibited. No such accumulated grease, oil, sand, or other objectionable material shall be introduced into any drainage piping or public or private sewer.

• G. All grease traps shall be of substantial construction, made of impervious materials, capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature, and equipped with easily removable covers which, when bolted in place, shall be gastight and watertight.

• H. All abandoned grease traps shall be emptied and filled as required for abandoned septic tanks (Section 1119 of the Uniform Plumbing Code).

• I. All grease traps shall be installed in such a manner that drainage from areas outside the area intended to be served may not enter.

• (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987; Ord. 07-07 § 1, 2007)

Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be installed when the director of public works determines that either the lack of a grease, oil and sand trap or deficiencies in either the operation or maintenance of an existing grease, oil and sand trap warrant it. (Ord. 07-07 § 1, 2007)

All users of the city sanitary sewer system that are subject to the use of either a grease, oil and sand trap or interceptor shall periodically submit maintenance self-monitoring reports in a form and schedule as determined by the director of public works. (Ord. 07-07 § 1, 2007)

All users of the city sanitary sewer system shall permit city representatives access for the purposes of inspecting any portion of the sewer collection system, laterals of the property owner, pretreatment systems including but not limited to physical treatment systems. Inspection fees as adopted by the city council from time to time by resolution shall be applied as a service charge pursuant to HMC § 13.04.740.

(Ord. 07-07 § 1, 2007)

• A. All premises within the city on which sewage is produced shall be connected to the sanitary sewer system except as provided in subsection B of this section.

• B. When a public sewer is not available for a premises to connect to the sanitary sewer system, the premises shall be connected to an approved private sewage disposal system, provided that at such time as a public sewer becomes available to such premises the premises shall immediately connect to the sanitary sewer system. A public sewer shall be considered as not being available to a premises when the closest public sewer or any building or any exterior drainage facility connected thereto is located more than 200 feet from any existing or proposed building or exterior drainage facility on the premises.

• C. There shall be a separate connection to the sanitary sewer system for each premises served except when otherwise authorized by the city manager.

• D. It is unlawful for any person to connect any premises to the sanitary sewer system except as provided in this chapter.

• (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)

The owner of any premises shall be responsible at his own expense for the installation, maintenance, repair, and cleaning out of the building sewer and cleanout, including the connection to the public sewer, for the premises owned by him. Each owner shall install building sewers and cleanouts in accordance with the standards prescribed in HMC Title 15. Each owner shall be liable for any damages which may result from his failure to properly install, maintain, repair, or cleanout the building sewer or cleanout for the premises owned by him. (Ord. 87-09 § 1, 1987)