Lincoln Municipal Code Art. II Discharge Prohibitions

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the municipal storm drain system, water body or watercourse any pollutants, materials, or stormwaters containing any pollutants, any prohibited nonstormwater, or any water that otherwise causes or contributes to a violation of applicable water quality standards. Pollutant stormwater discharges and all prohibited nonstormwater runoff discharges to the city's storm drainage system, a Water of the United States or a Water of the State are prohibited.

The commencement, conduct or continuance of any illicit discharge to the storm drain system is prohibited except as described as follows:

(1) The following nonstormwater discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions established by this ordinance: water line flushing or other potable water sources, landscape irrigation or lawn watering, diverted stream flows, rising groundwater, groundwater infiltration to storm drains, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, foundation or footing drains (not including active groundwater dewatering systems), crawl space pumps, air conditioning condensation, springs, noncommercial washing of vehicles, natural riparian habitat or wetland flows, swimming pool water (if dechlorinated}, firefighting activities, and any other water source not containing pollutants.

(2) Discharges specified in writing by the city as being necessary to protect public health and safety.

(3) Dye testing is an allowable discharge, but requires a written notification to the city prior to the time of the test.

(4) The prohibition shall not apply to any nonstormwater discharge permitted under a NPDES permit issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the Federal EPA or the State Water Quality Control Board, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations, and provided that written approval has been granted for any discharge to the storm drain system.

(Ord. No. 894B, § 1, 12-9-2014)

The construction, use, or continued existence of illegal connections to the city's storm drainage system is prohibited.

(1) This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illegal connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.

(2) A person is considered to be in violation of this chapter if the person connects a line conveying sewage to the storm drainage system, or allows such a connection to continue.

(3) All connections of piping or any other type of conveyance system to the city's storm drainage system that is not permitted or otherwise approved by the city is prohibited.

(Ord. No. 894B, § 1, 12-9-2014)

No person shall throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep, or permit to be thrown, deposited, left, or maintained in or upon any public or private property, driveway, parking area, street, alley, sidewalk, component of the storm drain system, or Waters of the U.S., any refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects, articles, and accumulations, so that the same may cause or contribute to pollution. Wastes deposited in streets in proper waste receptacles for the purposes of collection are exempted from this prohibition.

(Ord. No. 894B, § 1, 12-9-2014)

No person shall intentionally allow runoff in excess of incidental runoff to escape the area of intended use. Parties responsible for controlling runoff in excess of incidental runoff shall:

(1) Detect leaks and correct leaks within seventy-two hours of learning of the leak.

(2) Properly design and aim sprinkler heads.

(3) Not irrigate during precipitation events.

(4) Manage ponds containing recycled water such that no discharge occurs unless the discharge is a result of a twenty-five-year, twenty-four-hour storm event or greater, and the city is notified in writing no later than twenty-four hours after the discharge. The written notification shall include identifying information, including discharger's name, address, and telephone number.

(Ord. No. 894B, § 1, 12-9-2014)