Lompoc Municipal Code Art. III Discharge Prohibitions and Limitations

A. No user may introduce or cause or allow to be introduced into the POTW any pollutant(s) or wastewater which causes pass-through or interference (as defined in Section 13.16.030 and 40 CFR Part 403.3) with the wastewater system, or causes or significantly contributes to an exceedance of the calculated maximum allowable headworks loading for any given pollutant. 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. No person may discharge, or cause or allow to be discharged, any pollutant or water containing pollutants onto the ground, public right-of-way, easement, storm drain, or watercourse without proper authorization from applicable Federal, State, or local authorities.

(Prior code § 3355; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

No user shall introduce, cause, or allow to be introduced any of the following described pollutants, substances, or wastewater to a City sewer:

A. Fire or Explosion Hazards. Any solid, liquid, or gas which, by itself or by interaction with other substances, may cause fire or explosion hazards, or in any other manner create imminent endangerment to the wastewater system, wastewater personnel, the environment, or the public health. At no time shall the reading on a combustible gas meter, at the point of discharge or at any point in the wastewater system exceed 5% of the LEL of the meter. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, other substances having a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides, sulfides, and any other substance which may represent a fire hazard, health hazard, environmental hazard, or hazard to the wastewater system.

B. pH or Corrosion Hazards. Any wastewater having a pH less than 5.0, or otherwise having any corrosive property capable of causing damage to the wastewater system.

C. Solid or Viscous Waste. Any solid waste or viscous materials, of such character or in such quantity that may cause, as determined by the Director, an obstruction to the flow in the sewer or interfere with the proper function of the wastewater system.

D. Excessive Flow or Pollutant Concentrations. Pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), 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.

E. Reactive Materials. Any reactive material(s) capable of producing toxic fumes, or any noxious or malodorous liquids or gases which either singly, or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to create a public nuisance, may cause acute worker health and safety problems, present hazard to life, or are sufficient to prevent entry into a sewer for maintenance and repair.

F. Heat. Heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in the wastewater treatment plant, resulting in interference. In no case shall any discharge to the sewerage system exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) at the point of discharge, or cause the temperature at the influent to the wastewater treatment plant to exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

G. Slug Loads. Slug loads of compatible or incompatible pollutant(s).

H. Color. Any discharge with color not removed in the wastewater treatment process.

I. Concentration. Any discharge with a concentration of reducing agents or substances which will significantly increase the chlorine requirement or the amount of other disinfecting agent required, or upset biological stabilization, or impose an additional air requirement.

J. Sludge Material. Sludges, screenings, or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial wastes.

K. Toxicity. Wastewater causing, alone or in conjunction with other sources, the treatment plant's effluent to fail a toxicity test.

L. Detergents, surface-active agents, or other substances that might cause excessive foaming in the POTW.

M. Fats, Oils, and Grease. Any discharge of fat, oils or grease, including, but not limited to, oils of animal or vegetable origin, petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin, into any onsite sewage treatment and disposal system or the sanitary sewer system in amounts which hinder the operation of any onsite sewage treatment and disposal system or sewage collection, transmission, or treatment system; exceeds the oil and grease effluent limits in this Chapter; cause a sanitary nuisance; or cause or contribute to interference or pass through at the POTW.

N. Interference. Any substance which may cause the wastewater system, its effluent, or any other product such as residues, sludges, or scums, to be unsuitable for reclamation or reuse, or to interfere with the reclamation process. In no case shall any substance discharged to a City sewer cause the City to be in violation of its NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation), or prevent sludge use and disposal in compliance with any statutory provision contained in:

1. Section 405 of the Act;

2. The SWDA (including Title II, more commonly referred to as the RCRA);

3. The Clean Air Act;

4. The TSCA;

5. The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act; and

6. Any State criteria applicable to the sludge management method used by the City.

O. Violations. Any waste which violates any statute, rule, regulation, or ordinance of any public agency having jurisdiction over the discharge of wastewater through the sanitary sewer system.

P. Significant Change. Any significant change in the nature or quantity of wastewater discharged to the wastewater system, unless prior notice has been given to the City and approved in writing by the Director. For the purposes of this Chapter, a "significant change" is any change which results in a long-term average flow rate change of 20% or more, or results in a long-term average change in concentration of any pollutant(s) of 20% or more, or would cause the user to violate a local limit or other pretreatment standard.

Q. Trucked or Hauled Waste. Trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the Director.

(Prior code § 3356; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

The discharge of any hazardous substance is prohibited. Any user that generates, treats, stores, transports, or disposes of hazardous waste must notify the appropriate Federal, State, and local oversight authorities and shall comply with all applicable hazardous waste management requirements.

A. Any user who discharges hazardous waste shall notify the POTW, the EPA Regional Waste Management Division Director, and State hazardous waste authorities, in writing, of any discharge into the POTW of a substance which, if otherwise disposed of, would be a hazardous waste under 40 CFR Part 261. Such notification must include the name of the hazardous waste as set forth in 40 CFR Part 261, the EPA hazardous waste number, and the type of discharge (continuous, batch, or other). If the user discharges more than 100 kilograms of such waste per calendar month to the POTW, the notification also shall contain the following information to the extent such information is known and readily available to the user: (i) an identification of the hazardous constituents contained in the wastes; (ii) an estimation of the mass and concentration of such constituents in the wastestream discharged during that calendar month; and (iii) an estimation of the mass of constituents in the wastestream expected to be discharged during the following 12 months. All notifications must take place no later than 180 days after the discharge commences. Any notification under this paragraph need be submitted only once for each hazardous waste discharged. However, notifications of changed conditions must be submitted under Section 13.16.380.H of this Chapter. The notification requirement in this Section does not apply to pollutants already reported by users subject to categorical pretreatment standards under the self-monitoring requirements of this Chapter.

B. In the case of any new regulations under Section 3001 of RCRA identifying additional characteristics of hazardous waste or listing any additional substance as a hazardous waste, the user must notify the Director, the EPA Regional Waste Management Waste Division Director, and State hazardous waste authorities of the discharge of such substance within 90 days of the effective date of such regulations.

C. This provision does not create a right to discharge any substance not otherwise permitted to be discharged by this ordinance, a permit issued thereunder, or any applicable Federal or State law.

(Prior code § 3357; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

Waste haulers shall not discharge trucked or hauled waste, either domestic or industrial, to the City's wastewater system except at such City-owned facilities as may be constructed and operated specifically to receive such wastes, and as authorized in accordance with the terms and conditions of a wastewater discharge permit. Trucked or hauled wastes include but are not limited to septic tank, chemical toilet, cesspool or seepage pit waste, and any waste recovered from a trap. Recreational vehicles may discharge domestic holding tank waste only at locations designated by the Director and authorized specifically for that purpose.

The Director may prohibit the disposal of trucked or hauled waste. Any discharge of trucked or hauled waste is subject to the requirements of this ordinance. The Director may collect samples of each trucked or hauled load to ensure compliance with applicable standards and the waste hauler may be required to provide a waste analysis of any load prior to discharge. The Director may require waste haulers to provide a waste-tracking form for every load, including any information deemed necessary to characterize the waste and the circumstances of discharge.

(Prior code § 3358; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

A. The following wastes shall not be discharged from a medical facility to the City sewer by any means:

1. Infectious wastes;

2. Recognizable portions of the human anatomy;

3. X-ray processing waste and radioactive waste, except as authorized in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.16.290.

B. Infectious waste generated by medical facilities shall be handled in accordance with applicable provisions of CCR Title 22, as amended, applicable County requirements, and the applicable provisions of this Chapter.

(Prior code § 3359; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

No user shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, any radioactive waste into a City sewer unless:

A. Discharged in strict conformity with applicable regulations, standards, and limitations;

B. Authorized to use radioactive materials by the State Department of Health and/or other governmental agencies empowered to regulate the use of radioactive materials; and

C. Authorized in and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a Class I or Class II user permit.

(Prior code § 3360; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

Storm water, groundwater, street drainage, surface drainage, subsurface drainage, yard drainage, swimming pool water (including spas and hot tubs), and other unpolluted waters such as non-contact cooling water shall not be discharged to a City sewer except as authorized in a temporary user permit secured in accordance with this Chapter.

(Prior code § 3361; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

Swimming pool water (including spas and hot tubs) shall not be discharged to a City sanitary sewer except as authorized in a wastewater discharge permit secured in accordance with this Chapter. Backwash water, and any waste generated by acid cleaning of a swimming pool are considered polluted water and may be discharged to a sanitary sewer, provided that the City is notified at least 24 hours prior to the discharge and the pH requirements of this Chapter are not violated.

(Prior code § 3362; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

A. It is unlawful to install, replace, operate, or enlarge an apparatus for softening all or any part of the water supply to any premises within City jurisdiction when such apparatus is an ion-exchange softener or demineralizer of the type that is regenerated on the site of use with the regeneration wastes being discharged to the ground or City sewerage system, unless the softener or demineralizer, including those used for domestic, commercial, or industrial operations, meets or exceeds the minimum standards specified in California Health and Safety Code Sections 116775 to 116795, relating to water softening or conditioning. This Section shall not apply to apparatus of the type which is regenerated off site by a water conditioning company.

B. A person installing or operating a legal water-treating apparatus of any kind shall make such apparatus accessible to the Director for inspection at all reasonable times and shall make such report relative to such apparatus as the Director may request.

(Prior code § 3363; Ord. 1619(15) § 1; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

No user shall ever increase the use of process water, or in any way attempt to dilute a discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment in order to achieve compliance.

(Prior code § 3364; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)

A. The Director shall develop discharge limitations as necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Chapter. The Director is authorized to establish local effluent limitations pursuant to 40 CFR 403.5(c) through (d). Discharge limitations may be adopted by ordinance or resolution of the City Council, or may be incorporated into the user's wastewater discharge permit. Discharge limitations shall not be imposed until individual notice is given to persons or groups who have requested such notice, and until such persons or groups are given an opportunity to show cause, if they have any, why discharge limitations should not be imposed upon them. Discharge limitations specified as a condition to Class I or Class II user permits shall supersede the limitations imposed under Subsection B of this Section.

B. Except as authorized in accordance with the terms and conditions of a Class I or Class II user permit, no user shall discharge, after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter, wastewater containing pollutants in excess of the quantities specified herein.

The above limits apply at the point where the wastewater is discharged to the POTW. All concentrations for metallic substances are for total metal unless indicated otherwise. The Director may impose mass limitations in addition to, or in lieu of, the concentration-based limitations above.

C. The Director may develop Best Management Practices (BMPs), by ordinance or in wastewater discharge permits to implement local limits and the requirements of this Chapter. Such BMPs shall be considered local limits and Pretreatment Standards for the purposes of this part and Section 307(d) of the Act.

D. Surcharge Program. Unless otherwise allowed in accordance with the provisions contained in this Section, all users discharging wastewater into the POTW with a BOD concentration greater than 300 mg/L or a TSS concentration greater than 300 mg/L shall treat the wastewater to meet discharge limits established by the Director. The Director may, subject to availability of capacity in City treatment facilities, grant users conditional approval to discharge BOD or TSS at greater concentrations with payment of a surcharge. That conditional approval is a privilege provided to the user by the Director at the Director's sole discretion. When the Director conditionally approves the acceptance of wastewater with concentrations greater than the limitations specified for BOD (300 mg/L) or TSS (300 mg/L), the user understands and agrees that the Director reserves the right to revoke the conditional approval at any time (for example, without limitation, if the City's wastewater treatment facility approaches its design capacity; if the City's NPDES permit is modified; etc.) and to require pretreatment so that the wastewater discharge complies with the permit, discharge authorization, order, or the provisions of this Chapter.

Surcharge is an additional payment to the City for the privilege of being able to discharge industrial wastewater to the POTW at concentrations in excess of those set forth above. The Director may develop and implement surcharges for any other pollutants of concern as necessary to provide incentive for users to limit or reduce high strength waste discharges and/or recover costs. Surcharge provides a means of cost recovery proportionate to the level of service provided. The surcharge regulations also aid the City in complying with state and federal regulations, guidance and policy that provides that industrial users pay their proportionate share of costs for treating industrial wastewater. The surcharge rate shall include the City's cost of local capital treatment improvements, debt service charges, and O&M, which are recovered from industry on a proportionate basis. Calculation of surcharge rates is further described in Section 13.16.410.B. The basis and application of surcharge for parameters other than BOD and TSS will be determined on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Director.

(Prior code § 3365; Ord. 1740(25), 12/16/2025)