Millbrae Municipal Code § 8.20.290 Prohibited waste discharges

A. No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged to the city's wastewater collection system wastewater or pollutants which will cause pass-through or interference. These general prohibitions apply to all users of the POTW whether or not they are subject to categorical pretreatment standards or any other federal, state or local pretreatment standards or requirements.

B. No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the city's wastewater collection system any wastewater or pollutants that may have an adverse or harmful effect on sanitary sewers, maintenance personnel, wastewater treatment plant personnel, equipment, effluent quality, public or private property, or otherwise endanger the public or environment, or create a public nuisance. The pretreatment supervisor shall, from time to time, prepare a list of the maximum permissible quantities or concentrations of certain constituents in the industrial wastewater flows through the development and revision of local limits and the incorporation of promulgated state and federal limits and standards which shall be adopted by ordinance by the city council. The director or authorized representatives may issue detailed directions for meeting the requirements of this section either through the issuance of permits or enforcement actions or both.

C. All dischargers to the city's wastewater collection system shall comply with applicable effluent limits, standards and regulations set forth in 40 CFR, Subchapter N, Section 401 et seq. No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged any wastes which violate the National General and Specific Prohibited Discharges as set forth in 40 CFR 403.5(a)(1) and 40 CFR 403.5(b)(1) through 403.5(b)(8).

D. No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged to the city's wastewater collection system the following pollutants, substances or wastewater:

1. Any liquids, solids or gases which by reason of their nature or quantity are, or may be, sufficient either alone or by interaction with other substances to cause fire or explosion or be injurious in any other way to the POTW, or to the operation of the POTW, or any pollutants with a closed-cup flashpoint of less than one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit or sixty degrees Celsius using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21. At no time shall two successive readings on an explosion hazard meter, at any point in the system, be more than five percent, nor any single reading over ten percent, of the lower explosive limit of the meter. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides and sulfides and any other substances which are a fire hazard or a hazard to the city's POTW system;

2. Wastewater having a pH lower than 6.0 or higher than 9.0 or having properties that cause corrosive structural damage to the POTW or equipment or to personnel;

3. Any solids or viscous substances of such size or in such quantity that they may cause flow obstruction in the POTW which results in interference. 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, wood, whole blood, paunch manure, bones, hair and fleshing, entrails, paper dishes, paper cups, milk containers, or other similar paper products, either whole or ground;

4. Any pollutant, including oxygen-demanding pollutants such as BOD and COD discharged in quantities or concentrations which, either alone or by interaction with other pollutants, will cause interference within the POTW;

5. Any wastewater having a temperature of one hundred eighty degrees Fahrenheit (eighty-two degrees Celsius) or higher at point of discharge or causing POTW influent to exceed one hundred four degrees Fahrenheit (forty degrees Celsius), or temperature which will inhibit biological activity at the POTW resulting in interference;

6. Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, refined petroleum products or other products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause interference within the POTW, or pass-through;

7. Any pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors or fumes within the POTW in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems;

8. Discharges of trucked or hauled wastes to the city's wastewater collection system except at points designated by the superintendent in accordance with MMC § 8.20.360, § 8.20.370 and § 8.20.380;

9. Wastewater containing iron, boron, plastic, resins and toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases in such quantity that alone, or in combination with other discharges, may create a hazard to humans, animals, the local environment, interfere with the POTW, cause a public nuisance, or cause any hazardous condition to occur in the POTW;

10. Any substance which may cause the POTW's effluent or any other product of the POTW, such as residues, sludges, or scums, to be unsuitable for reclamation or reuse or to interfere with the reclamation process;

11. Any wastewater containing dispersed biodegradable oils and fats, such as lard, tallow or vegetable oil, in concentrations that will cause interference or pass-through to occur within the POTW;

12. Any strongly odorous wastewater or wastewater tending to create odors;

13. Any wastewater containing over one-tenth milligram per liter of dissolved sulfides;

14. Any wastewater containing excessive quantities of chlorine or other chemical compounds used for disinfection purposes;

15. Any wastewater containing excessive amounts of chlorinated hydrocarbon or organic phosphorus-type compounds;

16. Deionized water, steam condensate or distilled water in such quantities or volume that causes upset, interference or pass-through to occur at the POTW;

17. Any wastewater containing substances that may precipitate, solidify or become viscous at temperatures between fifty degrees Fahrenheit and one hundred degrees Fahrenheit;

18. Any pollutant producing excessive discoloration of wastewater or POTW effluent;

19. Any allowable discharge including garbage that is not ground sufficiently to pass through a three-eighths-inch screen;

20. Any blow-down or bleed water from cooling towers or other evaporation units that exceeds one-third of the makeup water;

21. Any single-pass cooling water;

22. Any wastewater containing any quantity of wastes or isotopes except when the discharge complies with federal and state regulations;

23. Wastewater containing any portions of the human anatomy;

24. Any hazardous waste; or

25. Any substance and/or waste which results in extra cost to the city for collection, treatment, or disposal.

E. Pollutants, substances or other discharges prohibited by this section shall not be processed or stored in such a manner that they could either intentionally or accidentally be discharged to the POTW.

(1976 Code § 8-4.301; Ord. 740 § 4; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

Waste not permitted to be discharged into the city's wastewater collection system must be transported to a state-approved disposal site or otherwise legally and properly disposed of. The city may require that a copy of all hazardous waste manifests, bills of lading, chain of custody forms, or other receipts be submitted to verify proper disposal.

(1976 Code § 8-4.302; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

A. The city reserves the right, by ordinance or in wastewater discharge permits, to establish more stringent regulations, standards or requirements on discharges to the POTW.

B. The following maximum numerical limits are established to protect against pass-through and interference. No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged any wastewater containing in excess of the following constituents:

The above limits apply at the point where the wastewater is discharged to the POTW. All concentrations for metallic substances are for total metal. The superintendent may impose mass limitations in addition to, or in place of, the maximum limitations above.

C. The city reserves the right, by ordinance or in wastewater discharge permits, to lower the concentration limitations for the above constituents if it is evident that the wastewater from any one or number of dischargers is causing the effluent from the POTW to exceed the limits set forth in the city's NPDES permit.

D. At no time shall an industrial user increase the use of process water or in any other way attempt to dilute a waste stream as a partial or complete substitute for treatment that is otherwise needed to achieve compliance with a pretreatment standard or requirement unless expressly authorized by an applicable pretreatment standard or requirement.

(1976 Code § 8-4.303; Ord. 740 § 4; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

No user shall discharge any other pollutants, including oxygen demand pollutants (BOD, etc.) released at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which may cause upset, pass-through, interference, limit the POTW's sludge disposal options, or violate NPDES effluent limits, guidelines or regulations set forth in 40 CFR, Subchapter N, Section 401 et seq. In no case shall a slug load exceed any effluent limits included in the user's permit.

(1976 Code § 8-4.304; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the city's wastewater collection system any storm water, groundwater, surface water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, artesian well water, condensate, deionized water, pond or fountain water, noncontact cooling water and unpolluted wastewater, yard drainage, ponds or lawn sprays into any of the city's wastewater collection system unless specifically authorized by the superintendent.

(1976 Code § 8-4.305; Ord. 720 § 1)

All users must apply for a permit from the pretreatment supervisor prior to discharging swimming pool water to the city's wastewater collection system. Swimming pool water discharges are subject to all provisions listed in the Millbrae Municipal Code. The city may require the user to submit information about the proposed swimming pool water discharges including a chemical analysis, the volume of discharge, the type of disinfection used, and the proposed discharge method. The city may regulate the discharges in a variety of ways which may include designating the size of pipe to be used for discharging the water, limiting the rate of discharge, and requiring the installation of backflow prevention devices and pretreatment equipment. Chapter 8.70 MMC, Storm Water Management and Discharge Control, prohibits the discharge of chlorinated swimming pool water into the city's storm water collection system.

(1976 Code § 8-4.306; Ord. 720 § 1)

A. Hospitals, clinics, offices of medical doctors and convalescent homes:

1. May discharge through a city-approved grinder installation with inlet size and design features suitable for its intended use and so constructed that all particles pass through a maximum three-eighth-inch opening, wastes of the following categories:

a. Wet organic kitchen wastes from food preparation and disposal, but excluding all paper and plastic items,

b. Infectious wastes, defined as:

i. Laboratory and surgical operating-room wastes, except as excluded in subsection (A)(2)(b) of this section,

ii. Wastes from outpatient areas and emergency rooms similar to those included in subsection (A)(1)(b)(i) of this section,

iii. Solid wastes generated in the rooms of patients who are not isolated because of a suspected or diagnosed communicable disease;

2. Shall not discharge to the sanitary sewer by any means:

a. Equipment, instruments, utensils or materials of a disposable nature that may harbor or transmit pathogenic organisms and that are used in the rooms of patients having a suspected or diagnosed communicable disease which by the nature of the disease is required to be isolated,

b. Any portions of the human anatomy,

c. Hypodermic needles, syringes and associated articles,

d. Wastes excluded by other provisions of this chapter except as specifically permitted in subsection (A)(1) of this section.

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the regulatory authority of San Mateo County health officials, including their authority to require proper collection, storage, transport and disposal of infectious and hazardous wastes.

(1976 Code § 8-4.307; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

No user shall discharge any holding tank waste into the city's wastewater collection system unless he/she has been issued a temporary wastewater discharge permit by the superintendent. Unless otherwise allowed by the city under the terms and conditions of the permit, a separate permit must be secured for each discharge. This permit may state the specific location of discharge, the time of day the discharge is to occur, the volume of the discharge, and the wastewater constituents and characteristics. If a permit is granted for discharge of such waste into the city's wastewater collection system, the user shall pay the applicable charges and fees as established in Article VII of this chapter, Fees and Charges, and shall meet such other conditions as required by the city.

(1976 Code § 8-4.308; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged directly or indirectly to the city's wastewater collection system any holding tank waste originating from a temporary sanitation facility such as: recreational vehicles, boats, campers, mobile homes, trailers, portable toilets, chemical toilets or septic tank waste originating from any other source unless a wastewater discharge permit has been issued by the superintendent. The permit will identify the acceptable location, time, quantity and quality of discharge originating from portable sanitation facilities.

(1976 Code § 8-4.309; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

Industrial waste haulers shall comply with and are subject to the following discharge requirements:

A. Industrial waste haulers are required to obtain a wastewater discharge permit from the superintendent.

B. Generators of hauled industrial waste may be required to obtain wastewater discharge permits.

C. The discharge of hauled industrial waste may be prohibited by the superintendent.

D. Industrial waste may be discharged only at location(s) designated by the superintendent.

E. No load may be discharged without prior consent of the superintendent.

F. Samples from each load may be collected and analyzed, at the expense of the hauler, to ensure compliance with applicable standards.

G. The industrial waste hauler may be required to provide a waste analysis of any load prior to discharge.

H. Industrial waste haulers must provide a waste-tracking form for every load. The form shall include the name and address of the industrial waste hauler, permit number, truck identification, names and addresses of sources of waste, the volume and characteristics of the waste, type of industry the waste originated from, known or suspected waste constituents, and whether any wastes are RCRA hazardous wastes.

I. The discharge of hauled industrial waste is subject to all requirements contained in this chapter.

(1976 Code § 8-4.310; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

Groundwater from underground storage tank remediation sites, well drilling sites, monitoring wells, or other sources is subject to all provisions in this chapter.

(1976 Code § 8-4.311; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged into any stream or watercourse sewage, industrial waste or any other pollutants.

(1976 Code § 8-4.312; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

The city's storm water collection system is for the purpose of collecting and transporting rain water only. Direct or indirect discharges of anything other than rain water to the city's storm water collection system are prohibited unless otherwise set forth in Chapter 8.70 MMC, Storm Water Management and Discharge Control.

(1976 Code § 8-4.313; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)

No user shall discharge any substances directly into a manhole or other opening in the city's wastewater collection system other than through an approved sanitary sewer lateral, unless he/she has been issued a permit by the superintendent. If a permit is issued for such direct discharge, the user shall pay the applicable charges and fees, as established in Article VII of this chapter, Fees and Charges, and shall meet such other conditions as required by the city.

(1976 Code § 8-4.314; Amended by Ord. 720 § 1; Ord. 637 § 2)