Mountain View Municipal Code Div. 2 Sewer Authority and Storm Drain Discharge Prohibitions

No premises situated outside of the corporate limits of the city shall be connected to or serviced by the sewer system of the city, with the exception of such governmental agencies or political subdivisions as the city council shall, within its discretion, authorize by resolution. Such authorized outside connection or service shall only be on such terms and conditions as shall be specified in an agreement between such governmental agency or political subdivision and the city, as approved by the city council.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

The city shall own and operate its own sewer system and shall have the exclusive right to conduct sewer operations and regulate sewer services in the city. Service to premises owned, used, occupied or operated by or on behalf of another governmental agency or political subdivision, whether such service is a new service or the reconnection of an already existing private service, shall require council authorization by resolution and shall be on such terms and conditions as shall be specified in an agreement between such governmental agency or political subdivision and the city, as approved by the city council.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

Whenever the fire chief, or any authorized representative of the city, has cause to suspect that a violation of the ordinance codified in this article, which presents an immediate and substantial danger to the public health, safety and welfare, exists at a particular premises within the city, he/she may demand immediate entry in order to conduct an inspection and take steps which are reasonably necessary to eliminate the danger to the public.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

All sewage shall be discharged to public sewers except as provided in this article.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

35.32.3.1. It shall be unlawful to discharge or cause a threatened discharge to any curbside gutter, storm sewer, storm drain gutter, creek or natural outlet any domestic sewage, sanitary sewage, industrial wastes, polluted waters, construction waste, litter or refuse except where permission is granted by the fire chief. Unlawful discharges to storm drains shall include, but are not limited to, discharges from: toilets, sinks, commercial or industrial processes, cooling systems, air compressors, boilers, fabric or carpet cleaning, equipment cleaning, vehicle cleaning, swimming pools, spas, fountains, construction activities (e.g., painting, paving, concrete placement, saw cutting, grading), painting and paint stripping, unless specifically permitted by a discharge permit or unless exempted pursuant to regulations established by the fire chief. Additionally, it shall be unlawful to discharge any pollutants or waters containing pollutants that would contribute to violations of the city's stormwater discharge permit or applicable water quality standards.

35.32.3.2. All water approved for discharge into any curbside gutter, storm sewer, storm drain or natural outlet may be regulated in accordance with the requirements of this chapter pertaining to discharges to the sanitary sewer and subject to additional or modified water quality and quantity standards, at the discretion of the fire chief.

35.32.3.3. Water for which the storm sewer collection system was designed and constructed is limited to stormwater, water from vehicle rinsing, dechlorinated drinking (potable) water, dechlorinated water main flushing water, firefighting water, construction dewatering and certain other types of treated wastewater.

(A) Vehicle rinse water shall contain no soaps, detergents, cleaning additives, oils or greases.

(B) Whenever possible, firefighting wastewater contaminated with toxic or hazardous materials shall be contained and disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local hazardous materials and industrial waste regulations.

(C) Construction dewatering shall contain no organic solvents and be filtered prior to entry into a catch basin.

(D) The fire chief shall review the characteristics of the wastewater proposed to be discharged as well as the method and efficiency of the proposed treatment system to determine consistency with acceptable best management practices prior to approving or disapproving the discharge to the storm sewer collection system.

35.32.3.4. Nothing in MVCC Sec. 35.32.3 shall prohibit any discharge in compliance with an NPDES permit issued to the discharger.

35.32.3.5. Unlawful discharges to the storm drain system, including, but not limited to, spills, sanitary sewer overflows, illicit connections and illegal dumping incidents, shall be immediately reported to the fire chief by the discharger or responsible party. The discharger or responsible party shall also take immediate corrective actions, which include efforts to stop, contain and clean up the discharge.

35.32.3.6. In addition to other enforcement remedies available, the city may bring civil action to impose civil penalties pursuant to Fish and Game Code 5650.1 in an amount not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) per day per violation for violations of this section. In determining the amount of the penalty, the court shall consider all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the nature, circumstances, extent and gravity of the violation. In making this determination, the court shall consider the degree of toxicity and volume of the discharge, the extent of harm caused by the violation, whether the effects of the violation may be reversed or mitigated and, with respect to the defendant, the ability to pay; the effect of voluntary clean-up efforts undertaken; any prior history of violations; the gravity of the behavior; the economic benefit, if any, resulting from the violation; and any other matters the court determines justice may require.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

35.32.4.1. Except as provided in MVCC Sec. 35.38, every separate dwelling, store, restaurant, hotel, roominghouse, apartment house or other place of business shall have a separate connection to the public sewer system, when available, as hereinafter defined in MVCC Sec. 35.32.4.4, with exception that upon written authorization by the public works director, two (2) or more buildings on the same lot may be served by the same connection. Where no public sewer is available, and with written authorization from the public works director, connection may be made to an approved private sewage disposal system.

35.32.4.2. No person shall connect to the public sewer system until a permit therefor shall have been obtained in accordance with the provisions of MVCC Sec. 35.37.

35.32.4.3. Within the limits prescribed by MVCC Sec. 35.32.4.4, the rearrangement or subdivision into smaller parcels of a lot which abuts and is served by a public sewer shall not be deemed cause to permit the construction of a private sewage disposal system, and all plumbing or drainage systems on any such smaller parcel or parcels shall connect to the public sewer.

35.32.4.4. The public sewer may be considered as not being available when such public sewer is located more than two hundred (200) feet from any proposed building or exterior drainage facility to be served thereby.

35.32.4.5. No permit shall be issued for the installation, alteration or repair of any private sewage disposal system, or part thereof, on any lot for which a connection with a public sewer is available.

35.32.4.6. On every lot or premises hereafter connected to a public sewer, all plumbing and drainage systems, or parts thereof, shall be connected with such public sewer, with the exception that single-family dwellings and buildings or structures accessory thereto, existing and connected to a private sewage disposal system prior to the time of connecting the premises to a public sewer, may, when no hazard, nuisance or unsanitary condition is evidenced and written permission has been obtained from the public works director, remain connected to such private sewage disposal system when there is insufficient grade or fall to permit drainage to the sewer by gravity.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

No statement contained in this article shall be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may be imposed by the county health officer, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, or with Chapter 24 of the Mountain View City Code.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

No person shall connect to the public storm sewer system until applicable off-site storm drainage fees have been paid in accordance with rates set by resolution or ordinance of the city council.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

No unauthorized persons shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the public works director.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

Garbage, fruits, vegetables, animal or other solid kitchen waste materials from individual dwelling units resulting from the preparation of any food or drink may be admitted to the sanitary sewer if first passed through a mechanically operated grinder so designed:

(A) That it will operate with cold water flowing into the grinder and through the sink drain line in such manner as to congeal and aerate the solid and liquid greases within the grinding unit.

(B) That it shall discharge wastes at a reasonably uniform rate in fluid form, which shall flow readily through an approved trap, drain line or soil line in a manner which prevents clogging or stoppage of the drain line.

(C) That it shall be of such construction and have such operating characteristics that not more than five (5) percent by weight of all material discharged from it shall have any dimension larger than one-fourth (¼) inch.

(D) That it shall be self-scouring, with no fouling surfaces to cause objectionable odors.

(E) That it shall be free from electrical or mechanical hazards and shall adequately protect the user against injury during operation.

(F) That the installation shall be free from cross-connection to any water pipe.

(G) That the entire installation shall comply in all particulars with the most current provisions of the plumbing and electrical codes as adopted by the city.

35.32.8.1. The final decision as to the sufficiency of the design to meet these requirements shall rest with the public works director.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

Whenever the fire chief, or any duly authorized representative of the city, finds that a nuisance exists which is an actual menace to public health and safety, he may abate the same forthwith.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)

It shall be unlawful for any person to maliciously, willfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the municipal sewage works, industrial wastewater pretreatment or nonpoint source discharge programs. When such activities by any person cause an obstruction, damage or any other impairment to city facilities, the city may assess a charge against the discharger to reimburse the city for costs incurred to clean and/or repair the facility.

(Ord. No. 2.13, § 2, 3/26/13.)