Oceanside Municipal Code Art. I In General

For the purposes of this article the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Act or the act. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (PL 92-500), also known as the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 United States Code, 1251 et seq.

Approval authority. The director in an NPDES state with an approved state pretreatment program and the administrator of the EPA in a non-NPDES state or NPDES state without an approved state pretreatment program.

Aquifer. A geological formation, group of formations, or portion of a formation capable of yielding usable quantities of ground water to wells or springs.

Brine. The wastewater from water softener or cooling tower which characteristically has a high salt content.

Building sewer. A sewer conveying wastewater from the premises of a user to the POTW.

City. The City of Oceanside or the City Council of Oceanside.

Cooling water. The water discharge from any use such as air conditioning, cooling or refrigeration, or to which the only pollutant added is heat.

Direct discharge. The discharge of treated or untreated wastewater directly to the waters of the State of California.

Director. The person designated by the city manager to have charge of the administration and supervision of the water utilities department, and such other duties as the city manager may prescribe.

Environmental Protection Agency or EPA. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or, where appropriate, the term may also be used as a designation for the administrator or other duly authorized official of said agency.

Equivalent dwelling unit. "Equivalent dwelling unit" means the unit of measure which is based on the flow characteristics of an average single-family residence in terms of sewage quantity and constituent quality.

Exchange type water softener. The water conditioning apparatus that is removed from the premises upon which it normally operates and is regenerated at a commercial regeneration plant.

Grab sample. A sample which is take from a waste stream on a one-time basis with no regard to the flow in the waste stream and without consideration of time.

Grease. Any material which is extractable from an acidified sample of a waste by hexane or other designated solvent and as determined by the appropriate procedure in "Standard Methods" (includes fats and oils).

Grease interceptor. A pretreatment device designed and installed to separate fats, oils, and grease from wastewater.

Groundwater. Water found in the saturated zone of the earth; normally confined within a water-bearing stratum, or aquifer.

Holding tank waste. Any waste from holding tanks such as vessels, chemical toilets, campers, trailers, septic tanks, and vacuum-pump tank trucks.

House connection. "House connection" means the service pipes from the private property line to the public sewer main or lateral in a public street, alley or easement.

Indirect discharge. The discharge or the introduction of nondomestic pollutants from any source regulated under Section 307(b) or (c) of the act (33 U.S.C. 1317), into the POTW (including holding tank waste discharged into the system).

Living unit. "Living unit" means a living quarter whether located in a single house or in an apartment house or other permanent place of abode, where one single family resides.

Mass emission rate. The weight of material discharged to the sewer system during a given time interval. Unless otherwise specified, the mass emission rate shall mean pounds per day of a particular constituent or combination of constituents.

Medical waste. Isolation wastes, infectious agents, human blood and blood products, pathological wastes, sharps, body parts, contaminated bedding, surgical wastes, potentially contaminated laboratory wastes, and dialysis wastes.

Mobile home. "Mobile home" is a vehicle designed and equipped for human habitation and for being drawn by a motor vehicle. It is designed to be used as a more or less permanent place of abode, as distinguished from a recreational vehicle, which is designed for a temporary or emergency use.

Mobile home park. "Mobile home park" is any area or tract of land where one or more mobile home lots are rented or leased, or held out for rent or lease, to accommodate mobile homes used for human habitation.

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit or NPDES permit. A permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of the act (33 U.S.C. 1342).

National prohibitive discharge standard or prohibitive discharge standard. Any regulation developed under the authority of 307(b) of the act and 40 CFR, Section 403.5.

Person. Any individual, partnership, copartnership, firm, company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, governmental entity or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents or assigns. The masculine gender shall include the feminine, the singular shall include the plural where indicated by the context.

pH. The reciprocal of the logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration. It indicates the intensity of acidity and alkalinity on a pH scale running from 0 to 14. A pH value of 7.0, the midpoint of the scale, represents neutrality. Values above 7.0 indicate alkalinity and those below 7.0 indicate acidity.

Pollution. The manmade or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological integrity of water.

Recreational trailer park. "Recreational trailer park" is defined as any area or tract of land within an area zoned for recreational use where one or more lots are rented or leased, or held out for rent or lease, to owners or users of recreational vehicles or tents, and which is occupied for temporary purposes.

Recreational vehicle. "Recreational vehicle" is a camp car, motor home, travel trailer, or tent trailer with or without motive power designed for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy.

Shall is mandatory; may is permissive.

Special user. A special user shall mean any establishment that discharges more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) gallons per day and/or that has all characteristics of a significant industrial user and/or has loading impacts on the wastewater system of BOD of greater than three hundred (300) parts per million, TSS greater than three hundred (300) parts per million and/or ammonia greater than twenty-five (25) parts per million, and/or any establishment that cannot be classified in any other user category, based on its individual flow and strength characteristics.

Special user flow charge. The special user flow charge is based on an establishment's individual flow and strength characteristics and is determined based on the calculation in section 29.18.

Special user wastewater system buy-in fee. The special user wastewater system buy-in fee is based on an establishment's excess water usage and strength characteristics and is determined based on the calculation in section 29.11.1(a).

Standard industrial classification (SIC). A classification pursuant to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual issued by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, 1987.

Standard methods. The current edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" as published by the American Public Health Association and Water Pollution Control Federation.

State. State of California.

Stormwater. Any flow occurring during or following any form of natural precipitation and resulting therefrom.

Toxic pollutant. Any pollutant or combination of pollutants listed as toxic in regulations promulgated by the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under the provision of CWA 307(a) or other acts.

Wastewater. The liquid and water-carried industrial or domestic wastes from dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and institutions, whether treated or untreated, which is contributed into or permitted to enter the POTW.

Wastewater contribution permit. As set forth in section 29.47.2 of this chapter.

Water utilities department. That certain department, branch or function of the city which cares for the maintenance, operation and construction of water and sanitary sewer systems for the water supply and sanitation of the city. It includes all officers, agents, servants and employees engaged in such work or service.

Waters of the state. All streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, reservoirs, aquifers, irrigation systems, drainage systems and all other bodies or accumulations of water, surface or underground, natural or artificial, public or private, which are contained within, flow through, or border upon the state or any portion thereof.

(Ord. Code §§ 8310—8310.4; Ord. No. 65-26, § 4; Ord. No. 74-64, § 1, 12-18-74; Ord. No. 81-34, §§ 1, 2, 6-3-81; Ord. No. 82-37, § 1, 8-11-82; Ord. No. 85-32, § 1, 11-13-85; Ord. No. 90-35, § 1, 11-28-90; Ord. No. 93-22, § 1, 11-17-93; Ord. 94-16, § 1, 7-20-94; Ord. No. 07-OR0632-1, § 1, 10-3-07; Ord. No. 11-OR0603-1, § 1, 8-17-2011)

The following abbreviations shall have these designated meanings:

BOD. Biochemical oxygen demand.

BPJ. Best professional judgment.

CFR. Code of Federal Regulations.

CIU. Categorical industrial user.

COD. Chemical oxygen demand.

EPA. Environmental Protection Agency.

l. Liter.

LEL. Lower explosive limit.

mg. Milligrams.

mg/l. Milligrams per liter.

NPDES. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.

POTW. Publicly owned treatment works.

SIC. Standard industrial classification.

SIU. Significant industrial user.

SNC. Significant noncompliance.

SWDA. Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C., 6901 et seq.

TDS. Total dissolved solids.

TOMP. Toxic organics management plan.

TRC. Technical review criteria.

TSS. Total suspended solids.

TTO. Total toxic organics.

USC. United States Code.

(Ord. No. 82-37, § 2, 8-11-82; Ord. No. 90-35, § 2, 11-28-90; Ord. 94-16, § 2, 7-20-94)

Every lot, block, tract or parcel of land occupied by a residence, building or place of business shall be connected to the sanitary sewer system where such sewer mains are constructed in the public streets, alleys or an easement adjoining such lot within one hundred (100) feet.

(Ord. Code, § 8321)

No sanitary sewer connection shall serve more than one ownership nor more than one parcel of land.

(Ord. Code, § 8322; Ord. 94-16, § 3, 7-20-94)

All human waste or wastewater for the use of human sanitation shall be discharged into the sanitary sewer system, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(Ord. Code, § 8323)

Subject to the obtaining of prior court approval if necessary under the law, the officers, employees or inspectors of the water utilities department shall have the right to enter upon the premises of any person at reasonable hours to inspect or determine if this chapter is being violated.

(Ord. Code, § 8391; Ord. No. 85-32, § 2, 11-13-85; Ord. No. 99-20, § 1, 10-20-99)

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, the director of the water utilities department ("director") shall administer, implement, and enforce the provisions of this chapter. Any powers granted to or duties imposes upon the director may be delegated by the director to other City of Oceanside personnel.

(b) The director may prescribe rules and regulations consistent with this chapter as are reasonably necessary for the lawful and efficient operation of the sewer system of the city.

(c) The director may prescribe an appeals process as set forth by a policy promulgated by the water utilities department.

(Ord. Code, § 8392; Ord. No. 85-32, § 3, 11-13-85; Ord. No. 93-22, § 2, 11-17-93; Ord. No. 95-018, § 1, 10-18-95)

The director is also authorized to supervise and enforce the provisions of any contract or agreement existing between the city and other persons for the collection of money due to the city and for the refund of any money under the provisions of any contract or agreement or the performance of other duties therein specified.

(Ord. Code, § 8393; Ord. No. 85-32, § 4, 11-13-85)

The director is authorized to carry on any preliminary negotiations or investigation with any person seeking the use of the sewage facilities of the city.

(Ord. Code, § 8394; Ord. No. 85-32, § 5, 11-13-85)

Revenues derived under the provisions of this chapter shall be used only for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, maintenance and operation of the sanitary sewer system, and any surplus thereof shall be applied to the retirement of the bonded indebtedness now outstanding on the sanitary sewer system of the city. Such revenue shall not be used for the acquisition or construction of new local street sewers or laterals as distinguished from main truck, interceptor or outfall sewers.

(Ord. Code, §§ 8395, 8396; Ord. No. 85-32, § 6, 11-13-85; Ord. No. 99-20, § 2, 10-20-99)