Paso Robles Municipal Code Art. II Prohibitions

Except as provided in Section 14.20.100, no person shall discharge, facilitate, cause, permit or allow to be discharged to the storm drain system, either directly or indirectly, any of the following:

A. Any non-storm water except in compliance with the requirements of this Chapter;

B. Any storm water that may cause or threaten to cause a condition of pollution or nuisance, as defined in water code section 13050;

C. Any storm water that may cause or threaten to cause or contributes to an exceedance of any water quality standard in a statewide water quality control plan, the California Toxics Rule, or the basin plan;

D. Storm water containing hazardous substances;

E. Incidental runoff, in accordance with Chapter 14.02;

F. Any other storm water identified by the director to be a significant source of pollutants.

(Ord. No. 993 N.S. § 1, 7-2-2013)

The following non-storm water discharges to the storm drain system are exempt from the prohibition set forth in Section 14.20.090, unless the director determines such discharge to be a significant source of pollutants, to pose a threat to water quality standards, discharge to an area of special biological significance, or otherwise meet the requirements of Section 14.20.110:

A. Any discharge permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or formal policy, and administered by the State of California under the authority of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or policy and other applicable laws or regulations and provided that written approval, if required, has been granted by the city for any discharge to the storm drain system.

B. Water line flushing;

C. Diverted stream flows;

D. Rising ground waters;

E. Uncontaminated groundwater infiltration (40 CFR 35.2005(20)) to the storm drain system;

F. Uncontaminated pumped ground water;

G. Discharges from potable water sources;

H. Foundation drains;

I. Air conditioning condensation;

J. Springs;

K. Water from crawl space pumps;

L. Footing drains;

M. Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;

N. Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges;

O. Discharge or flow from fire fighting activities.

(Ord. No. 993 N.S. § 1, 7-2-2013)

Notwithstanding the conditional exemptions provided in Section 14.20.100, if the director, independently or at the direction of the regional board, determines that a conditionally exempt discharge is a significant source of pollutants, threatens water quality standards, causes or significantly contributes to a violation of any receiving water limitation, results in the conveyance of significant quantities of pollutants to surface waters, or is otherwise a danger to public health or safety, the director may prohibit, limit, or direct the control of such discharge and may take any enforcement option available under this chapter.

(Ord. No. 993 N.S. § 1, 7-2-2013)

It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain, or cause to be maintained, a threatened prohibited discharge after having received notice of the director's determination as to the existence of a threatened prohibited discharge.

(Ord. No. 993 N.S. § 1, 7-2-2013)

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to establish, use, permit, or maintain, or cause to establish, or continue any illicit connection to the city publicly owned treatment works or to the storm drain system or to commence or continue any illicit discharge to the storm drain system.

B. This prohibition is expressly retroactive and applies to any connection made prior to the effective date of this Chapter, even if such connection was approved by the city.

C. In addition to any remedy provided in this chapter, the director may require by written notice that a person responsible for an illicit connection to the storm drain system eliminate or secure approval for the connection by a specified date. If any person fails to disconnect an illicit connection upon notification by the director, the city may perform the disconnection and pursue the recovery of costs for such disconnection.

(Ord. No. 993 N.S. § 1, 7-2-2013)

Every responsible person for any premises from which there occurs any threatened prohibited discharge or any discharge to the storm drain system which is prohibited by this chapter shall immediately take action to eliminate the source of the discharge, prevent the threatened discharge or the occurrence of future illicit discharges.

(Ord. No. 993 N.S. § 1, 7-2-2013)

Every responsible person for any premises from which incidental runoff originates shall take the following actions to control such runoff:

A. Detect and correct any leak within seventy-two hours of learning of any leak;

B. Cease irrigation activities during precipitation events;

C. Manage any pond 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 regional board is notified by email no later than twenty-four hours after the discharge. Such notice must include identifying information, including the pond owner's name and permit identification number; and

D. Take any actions the director determines are necessary to prevent the discharge of non-storm water runoff to the storm drain system or to the waters of the state or United States.

(Ord. No. 993 N.S. § 1, 7-2-2013)

A. Notwithstanding any other requirement of law, any known or suspected release of materials, pollutants or waste, which may result in pollutants or non-storm water discharges entering storm water, the storm drain system or waters of the state or United States, shall be reported immediately in the following manner by any person in charge of a premises or responsible for the premises' emergency response:

1. The release of a hazardous material shall be immediately reported to emergency services by emergency dispatch services (911).

2. The release of a non-hazardous material shall be reported as follows:

a. To the director and to the twenty-four-hour storm water hotline by phone no later than five o'clock p.m. on the same business day.

b. If the release occurs after five o'clock p.m. on a weekday, on a weekend or holiday, to the storm water pollution line on the same day and to the director by telephone on the next business day.

c. A written notification of the release shall also be made to the director within five business days of the release. A copy of the written notice shall be retained at the premises for at least three years.

B. In addition to the above requirements, release of any hazardous materials or substances, sewage, oil, or petroleum to any waters of the state, or discharged or deposited where it is or probably will be discharged in or on any waters of the state, shall be reported to the state office of emergency services, as required by Sections 13271 and 13272 of California Water Code.

(Ord. No. 993 N.S. § 1, 7-2-2013)