San Leandro Municipal Code § 3-14-355 Application of Limitations

(Legislative History: Ordinance No. 2014-020, 11/17/14; Ordinance No. 2018-006, 3/19/18 (Sections 3-14-300, 3-14-340, 3-14-370))

A user may not introduce into the POTW any pollutant which causes pass through or interference. These general prohibitions and the specific prohibitions in Sections 3-14-305 and 3-14-310 of this Chapter apply to each user introducing pollutants into the POTW whether or not the user is subject to other National Pretreatment Standards or any other National, State or local pretreatment standards or requirements.

(a) No person shall discharge wastewater containing in excess of:

(b) No person shall discharge any wastewater:

(1) Having a temperature higher than one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140°F) at the point of discharge or raise the POTW influent temperature above one hundred four degrees Fahrenheit (104°F) or that inhibits biological activity in the POTW resulting in interference.

(2) Any water or waste which contains more than 100 parts per million (100 ppm), by weight, of oil or grease of petroleum origin; which contains more than 100 ppm, by weight, of fat, oil or grease of animal or vegetable origin; or which contains grease or oil or other substances that will solidify or become discernibly viscous at temperatures between thirty-two degrees (32°) to one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140°F).

(3) Containing petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will, either singularly or in conjunction with other discharges, cause interference or pass through.

(4) Having a pH lower than 6.0 or higher than 12.4, or having a pH which will cause damage to the collection system or interfere with the POTW treatment processes.

A user may not discharge the following substances to the sanitary sewer system:

(a) Fire or Explosion. Any pollutant with a closed cup flashpoint of less than one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140°F) (60°C). 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 a fire or explosion or to be injurious in any other way to the POTW. At no time, shall two successive readings on an explosion hazard meter, at the point of discharge into the sanitary sewer (or at any point in the system) be more than 5% or any single reading over 10% of the lower explosive limit (LEL) 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.

(b) Obstruction of Flow. Solid or viscous substances which may cause obstruction of the flow in a sewer or other interference with the operation of the wastewater treatment facilities such as, but not limited to: grease, garbage with particles greater than one-half inch in any dimension, animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair hides or fleshings, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, wax, sand, spent lime, stone or marble dust, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, waste paper, wood, plastics, tar, asphalt residues, residuals from refining, or processing of fuel or lubrication oil, mud or glass grinding or polishing wastes.

(c) Toxic Pollutants. Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, to injure or interfere with any wastewater treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a toxic effect in the receiving waters of the POTW, or to exceed the limitation set forth in a Categorical Pretreatment Standard.

(d) Noxious or Malodorous Substances. Any harmful or offensive gases or solids which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to violate air quality standards at the POTW, create a public nuisance or hazard to life or are sufficient to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance and repair.

(e) Disposal/Reclamation. Any substance which may cause the POTW's effluent or any other product of the POTW such as residues, sludge, or scums, to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse or to interfere with the reclamation process. In no case, shall a substance discharged to the POTW cause a violation of the criteria, guidelines or regulations developed under Section 405 of the Act; or any criteria, guidelines or regulations affecting sludge use or disposal developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Clean Air Act, or the Toxic Substances Control Act; or State or local criteria applicable to the sludge disposal site and the sludge management method being used.

(f) Permit Violation. Any substances which will interfere with the wastewater treatment process or cause the POTW to violate its NPDES permit or the receiving water quality standards.

(g) Detrimental Environmental Impact. Any substance which may have a harmful environmental impact or create a nuisance in the waters of the State or a condition which violates the rules and regulations of any public agency having regulatory jurisdiction over the City, including, but not limited to, any statute or any rule, regulation, or ordinance of any public agency or State or Federal regulatory body.

(h) Discoloration. Any wastewater creating discoloration or any other condition in the quality of the POTW effluent such that receiving water quality requirements established by law cannot be met.

(i) Loadings. Any pollutants, including oxygen demanding pollutants, released at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration that will cause interference to the POTW.

(j) Hazard or Public Nuisance. Any waste, which in the opinion of the City may have an adverse or harmful effect on sewers, maintenance personnel, wastewater treatment plant personnel or equipment, treatment plant effluent quality, public or private property or may otherwise endanger the public, the local environment or create a public nuisance. The City shall, in determining the acceptability of specific wastes, consider the nature of the waste and the adequacy of the collection, treatment and disposal system available to accept the waste.

(k) Excessive Flow. Total quantities of flow or instantaneous peaks which, due to volume or manner of delivery, require a disproportionate share of the City's treatment plant capacity. This also includes flows which, alone or in combination with others, cause excessive treatment costs and/or treatment plant process upsets.

(l) Trucked or Hauled Wastes. No trucked or hauled pollutants shall be discharged into the City sanitary sewer system except at discharge points designated by the POTW.

It shall be unlawful to discharge any waste or wastewater into any storm drain or natural outlet unless the user has obtained an NPDES permit and the user is in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations of all other agencies having jurisdiction over such discharge.

Storm water, ground water, street drainage, subsurface drainage or yard drainage shall not be discharged through direct or indirect connections to the sanitary sewer. The City may approve the discharge of such water only when no reasonable alternative method of disposal is available. If a permit is granted for the discharge of such water into the sanitary sewer, the user shall pay the applicable user charges and fees and meet such other conditions as required by the City.

No user shall increase the use of process water or, in any other way, attempt to dilute a discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with limitations contained in the Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standards (see Section 3-14-365 of this Chapter), or any other limitation developed by the City, State, or USEPA.

No user shall, and it shall be unlawful to, discharge, cause to be discharged, or permit to be discharged, any radioactive waste into the sanitary sewer; provided, however, that:

(a) Users authorized to use radioactive materials by the State Department of Health or other governmental agency empowered to regulate the use of radioactive materials may discharge, cause to be discharged, or permit to be discharged such wastes, provided that such wastes are discharged in strict conformance with the then current State of California Code of Regulations, Title 17, any Federal laws and regulations pertaining to radioactive materials, and any recommendations for safe disposal of such wastes as they now exist or may hereafter be amended; and

(b) The user so acting does so in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations of all other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction over such discharges.

No user shall discharge any substance directly into a manhole or other opening in the City sanitary sewer system other than through an approved building sewer, unless approved by the Control Authority.

Waste from garbage grinders shall not be discharged into the sanitary sewer except where wastes are generated in preparation of food consumed in a residence for household use.

Hospitals, clinics, offices of medical doctors, and convalescent homes shall not discharge to the sanitary sewer:

(a) Equipment, instruments, utensils, hypodermic needles, syringes and associated articles.

(b) Any article 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.

(c) Recognizable portions of the human anatomy.

(d) Wastes excluded by other provisions of these regulations. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of appropriate health agencies to define wastes as being infectious and to prohibit discharge to the sanitary sewer.

(a) Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall be installed by the user when, in the opinion of the City, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease, flammable waste, sand or other harmful materials, except that such interceptors shall not be required for dwelling units. Toilets, urinals, wash basins, showers and other fixtures containing fecal matter shall not flow through the interceptor.

(b) All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the Manager. The interceptor shall be installed in conformity with approved plans and in accordance with all City Codes and regulations.

(c) The interceptor shall be installed and connected so as to be readily accessible for inspection, cleaning and removal of grease.

(d) The interceptor shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of accumulated grease and solids. Unless otherwise approved by the Manager, grease interceptors must be pumped in full when the total accumulation of surface grease and settled solids reaches 25% of the grease interceptor's overall liquid depth. All accumulated grease and solid materials shall be removed by a certified waste hauler licensed by the State of California. No accumulated FOG shall be introduced into any drainage piping or public or private sewer. The introduction of emulsifying agents such as chemicals, solvents or enzymes which will cause pass through of grease is strictly prohibited. Bacterial agents used to reduce FOG may be used in addition to regular maintenance, but shall not be a consideration in determining grease interceptor sizing or maintenance frequency. Wastewater in excess of one hundred forty degrees Fahrenheit (140°F) shall not be discharged to the grease interceptor for any duration. Failure to clean or maintain the interceptor shall be a violation and subject to enforcement action.

(e) The user shall develop and maintain a record of periodic maintenance and cleaning/pumping of the interceptor. Records shall be retained for a period of not less than three years.

(f) All fixtures, equipment and drain lines located in a food service establishment which may contain fats, oil and grease (FOG) or other objectionable materials shall be connected to an appropriately sized grease interceptor. The following types of equipment or fixtures identified as a potential source of FOG include, but are not limited to: pre-rinse and/or pre-wash sinks or sinks in dishwashing areas; two or three compartment sinks; wok stoves; soup kettles; self-cleaning stove ventilation/exhaust hood; kitchen floor drains; kitchen floor trench; kitchen floor sinks; mop sinks; and food prep sinks. No sanitizing dishwashers are to be connected to drainage pipes conveying wastewater to a grease interceptor unless such connections are approved by the Manager.

(g) Abandoned interceptors shall be emptied, disconnected and filled as required for abandoned septic tanks (Section 722.0 of the California Plumbing Code).

All limitations, State, Federal, and local shall apply.

The limitations on wastewater strength and prohibitions in these regulations may be supplemented if:

(a) The City determines that existing limitations may not be sufficient to protect the operation of the POTW; or

(b) The City determines that existing limitations may not be sufficient to enable the POTW to comply with water quality standards, or effluent limitations specified in the POTW's NPDES permit; or

(c) The discharge is of such a nature that it reduces or impairs the POTW's recycle, reclamation or disposal options; or

(d) In the Manager's evaluation, the discharge, alone or in combination with any other discharge, poses a threat or unreasonable risk to the POTW or personnel.

The Categorical Pretreatment Standards found in 40 Code of Federal Regulations Chapter I, Subchapter N, Parts 405 to 471 are hereby incorporated into this Chapter by reference. The provision of this Chapter shall conform to these incorporated provisions as they may be amended, unless explicitly modified within this Chapter. Upon promulgation of a new or amended Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standard, the new Federal Standard shall immediately apply to all affected users. The City will notify all affected users of the applicable reporting requirements under 40 CFR 403.12. Regardless of notification, industrial users are required to comply with all applicable Pretreatment Standards and Requirements.

Users shall not discharge to the sewer system any substance that could affect the POTW's effluent and cause violation of its NPDES permit requirements or cause it to be in non-compliance with sludge use, recycle, or disposal criteria pursuant to regulations developed under Sections 204(b) and 405 of the Clean Water Act and Subtitles C and D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. A record of disposal shall be maintained onsite and available for review by the City.

Users shall make wastewater acceptable under the limitations established in these regulations before discharging to the sanitary sewer. Any pretreatment facilities required to pretreat wastewater to a level acceptable to the City shall be provided and maintained at the user's expense. In the event pretreatment or special facilities are required to make the industrial wastes acceptable, the user shall be required to furnish a compliance schedule and plans, approved prior to construction, showing the schedule of activities, time frame and method of pretreatment proposed. The pretreatment facility or measures shall be installed in conformity with the approved plans and other City Codes or regulations. The approval of the pretreatment method will in no way relieve the user from the responsibility of modifying the facility as necessary to produce an effluent acceptable to the City under the provisions of these regulations. Any subsequent changes in the pretreatment facilities or method of operation shall be reported to and be acceptable to the City. The effectiveness of the pretreatment unit discharging to the sanitary sewer will be monitored by the City at the discharger's expense.

Permitted users shall notify the City prior to the introduction of new wastewater or pollutants or any substantial change in the volume or characteristics of the wastewater being introduced into the POTW from user's industrial activities. The City may deny or condition any proposed discharge if the discharge may have potential to violate applicable pretreatment standards or cause the City to violate its NPDES permit. Proposed discharge shall not commence without prior City approval. A written request must be submitted not less than 60 days prior to commencement of any proposed discharge.

In order that employees of users be informed of City requirements, users shall make available to their employees copies of these regulations together with such other wastewater information and notices which may be furnished by the City from time to time directed toward more effective water pollution control.