South Lake Tahoe Municipal Code Art. II Discharge Prohibitions

No person or entity shall discharge or cause to be discharged into the storm drain system or waters of the state any non-storm water discharges, except as exempted below in this section, or any materials, including but not limited to pollutants or waters containing any pollutants that cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards, other than storm water. Wastes deposited in proper waste receptacles for the purposes of collection and disposal are exempted from this prohibition.

A. Illegal discharges from industrial and/or commercial sources into the storm drain system or waters of the state include, but are not limited to, the following and are prohibited, unless the discharge is permitted under a separate NPDES permit other than the Tahoe municipal storm water permit:

1. Water from the cleaning of gas stations, vehicle service garages, or other types of vehicle service facilities;

2. Water, cleansers, or solvents from the cleaning of vehicles, machinery or equipment, and other such commercial and industrial activities;

3. Water from the washing or rinsing of vehicles containing soap, detergents, solvents, or other cleaners;

4. Water from the washing or rinsing of vehicles, with or without soap, from auto body repair shops;

5. Water from the cleaning or rinsing of vehicle engine, undercarriage, or auto parts cleaning;

6. Vehicle fluids;

7. Mat wash and hood cleaning water from food service facilities;

8. Food and kitchen cleaning water from food service facilities;

9. Leakage from dumpsters or trash containers;

10. Water from the cleaning or rinsing of garbage dumpster areas and areas where garbage is stored or contained;

11. Water from pressure washing, steam cleaning, and hand scrubbing of sidewalks, gutters, plazas, alleyways, outdoor eating areas, steps, building exteriors, walls, driveways, and other outdoor surfaces;

12. Deposition of sediment from landscaping activities, such as blowing, sweeping, or washing waste materials into the storm drain system;

13. Wastewater or cleaning fluids from carpet cleaning;

14. Swimming pool and spa water;

15. Washout from concrete trucks;

16. Runoff from areas where hazardous substances, including diesel fuel, gasoline and motor oil, are stored, except as allowed by SLTCC § 7.15.090.

17. Super-chlorinated water normally associated with the disinfection of potable water systems and swimming pools;

18. Construction debris, such as, but not limited to, paint, dirt, and wash water; or

19. Sewage or other forms of pollutants from recreational activities including boating and camping, and from recreational vehicles and boats.

B. Exemptions to Prohibited Discharges.

1. Discharges from the following activities shall not be prohibited, as long as such activities are properly managed, and except as otherwise provided by this article:

i. Potable water line flushing or other potable water sources;

ii. Landscape irrigation and lawn watering not containing pollutants such as sediment, pesticides, or fertilizers;

iii. Pumped groundwater not containing pollutants;

iv. Rising groundwater; diverted stream flows, springs and flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;

v. Groundwater infiltration not containing pollutants;

vi. Foundation and footing drains and water from crawl space pumps not containing pollutants;

vii. Air conditioning condensation;

viii. Nonindustrial roof drains not containing pollutants;

ix. Flows from firefighting activities and flushing and testing of fire hydrants; and

x. Any non-storm water discharge permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger 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 order and other applicable laws and regulations; and provided, that written approval has been granted by the city for any discharge to the storm drain system.

2. With written concurrence of the Regional Board, the city may exempt in writing other non-storm water discharges which are not a source of pollutants to the storm drain system or waters of the state.

3. If the Regional Board or the city manager determines that a discharge which is otherwise exempt from the prohibitions on discharges causes or significantly contributes to a violation of any receiving water limitation or results in the conveyance of significant quantities of pollutants to surface waters, or is otherwise a danger to public health or safety, the city manager may give written notice to the owner or operator of the facility that the discharge exception shall not apply.

(Ord. 1050 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1997 § 35-7)

A. The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the storm drain system is prohibited.

B. This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.

(Ord. 1050 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1997 § 35-8)

Any person subject to an industrial or construction activity NPDES storm water discharge permit shall comply with all provisions of such permit. Proof of compliance with said permit may be required in a form acceptable to the city manager prior to or as a condition of a subdivision map, site plan, building permit, or development or improvement plan; upon inspection of the facility; during any enforcement proceeding or action; or for any other reasonable cause.

(Ord. 1050 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1997 § 35-9)