Williams Municipal Code Art. 1 General Provisions

A. It is the intent of this chapter to establish uniform requirements for the contribution of wastewater to the sewage system and safeguard public health, city staff, the sewage system, and the environment from harmful waste discharges by users.

B. The purpose of this chapter is to set forth:

1. Conditions and limitation on the use of the sewage system;

2. Establish a means to fund the administration, monitoring, inspection, permitting, reporting, and enforcement of this chapter through the collection of fees;

3. Provide for the regulation and control of sewer connections;

4. Establish control mechanisms for food service establishments and industrial users;

5. Prevent pass through and interference at the WWTP;

6. Establish enforcement provisions to resolve noncompliance with the city's ordinance, thereby allowing the city to:

a. Comply with the city's NPDES permit, waste discharge requirements and the laws, regulations and rules imposed upon it by regulatory agencies;

b. Ensure that the sewage system and treatment processes are protected and are able to operate with the highest degree of efficiency.

(Ord. No. 270-25, § 1(Exh. A), 5-21-2025)

This chapter applies to sewer construction, use, maintenance, discharge, deposit, or disposal of wastewater, both directly and indirectly, into and through all city sewerage facilities and to the issuance of wastewater discharge permits and assessment of charges, fees, fines and penalties thereof. All users of the sewage system are subject to its provisions and enforcement.

(Ord. No. 270-25, § 1(Exh. A), 5-21-2025)

A. State and federal law grant the city the authority to regulate and prohibit, by the adoption of an ordinance, and by issuance of wastewater discharge permits, the discharge of any waste, directly or indirectly, to the city sewerage facilities. Said authority includes the right to establish requirements and standards for sewer connections; to establish limits, conditions, and prohibitions; to establish flow rates or prohibit flows discharged to the city sewerage facilities; to require the development of compliance schedules for the installation of equipment systems and materials by all users; and to take all actions necessary to enforce its authority, whether within or outside the city boundaries, including those users that are tributary to the city or within areas for which the city has contracted to provide sewerage services. State and federal laws include but are not limited to:

1. Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly known as the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq);

2. California Porter Cologne Water Quality Act (California Water Code section 13000 et seq.);

3. California Health and Safety Code sections 25100—25259;

4. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.); and

5. California Government Code sections 54739 to 54740.

(Ord. No. 270-25, § 1(Exh. A), 5-21-2025)

A. General. The city may adopt reasonable fees for reimbursement of costs associated with the implementation of this chapter. Fees shall be established from time to time by resolution of the city council in accordance with applicable laws governing the establishment of such fees.

B. Connection fee. A fee for every new connection to the sanitary sewage system at the time application is made for a sewer connection permit.

C. Permit fee. Fees associated with permits issued under this chapter shall be collected in conjunction with the issuance of the permit.

D. Inspection fee. A fee based on the specified frequency of inspection shall be collected at the time of permit issuance or on an annual basis.

E. Other fees. Any other fees the city may deem necessary to carry out this chapter, established from time to time by the city council.

(Ord. No. 270-25, § 1(Exh. A), 5-21-2025)

The public works director is authorized to:

A. Administer this chapter;

B. Issue permits under this chapter;

C. Require the installation and maintenance of pretreatment and/or monitoring facilities and equipment;

D. Conduct inspections of facilities, including but not limited to inspecting and copying records;

E. Require monitoring and reporting of discharges to the sewage system;

F. Monitor the quality of wastewater entering the sewage system;

G. Require the development of spill containment plans and reporting of accidental discharges;

H. Require the development of a slug control plan per 40 CFR 403.8(f)(v);

I. Deny, approve, or approve with conditions, new discharges or changes in the quantity or characteristics of discharges when such discharges do not meet applicable pretreatment requirements as specified in 40 CFR 403.8(f)(1)(i) or this chapter;

J. Take enforcement actions against those who violate or cause violation of this chapter or permit conditions. These actions may include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Issuing letters;

2. Issuing notices of violation;

3. Issuing administrative orders;

4. Issuing cease and desist orders;

5. Issuing administrative fines;

6. Initiating and conducting noncompliance meetings;

7. Initiating and conducting administrative hearings;

8. Petitioning the courts for injunctions or civil penalties;

9. Signing criminal complaints;

10. Terminating service;

11. Requiring payment of fines; and

12. Revoking and/or suspending a permit issued under this chapter.

(Ord. No. 270-25, § 1(Exh. A), 5-21-2025)

The city, California Regional Board Water Quality Control Board, and US EPA (when accompanied by city staff) shall be permitted to enter all properties from which wastes or wastewaters are being or are capable of being discharged into the sewage system for purposes of inspecting, observing, measuring, sampling, and testing pertinent to the discharge of wastes or wastewaters to ascertain whether the intent of this chapter is being met and the user is complying with all requirements. The city shall have access at reasonable times to all parts of the wastewater generating and disposal facilities for the purposes of inspection and sampling. The city shall have the right to set up on the user's property such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling or metering operations. Where a user has security measures in force, the user shall make necessary arrangements so that city staff will be permitted to enter without delay for the purpose of performing their specific responsibilities.

(Ord. No. 270-25, § 1(Exh. A), 5-21-2025)