13.08.110 Sewer – Control of wastewater.
A. No person(s) other than authorized agents of the city shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb the city public sewer or appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the city.
B. No person(s) shall discharge or cause to be discharged any waters such as storm water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, or cooling water to any sewer.
C. No person(s) shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewers:
1. Any water received through infiltration or inflow; or
2. Any wastewater requiring pretreatment per WMC Chapter 13.12.
D. Certain substances, materials, waters or waste shall be limited in discharges to the system to concentrations or quantities which will not harm either the sewers, wastewater treatment process or equipment, will not have an adverse effect on the receiving ground, or will not otherwise endanger lives, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance. The city may set limitations lower than the limitations established in WMC Chapter 13.12 if, in its opinion, such more severe limitations are necessary to meet the above objectives. In forming an opinion as to the acceptability, the city will give consideration to such factors as the quantity of subject waste in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, the wastewater treatment process employed, capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, degree of treatability of the waste in the wastewater treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. The limitations or restrictions on materials or characteristics of waste or wastewater discharged to the sanitary sewer which shall not be violated without approval of the city are as stated in WMC Chapter 13.12.
E. If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in WMC 13.12.030, and which in the judgment of the city may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater facilities, processes, equipment or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the city may:
1. Reject the wastes;
2. Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers as required by WMC Chapter 13.12;
3. Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or
4. Require payment to cover added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing fees.
When considering the above alternatives, the city shall give consideration to the economic impact of each alternative on the discharger. If the city permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the requirements of WMC Chapter 13.12 and the review and approval of the city.
F. Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be installed in every food service establishment, vehicle wash facility, and in other locations at which, in the opinion of the city, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing floatable grease in excessive amounts as specified in WMC 13.12.030(B) or any flammable wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the city, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.
G. Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be cleaned as often as necessary to ensure that sediment and floating materials do not accumulate to impair the efficiency of the interceptor, and shall be fully evacuated and cleaned at least once every 180 days. Where there is a history of noncompliance, the city may require that interceptors be evacuated and cleaned more frequently.
H. A maintenance log shall be kept and each cleaning reported within 10 business days of completion, per the instructions of the director, that indicates the following information:
1. Date the grease, oil, or sand interceptor was serviced;
2. Name of the licensed person or waste disposal firm servicing the interceptor;
3. Waste disposal method used;
4. Gallons of material removed and disposed of;
5. Signature of the user-owner certifying maintenance was conducted in compliance with this chapter.
I. Where pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided or required for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at their expense.
J. The city may require an applicant or person receiving sewer service to provide information needed to determine compliance with this chapter. These requirements may include:
1. Wastewaters discharge average and peak rate and volume over a specified time period;
2. Chemical and biological analysis of wastewater sampled at specified times, locations, durations and frequencies;
3. Information on raw materials, processes and products affecting wastewater volume and quality;
4. Quantity and disposition of specific liquid, sludge, oil, solvent or other materials important to control sewer use;
5. A plot plan of sewers on the user’s property showing sewer and pretreatment facilities location;
6. Details of wastewater pretreatment facilities;
7. Details of system to prevent and control the losses of materials through spills to the public sewer; and
8. Water usage average and peak usage over a specified period of time.
K. All measurements, tests and analysis of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this chapter shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater published by the APHA. Sampling methods, location, times, durations and frequencies are to be determined on an individual basis subject to approval by the city. (Ord. 24-06 § 2, 2024; prior code § 5.20.075)