Chapter XV · Utilities

ARTICLE 6. SEWER DISCHARGE CRITERIA

Sections 15-601 to 15-612 · 12 sections

15-601 Prohibited discharge.

No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged to any sanitary sewer any of the following:

(a)Any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters.

(b)Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid, or gas;

(c)Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the sewage treatment facility;

(d)Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.0 or higher than 10.0, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, and personnel of the sewage works;

(e)Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the sewage works such as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, un-ground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails and paper dishes, cups, milk containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders;

(K.S.A. 12-3105; K.S.A. 65-171d; K.S.A. 65-171j; Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-601)

15-602 Regulated discharge.

The discharge of the following substances, materials, waters, or wastes may be regulated, restricted, or prohibited if it appears likely in the opinion of the Director of Public Works that such wastes can harm either the sewers, sewage treatment process or equipment, have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or can otherwise endanger life, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance. In forming his opinion as to the acceptability of these wastes, the Director of Public Works will give consideration to such factors as the quantities of subject wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, nature of the sewage treatment process, capacity of the sewage treatment plant, degree of treatability of wastes in the sewage treatment plant, and other pertinent factors.

(a)Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150° F (65° C).

(b)Any water or waste containing fats, wax, grease, or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of one hundred (100) mg/l or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32° and 150° ‘F (0° and 65° C).

(c)Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three fourths (3/4) horsepower (0.76 hp metric) or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the Director of Public Works.

(d)Any water or wastes containing strong acid iron pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solutions whether neutralized or not.

(e)Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances; or wastes exerting an excessive chlorine requirement, to such degree that any such material received in the composite sewage at the sewage treatment works exceeds the limits established by the Director of Public Works, or an authorized representative for such materials, or pretreatment requirements established by state, federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such discharge.

(f)Any water or wastes containing phenols or other taste- or odor-producing substances, in such concentrations exceeding limits which may be established by the Director of Public Works or an authorized representative for such materials as necessary, after treatment of the composite sewage, to meet the requirements of state, federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such discharge.

(g)Any radioactive wastes’ or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the Director of Public Works or an authorized representative in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations.

(h)Materials which exert or cause:

(1)Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, Fullers earth, lime slurries, and lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride or sodium sulfate).

(2)Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions).

(3)Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the sewage treatment works.

(i)Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes employed, or are amenable to treatment only to, such degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.

(j)Any waters or wastes having (1) a 5-day BOD greater than 300 parts per million by weight, or (2) containing more than 350 parts per million by weight of suspended solids, or (3) having an average daily flow greater than 2 percent of the average sewage flow of the city, shall be subject to the review of the superintendent. Where necessary in the opinion of the superintendent, the owner shall provide, at his expense, such preliminary treatment as may be necessary to (1) reduce the biochemical oxygen demand to 300 parts per million by weight, or (2) reduce the suspended solids to 350 parts per million by weight, or (3) control the quantities and rates of discharge of such waters or wastes. Plans, specifications, and any other pertinent information relating to proposed preliminary treatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of the Director of Public Works, and no construction of such facilities shall be commenced until said approvals are obtained in writing.

(K.S.A. 12-3105; K.S.A. 65-171d; K.S.A. 65-171j; Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-602)

15-603 Permitted actions.

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 Section 15-602; and which in the judgment of the Director of Public Works may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, processes, equipment, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life to constitute a public nuisance, the Director of Public Works or an authorized representative may:

(a)Reject the wastes;

(b)Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewer system;

(c)Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or

(d)Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under the provisions of this article.

If the Director of Public Works or an authorized representative permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the Director of Public Works or an authorized representative, and subject to the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances and laws.

(K.S.A. 12-3105; K.S.A. 65-171d; K.S.A. 65-171j; Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-603)

15-604 Interceptors.

Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Director of Public Works or an authorized representative, such are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients; except that such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the Director of Public Works, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-604)

15-605 Maintenance of facilities.

Where preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-605)

15-606 Access.

When required by the Director of Public Works, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the Director of Public Works. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times.

(K.S.A. 12-3105; K.S.A. 65-170b; Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-606)

15-607 Testing.

All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this article shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater,” published by the American Public Health Association, and shall be determined at the control manhole provided, or upon suitable samples taken at said control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public sewer to the point at which the building sewer is connected. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect of constituents upon the sewage works and to determine the existence of hazards to life, limb, and property. The particular analysis involved will determine whether a 24-hour composite of all outfalls of a premises is appropriate or whether a grab sample or samples should be taken. Normally, but not always, BOD and suspended solids analyses are obtained from 24-hour composites of all outfalls whereas pH’s are determined from periodic grab samples.

(K.S.A. 12-3105; K.S.A. 65-170b; Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-607)

15-608 Right of entry.

The Director of Public Works or an authorized representative of the city bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all private properties and or duly negotiated easements, for the purposes of, but not limited to, inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, repair, maintenance, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-608)

15-609 Liability.

While performing the necessary work on private properties referred to in this section, the Director of Public Works or an authorized representative of the city shall observe all safety rules applicable to the premises established by the company and the company shall be held harmless for injury or death to the city employees and the city shall indemnify the company against loss or damage to its property by city employees and against liability claims and demands for personal injury or property damage asserted against the company and growing out of the gauging and sampling operation, except as such may be caused by negligence or failure of the company to maintain safe conditions as required by this article.

(K.S.A. 65-170b; Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-609)

15-610 Storm water.

Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the Director of Public Works or authorized representative. Such flows are also subject to state and federal regulations.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-610)

15-611 Tampering with sewer system.

No unauthorized person shall maliciously, willfully, or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface, or tamper with any structure, appurtenance, or equipment which is part of the sewer system. Any person violating this provision shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

(Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-611)

15-612 Violations; notice to correct; penalty; civil liability.

(a)Any person found to be violating any provision of this article except Section 15-612 shall be served by the city with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory connection thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.

(b)Any person who shall continue any violation beyond the time limit provided for in this section shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Each 24-hour period in which any such violation shall continue shall be deemed a separate offense.

(c)Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall become liable to the City for any expense, loss, or damage occasioned the city by reason of such violation.

(K.S.A. 65-170d, K.S.A. 65-171f; Ord. 10-4602; Code 2001, 4-612)