HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2726• ORIGINAL
ORDINANCE NO. _2726
ORDINANCE OF THE COllNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING SECTION 16.08.160 AND ADDING CHAPTER 16.09
TO THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE REGULATING AND
CONTROLLING THE DISCHARGE OF lNDUSTRIAL WASTES INTO
THE CITY•s SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
WHEREAS, Section 17958.5 of the Health and Safety Cede
provides that the City may make such changes or modifications
to the uniform codes as it determines are reasonably necessary
because of local conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 16.08.160 of: the Palo Alto Municipal
Code is amended to read:
11 16.08.160 Section 612(a) deleted. Section 612(a)
of the uniform plumbing code is hereby deleted.
For the regulation and control of industrial
wastes see Chapter 16.09 of this code.11
FINDING: The cour.ci1 hereby finds that the
provisions contained in Chapter 16.09 of the
Palo Alto Municipal Code are more comprehensive
and restrictive than those found in Section 612(a}
of the uniform plumbing code.
SECTION 2. Chapter 16.09 entitled,· 'liNDUSTRIAL WASTES 11 is
added to the Palo Alto Municipal Code to read as set forth in
EXHIBIT A attached hereto and by reference made a part hereof.
SECTION 3. This ordinance shall become effective on
October 15, 1973; provided, however, prior to the effective date
of this ordinance, the city manager and hi·-· staff hereby are
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authorized to take whatever procedural steps are necessary, in
cluding the issuance of discharge permits with an effective date
of October 15, 1973, to implement this ordinance on October 15,
1973, in an orderly fashion.
INTRODUCED: July 2, 1973
PASSED: July 2, 1973
AYES: Beahrs. Berwald, Clay, Comstock, Henderson, Norm n, Pearson, Sher
NOES: None
ABSENT: Rosenbaum
ATTEST:
Ckztv J·~M. C~ty Clerk
AS TO FORM:
APPROVED: • Q ~a~
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Mayor
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Sections:
16.09.010
16.09.020
16.09.030
16.09.040
16.09.050
16.09.060
16.09.070
16.09.080
16.09.090
16.09.100
16.09.110
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CHAPTER 16.09
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
Definitions.
Industrial wastes discharge permit.
Industrial wastes discharge permit procedure.
Suspension or revocation of industrial wastes
discharge permit.
Permit denial, revocation or suspension
hearing.
Waste sampling locations.
Trucker 1 ~ discharge permit.
Trade secrets.
Accidential discharges.
Prohibited effects.
Character of wastes.
16.09.010 Definitions. The following words and phrases, ~hen-
ever used 1n this chapter, shall be as defined herein. Words, terms
and phrases used in this chapter not otherwise defined shall be as de
fined in the latest edition of STANDARD METHODS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF
WATER AND WASTEWATER, published by the American Public Health Associa
tion.:
(a) 11 Sa.n.itary sewage" shall mean water-carried wastes from resi
dences, business property, institutions and industrial property ex
cluding ground, surface, storm waters ana. industrial wastes.
(b) "Chief engineer" shall mean the Chief Engineer, Water-Gas
Sewer Division of the City of Palo Alto, his delegate, or such other
person as may be delegated by the City Manager of the City of Palo Alto.
{c) "Industrial wastes" shall mean any liquid wastes and liquid
borne wastes from industrial and/or commercial proc~~ses, as distinct
from domestic or sanitary sewage.
(d) "Storm water" shall mean the flow in sewers resulting from
rainwater.
(e) "Sewer" shall mean a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
(f) "Sewage treatment plantn shall mean any arrangement of de
v.i.ces .and structures used for treating sanitary sewage and industrial
t~astes •.
{g) t9Sewer system" shall mean all sewers, treatment plants and
other facilities owned_ or operated by the City of Palo Alto for carrying,
collecting, treating and disposing of sanitary sewage and industrial
waste:J.
(h) 11 Point of dj!!!chargen shall mean the point at which any private
sewer joins the public sewer lateral.
{i) "Average concentration" c..f a substance shall mean the total
daily discharge weight of the substance divided by the total daily
wastewater volume at· the point of discharge~ · ·
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EXHIBIT A
( j) •• Interceptoru shall mean a receptacle or trap designed and
constructed to intercept, separate and prevent the passage of prohibited
substances into the sewer system.
' (k) "Seepage pit 11 shall mean a device comprised of one or more
pits extending into porous strata, lined with open-joined masonry or
similar walls, capped and provided with a means of access such as a
manhole cover and into which waste water disposal system effluent is
discharged.
(1) ncesspool" shall mean a lined or partially lined underground
pit into which raw sanitary sewage is discharged.
16.09.020 Industrial wastes qischarge permit. (a) It shall
be unlawful for any person or organization to discharge or cause to
be discharged any industrial wastes whatsoever directly or indirectly
into the sewer system without first obtaining a permit for indus~rial
wastes discharge. The City Manager may establish an appropriate fee
for such permits. Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any person
or organization to discharge any industrial wastes in excess of the
quantity or quality limitations set for this chapter or by a permit
for industrial wast~s discharge.
(b) A discharger may request permission to discharge prohibit.ed
wastes or wastes containing concentrations of substances or character
istics in excess of those permitted by this chapter, hereinafter referred
to as exceptional industrial wastes.
(c) The chief engineer may authorize a discharger by permit to
discharge exceptional industrial wastes when the permit will not result
in a violation of any of the prohibited effects described in Section
16.09.100 of this code, and the city is compensated for any costs it
incurs including any expense in determining whether such discharge is
compatible with the sewer system.
(d) The permit for any industrial wastes discharge may require
pretreatment of industrial wastes before discharge, restrict peak
flow discharges, prohibit discharge of certain wastewater components,
restrict discharge to cert.ain hours of the day, require payment of
additional charges to defray increased costs to the City created by
the wastewater discharge and impose such other conditions as may be
required to effectuate the purpose of this chapter.
(e) No permit for industrial wastes discharge is transferable
without the prior written consent of the chief enginF'er.
(f) Any person or organization desiring to discharge wastes or
use facilities which are not in conformance with their industrial
wastes permit shall app~y for an amended pe~~it.
16.09. 030 Industrial \'iastes dischar<ie permit procedure.
(a) Applicants for a permit for any industr1al wastes discnarge shall
complete and submit an application form available-at the utilities
engineering,office of the City for each point of discharge. The chief
·' engineer shall establish the contents of said fo.rrn and may r~quire
additional information on the characteristics of the wastewater dis
charge beyond that required on the application form.
{b) The'applioation shall be·approved if the applicant has com~
plied with all requirements of this·chapter, furnished·all requested
information, and the city determines that there are adequate devices,
equipment, chemicals and other facilities to convey, treat and dispose
of the industrial wastes.
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16.09.040 Sus ension or revocation of industrial wastes dis-
charge rerm1 t. (a) Any permJ.t or 1ndustr1.a wastes J.scharge :nay e
revoked, or suspended by the chief engineer for a period not to exceed
forty-five days, in addition to other remedie~ provided by law, when
such action is necessary in order to stop a discharge which presents
a hazard to the public health, safety, welfare, natural environment,
sewer system or which violates this chapter.
(b) Any discharger notified of the city's intent to revoke or
suspend the discharger's permit shall immediately cease and desist the
discharge of all industrial wastes or such portion of said wastes as
will eliminate the wrongful discharge to the sewer system pending any
hearing that the discharger may request as set forth in Section
16.09.050 of this code.
(c) The chief engineer shall reissue or reinstate any industrial
wastes permit upon proof of satisfactory compliance with all discharge
requirements.
16.09. 050 Permit denial, revoca·tion or suseension hearin2_.
(a) Every industrial wastes dischar<;,er shall have, at its request, an
informal hearing before the city manager, or his delegate, before the
industrial wastes permit application is denied, or the permit is re
voked or suspended.
(b) The chief engineer shall give the industrial wastes discharger
applicant or permit holder ten days written notice of intent to deny
the application, or to revoke or suspend the discharger's permit. The
notice shall set forth specifically the ground or grounds for the chief
engineer's intention to deny, revoke, or suspend and shall inform the
applicant or permit holder that they have ten days from the date of
receipt of the notice to file a written request for a hearing. The
application shall be denied or the permit shall be revoked or suspended
if a hearing request is not received ~dthin th.e ten day period.
(c) If the applicant or permit holder files a timely hearing re
quest, the city manager, or his delegate, shall set a time and place
for the hearing within five working days from the receipt of the rE:
quest. All parties involved shall have the right to offer testimonial,
documentary, and tangible evidence bearing on the issues and to be
represented by counsel. '!·he decision of the city manager, or his dele
gate, whether to deny the application or revoke or suspend the permit
shall be fin..tl.
lo. 09 ~ 060 Waste sampling locations. (a) Every est.ablishment
from which industrial wastes are discharged to the sewer system shall
provide and maintain one or more outside manholes, access boxes, junc
tion chambers or other sampling points approved by the chief engineer
which will permit the separat~o1 sampling of sanitary a·nd industrial
wastes~-The chief engineer may approve sampling points which will
permit the separate sL~pling of industrial wastes only for establish
ments existing on the effective date of this ordinance. Sanitary and
industrial wastes shall be kept completely separated upstream of such
sampling points. Sampling· points shall-be so located that. they are
safe· and accessible to city inspectors-at any reasonable time during
working hours.
(b) ·The chief engineer, or his authorized representatives, may
make inspections of the sampling structure, take samples and install
automatic sampling or analytical equipment. -
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16.09.070 Trucker's discharge permit. (a) All persons opera~
ting vacuum or ••cesspool n pump trucks or other liquid waste transport
trucks desiring to discharge septic tank, seepage pit, interceptor or
cesspool contents, industrial liquid wastes or other liquid wastes to
the sewer system shall first acquire a trucker's discharge permit.
(b) Truck transported industrial wastes shall be discharged only
at the locations specified by the chief engineer for the specific waste.
The city shall require pay:nent for treatment. and disposal costs or may
refuse permission to discharge certain prohibited wastes in accordance
with Utility Rule and Regulation No. 19, Special Sewer Division Regu
lations of the City of Palo Alto's Utility Rules and Regulations.
Denial, suspension or revocation of such permit shall be in accordance
with Sections 16.09.040 and 16.09.050 of this chapter.
16.09.080 Trade secrets. A discharger may be prohibited from
discharging a substance into the sewer system unless its composition
is made known to the chief engineer. Any trade secrets disclosed to
the citv in the course of imPlementation or enforcement of this chapter
shall not be made public except to that extent necessary to enforce this
chapter. ·
16.09.0~ Accidental discharges. {a} Each discharger shall
provide adequate protection to prevent accidental discharge of pro
hibited materials or other wastes regulated by this chapter. Where
directed by the chief engineer, the discharger shall install retention
basins 1 dikes, storagr tanks or other facilities designed to eliminate,
neutralize, offset or otherwise negate the effects of prohibited mater
ials or wastes which may be discharged in violation of this chapter.
{b) Discharger shall notify the Palo Alto Water Quality Control
Plant immediately wben accidential discharges of wastes in violation
of this chapter occur so that countermeasures may be taken to minimize
damage to the sewer system, treatment pl.dnt, treatment processes and
the recei~ing waters~ Such notification will not relieve any dis
charger of liability for any expense, including but not limited to
costs for countermeasures, loss or damage to the sewer system, and/or
treatment plant, or treatment process, or for any fines imposed on the
city on account thereof, or for damages incurred-by any third party.
(c)· In the event of accidental discharge in.violation of this
chapter discharger shall furnish the city, within fifteen days of the
date of the occurrence, a detailed written statement describing the
causes of the accidental discharge and the measures being taken to
prevent future occurrence. Such information shall be used for the
purpose of achieving compliance and shall not be used for prosecution
of the accidental discharge violation.
16.09.100 Prohibited effects. Wastes discharged into the
sewer system-shall not·have charaCteristics which by themselves or by
interaction with other wastes may;
(a} Endanger public health and safety;
(b) cause dw~age to the sewer system;
(c) Create nuisance such as odors or colot·ation;
(d) Result in extra cost of collection, treatment or disposal;
(e) Inhibit or disrupt any waste\\-'ater treatment process; · ·
(f) Prevent, hinder, delay or impede compliance with effluent
quality requirements established by regulatory agencies,
or exceed the same;
(g;, cause wastewater quality to fall outside reclamation
feasibility limits.
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16.09~110 Character of wastes. Industrial wastes prohibited
from discharqe t0 the city's sewer system w1thout permit are as fol-
lows: ·
(a) Storm water. No storm water, roof or yard drainage, foundation
or underdrainage shall be discharged into the sewer system, nor
shall any plumbing or piping be connected in such a manner as
t) make possible the discharge of storm waters.
(b) Chemical Oxygen D~~und (C.O.D.). The average C.O.D. concentration
of discharged wastes shall not exceed 1,000 rng/liter.
(c) Biochemical ox Demand (B.O.D.). The average B.O.D. concentra
wastes s a not exceed 300 .ing/li ter.
{d)
(e)
{f)
{g)
(h)
(i)
( j)
(k)
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Total solids. The average concentration of total solids shall
not exceed-r,soo trig/liter and the maximum concentration of total
solids shall not exceed 5,000 rng/liter.
Suspended solids. The average concentration of suspended solids
shall not exceed 300 mg/liter nor shall the maximum concentration
of suspended solids exceed 1,000 mg/liter.
Inert solids. Tte discharge of inert solids including but not
limited to sand, glass, metal chips, bone, plastics, etc. into
the sewer is prohibited. Settling chambers or treatment works
shall be installed where necessary to prevent the entry of inert
solids into the sewer system.
Solid par~icles. Industrial wastes shall not contain particulate
matter wh~ch ~ill not pass through a 1/2-inch screen. This sub
section does not apply to sanitary sewage from industrial establish
ments.
Temperature. Temperature-of wastewater at the point of discharge
shall be limited to l20°F. except that for periods of time limited
to thirty minutes and for flows limited to 30 gallons per minute,
a temperature of _lS0°F. shall b~\permitted.
Explosives. No soJ,ids, liquids, or gases which by themselves or
by interaction with other _substances may create fire or explosion
hazards shall be discharged. Discharge of any explosive substances
shall be unlawful. Flammable substances including, but not limited
to, acetone, alcohols, benzene, gasoline, xylene; hexane and naptha,
shall not be discharged into the sewer system. Where flammable
substances;are used in processes, separate collection and disposal
outside the sewer system shall be provided.
Noxious or malodorous substances. No industrial waste shall be
a1sciiarged whfch alene or in combination with other wastes may
create a public nuisance, hazard, or make human entry into the
sewers abnormally hazardous. Mercaptans and dissolved sulfides·
shall not be discharged_.in concentrations exceeding 0.1 mg/liter.
Grease and oil. Grease and/or oil shall not be discharged into the
sewer system 1f the average concentration of floatable oil and/or
grease (defined as that which is subject to gravity separation at
a tempe-rature of 20-°C. and pH of 4.5) exceed 20 mg/liter nor shall
the total oil and/or grease concentration (dispersed and emulsified,
as well as floatable) exceed 200 mg/liter.
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• H~dr~en ion concentration. The pH of wastes discharged to the
sewer system shall at all times be within the range of 5.5 to 10.0.
Radioactiv.~. The discharge of radioactive wastes into the sewer
system sha·rr--conform to the requirements of California Radiation
Control Regulations Title 17, California Administrative Code,
chapter 5, Subchapter 4.
Toxicitl• Toxic discharges include, but are not limited to, heavy
utetals, cyanides; chloroform, certain organic Dolvents, phenols,
bacteriocides, antibiotics and insecticides~ Discharges of toxic
substances 'shall not ~xceed 0.1 kilogram per day for each mg/liter
maximum concentration allowed under subsection (1) below; except
'that concentrations shall not be required to be reduced to less
·than one half the "maximum concentration allowable.11
(1) The following is a partial list of·toxic substances
and the maximum concentration allowed for each for
discharge into the sewer system:
Maximum
Toxicant Concentration allowable . '
Arsenic 0.1 rng/liter
Barium 5.0 mg/liter
Beryllium 1.0 mg/lite:-c
Boron 1.0 mg/liter
Chlorine, available 50.0 mg/liter
residual
Cadmium 0.1 mg/liter
Chromium, Hexavalent 1.0 mg/liter
. Chromium total 2.0 mg/liter
Cobalt 1.0 mg/liter
Copper 1.0 mg/liter
ere sols 2.0 mg/liter
Cyanides 1.0 mg/liter
Formaldehyde 5.0 mg/liter
Lead 0.5 mg/liter
Manganese 1.0 mg/liter
Mercury 0~05 mg/liter
Nickel 1.0 mg/liter
Organic solvents 50.0 mg/liter
Chloroform 50.0 mg/liter
Phenols 1.0 mg/liter
Selenium 2.0 mg/liter
Silver 5.0 mg/liter
Zinc s.o mg/liter
(2) Fluoride. The maximum concentration allowable of
fluoride for discharge into the sewer system shall
be 1.5 mg/liter.
St.ored liquid wastes. Liquid wastes that have been collected
and held in tanks or containers shall not be discharged into the
sewer system except at locations authorized by the chief enqineer
to collect such waates. Wastes of this category include but are
not limited to:
(1) Septic tank pumpings;
(2j Chemical toilet wastes;
{~) Trailer, camper, housecar or other recreation
vehicle waates1
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(4) Pleasure boat wastesJ
(5) Industrial wastes collected in containers or tanks.
Excessive chlorine demand. Any waste with a chlorin5 demand·in
excess of 26 mg/liter shall not be discharged into the sewer
system. '
~· Wastes showing excessive coloration ~hall not be dis
Charged into the sewer system. Excessive coloration shall be
defined as any coloration in a waste which for any wave length
displays less than sixty percent the light transmissibility of
distilled water under the following conditions:
(1) After filtration through a 0.45 micron membrane filter~
(2) In the pH range of 5.5 to 10.01
(3) Through a one centimeter light path;
( 4) A maximum spect.rum band width of 10 ·millimicrons;
(5) Through the wave length range from 400 to 800 millimicrons.
The chief engineer may establish standards for any industrial wastes
not included in this chapter.
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