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Article II. General Sewer Use Requirements
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(1) General Prohibitions. No user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW any pollutant or wastewater which causes pass through or interference. These general prohibitions apply to all users of the POTW whether or not they are subject to categorical pretreatment standards or any other national, state, or local pretreatment standards or requirements.

(2) Specific Prohibitions. No user shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW the following pollutants, substances, or wastewater. These specific prohibitions apply to all users of the POTW whether or not they are subject to categorical pretreatment standards or any other national, state, or local pretreatment standards or requirements.

(a) Pollutants which either alone or by interaction may create a fire or explosive hazard in the POTW, a public nuisance or hazard to life, or prevent entry into the sewers for their maintenance and repair, or are in any way injurious to the operation of the system or operating personnel. This includes wastestreams with a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR § 261.21.

(b) Wastewater having a pH less than 6.0 or more than 9.0, or otherwise having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, or personnel. Discharges outside this pH range may be authorized by a permit issued by the City pursuant to a finding that the system is specifically designed to accommodate a discharge of that pH; or for users with a permit discharging to the PWRF.

(c) Wastewater having a BOD5 greater than 300 mg/l, soluble BOD5 greater than 150 mg/l, or a TSS greater than 300 mg/l. Discharges above these limits may be authorized by a permit issued by the City pursuant to a finding that the treatment system has the capacity to handle the increased loading or for users with a permit discharging to the PWRF. Surcharge rates may be applied to levels exceeding these limits.

(d) Solid or viscous substances in amounts which may cause obstruction to the flow in the sewer or other interference with the operation of the system. In no case shall solids greater than 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) in any dimension be discharged.

(e) Pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released in a discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, will cause interference with the POTW.

(f) Wastewater having a temperature which will interfere with the biological activity in the system, has detrimental effects on the collection system, or prevents entry into the sewer. In no case shall wastewater be discharged which causes the wastewater temperature at the POTW headworks to exceed 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

(g) Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin, in amounts that will cause interference or pass through.

(h) Pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the POTW in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems.

(i) Trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the Public Works Director in accordance with PMC 13.90.180.

(j) The following are prohibited unless approved by the Public Works Director under extraordinary circumstances, such as lack of direct discharge alternatives due to combined sewer service or need to augment sewage flows due to septic conditions (as required under WAC 173-216-050).

(i) Noncontact cooling water in volumes large enough to adversely affect the POTW;

(ii) Storm water or other direct inflow sources; or

(iii) Wastewaters significantly affecting system hydraulic loading, which do not require treatment or would not be afforded a significant degree of treatment by the POTW.

(k) Noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, solids, or other wastewater which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to create a public nuisance or a hazard to life, or to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance or repair.

(l) Wastewater which imparts color which cannot be removed by the treatment process, such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions, which consequently impart color to the treatment plant’s effluent, thereby violating the City’s NPDES or SWD permit.

(m) Wastewater containing any radioactive wastes or isotopes except in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations.

(n) Storm water, surface water, groundwater, artesian well water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, swimming pool drainage, condensate, deionized water, noncontact cooling water, and unpolluted wastewater, unless specifically authorized by the Public Works Director.

(o) Sludges, screenings, or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial wastes.

(p) Medical wastes, except as specifically authorized by Public Works Director in a wastewater discharge permit.

(q) Wastewater causing, alone or in conjunction with other sources, the treatment plant’s effluent to fail toxicity testing.

(r) Detergents, surface-active agents, or other substances which may cause excessive foaming in the POTW.

(s) Fats, oils, or greases of animal or vegetable origin in concentrations and/or amounts which will cause blockage, interference, or pass through in the POTW system.

(t) Total petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum oils, nonbiodegradable cutting oils in concentrations and/or amounts which will cause blockage, interference, pass through, or upset in the POTW system.

(u) Wastewater causing two readings on an explosion hazard meter at the point of discharge into the POTW, or at any point in the POTW, of more than 10 percent, or any single reading over 20 percent of the lower explosive limit based on an explosivity meter reading.

Pollutants, substances, or wastewater prohibited by this section shall not be processed or stored in such a manner that they could be discharged to the POTW. [Ord. 4169 § 1, 2014; Code 1970 § 13.62.020(A).]