Stockton Municipal Code
Chapter 7
HEALTH AND SANITATION CODE

Part III
WASTEWATER DISCHARGES AND TREATMENT WORKS

Division II
REGULATIONS

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SEC. 7-089. REGULATIONS:

SEC. 7-089.1. GENERAL DISCHARGE PROHIBITION:
The rules and regulations set forth in Part III of the Stockton Municipal Code, Chapter 7, shall be in addition to the Uniform Codes Chapter (Chapter 14) of the Stockton Municipal Code and in no way diminish the authority set forth therein.
No user shall contribute or cause to be contributed directly or indirectly, any pollutant or wastewater which will interfere with the operation or performance of the POTW. These general provisions apply to all such users of the POTW whether or not the user is subject to National Categorical Pretreatment Standards or any other national, State or local pretreatment standards or requirements.
For the purpose of verifying compliance with this Section, the Director and/or the Director's designated representative may use a single grab sample collected from any tank, treatment unit, sink, holding tank, trench, sump, process or other device which may discharge waste to the sanitary sewer. The above sample may be collected at the source of discharge prior to the dilution with any other streams.
A user may not contribute the following substances to any POTW:
1. Pollutants introduced into POTW's by a non-domestic source shall not pass through the POTW or interfere with the operation or performance of the POTW. These general prohibitions and the specified prohibitions in Paragraph 2 of this Section apply to all non-domestic sources introducing pollutants into a POTW whether or not the source is subject to other national pretreatment standards or any national, State, or local pretreatment requirements.
2. Any liquids, solids or gases which by reason of their nature or quantity within the waste stream are, or may be, sufficient, either alone or by interaction with other substances, to cause fire or explosion, cause the waste stream to have a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140oF or 60oC when tested following the procedures and methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21, or may be injurious in any other way to the POTW or to the operation of the POTW. At no time shall two (2) successive readings on an explosion hazard meter at the point of discharge into the system (or at any point in the system) be more than five percent (5%) nor any single reading more than ten percent (10%) of the lowest explosive limit (LEL) of the meter. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides, and sulfides.
3. Solids or viscous substances which may cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer or other interference with the operation of the wastewater treatment facilities.
4. Any wastewater having a pH less than 5.0, more than 10.0, or in excess of the limitations specified in any more stringent permit or regulation or wastewater the user knows or has reason to know has any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and/or personnel of the POTW. Excursions in pH greater than 10.0 but less than 12.5 may be allowed providing the duration of these excursions does not exceed:
a. A total of sixty (60) minutes continuously for any individual excursion.
b. An aggregate of no more than seven (7) hours and twenty-six (26) minutes in any calendar month.
5. Any waste defined as hazardous by any definition set forth in any Federal, State, or local regulation, statute, or ordinance, unless such waste has been delisted or decertified by the agency having authority to do so or a variance has been granted by the appropriate Federal, State, or local agency, including provisions for discharge to the City sewer, which variance must be approved by the Director.
6. Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, to injure or interfere with any wastewater treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a toxic effect in the receiving waters of the POTW, or to exceed the limitation set forth in a categorical pretreatment standard. A toxic pollutant shall include, but not be limited to, any pollutant identified pursuant to the Act.
7. Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, or solids which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to create a public nuisance or hazard to life or health, or is sufficient to prevent entry into the sewerage system for maintenance and repair.
8. Any substance which may cause the POTW's effluent or any other product of the POTW such as residues, sludges or scums, to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse or to interfere with the reclamation process. In no case shall a substance discharged to the POTW cause the POTW to be in noncompliance with sludge use or disposal criteria, guidelines or regulations developed under the Act; any criteria, guidelines, or regulations affecting sludge use or disposal developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, or State criteria applicable to the sludge management method being used.
9. Any substance which will cause the POTW to violate its NPDES and/or State disposal system permit or the receiving water quality standards.
10. Any wastewater with objectionable color not removed in the treatment process.
11. Any wastewater with heat in amounts which will inhibit biological activity in the POTW resulting in interference, but in no case heat in such quantities that the temperature at the POTW exceeds 40oC (104oF) or exceeds 60oC (140oF) at the point of discharge.
12. Any pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which a user knows or has reason to know will cause interference to the POTW unless the user was in compliance with local limits applicable to its discharge or, if no local limits for parameters discharged exist, can demonstrate that its discharge directly prior to and during the instance of pass through or interference, did not change substantially from its prior discharges when the POTW was in compliance with its NPDES permit. In no case shall a sudden unexpected discharge have a flow rate or contain concentrations or qualities of pollutants that exceed, for any period longer than fifteen (15) minutes, more than five (5) times the average twenty-four (24) hour concentration, quantities, or flow during normal operation.
13. Any wastewater containing radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by applicable State or Federal regulations.
14. Any wastewater which causes a hazard to human life or the environment or creates a public nuisance.
15. Unpolluted water, including, but not limited to, irrigation, condensing cooling water, blow down from cooling towers, or evaporative coolers shall not be discharged through direct or indirect connection to a sanitary sewer unless approved by the City of Stockton.
16. Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause interference or pass through.
17. Any trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the POTW.
Wastes prohibited by this Section shall not be processed or stored in such a manner that they could be discharged to the POTW. All floor drains located in process or materials storage areas must discharge to the industrial user's pretreatment facility before connecting to the POTW.
The City of Stockton may approve the temporary discharge of such water only when no reasonable alternate method of disposal is available.
When the Director determines that a user(s) is contributing to the POTW any of the above-enumerated substances in such amounts as to interfere with the operation of the POTW, the Director may take such action as deemed necessary to correct the interference with the POTW.
(Amended by Ordinance 013-93C.S. — Effective June 10, 1993) (Amended by Ordinance 049-90C.S. — Effective August 30, 1990) (Repealed and Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.2. QUANTITY OF DISCHARGE:
The quantity of waste to be discharged from an industry shall be limited to the capacity of the existing public sewerage facilities to handle the flow. Arrangements for additional capacity required shall be negotiated before any such discharge is authorized.
(Repealed and Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.3. LIMITATIONS ON POINT OF DISCHARGE:
No person shall discharge any substance prohibited in Section 7-089.1 of this Part or any other substance, including, but not limited to, domestic sewage in excess of fifty (50) gallons directly into a maintenance hole or other opening in a public sewer or an approved building sewer, unless a written application for such discharge has been filed with the City, the applicable user charges and fees have been paid, and the City has, in its discretion, issued a permit or letter of acceptance authorizing such direct discharges for the purposes and for the substances specified in the permit/letter of acceptance application.
It shall be unlawful for any applicant for a permit pursuant to this Section to knowingly submit an application containing false or inaccurate information. Such submission of a false or inaccurate application shall result in revocation of the permit. In addition, the City Attorney may file criminal charges against any such discharger or pursue any other remedy available pursuant to this Part or otherwise at law.
(Amended by Ordinance 013-93C.S. — Effective June 10, 1993) (Repealed and Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.4. DISCHARGES TO WATERS OF THE STATE:
Any discharges to the waters of the State of California which are not indirect discharges to the POTW, shall meet all applicable State and Federal regulations governing these discharges.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.5. EXCESSIVE DISCHARGE:
No user shall increase the use of process water or, in any way, attempt to dilute a discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with the limitations contained in the Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standards, or in any other pollutant-specific limitation developed by the City or State.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.6. ACCIDENTAL AND SLUG LOAD DISCHARGES PREVENTION AND NOTIFICATION:
1. Detailed Plans. Each user shall provide protection from accidental and slug load discharges of prohibited materials or other substances regulated by this Part. Facilities to prevent accidental and slug load discharges of prohibited materials shall be provided and maintained at the owner's or user's own cost and expense. Detailed plans showing facilities and operating procedures to provide protection from any potential problems, including accidental discharges and slug loading, shall be submitted to the City for review and shall be approved by the City before construction of the facility. The plan shall outline the user's discharge practices (including nonroutine batch discharges), describe stored chemicals, and contain procedures for immediately notifying the POTW and preventing adverse impacts from any such discharges.
No user who commences contribution to the POTW after the effective date of this Part shall be permitted to introduce pollutants into the system until accidental discharge procedures and slug load plans have been approved by the City. Review and approval of such plans and operating procedures shall not relieve the user from the responsibility to modify the user's facility as necessary to meet the requirements of this Part. In the case of an accidental or slug load discharge, it is the responsibility of the user to immediately notify the POTW of the incident. Notification shall identify the location of the discharge, the type, concentration, and volume of waste, and corrective actions taken and/or anticipated.
2. Written Notice. Within five (5) days following an accidental or slug load discharge, the user shall submit to the Municipal Utilities Department a detailed written report describing the cause of the discharge and the measures to be taken by the user to prevent similar future occurrences. Such notification shall not relieve the user of any expense, loss, damage or other liability which may be incurred as a result of damage to the POTW, fish kills, or any other damage to person or property; nor shall such notification relieve the user of any fines, civil penalties, or other liabilities which may be imposed by this Part or other applicable law.
3. Notice to Employees. A notice shall be posted on the user's bulletin board or other prominent place advising employees who to call in the event of an accidental or slug load discharge. Employers shall insure that all employees who may cause such an accidental or slug load discharge to occur are advised of emergency notification procedures.
(Amended by Ordinance 013-93C.S. — Effective June 10, 1993) (Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct.13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.7. HOLDING TANK WASTE:
A user proposing to discharge holding tank waste into a sanitary sewer must secure prior written approval. Unless allowed by the City of Stockton under the terms and conditions of the approval, a separate written approval must be secured for each separate discharge. Application to the City will state the specific location of the discharge, the time of day the discharge is to occur, the volume of the discharge and the wastewater constituents and characteristics of the discharge. If approval is granted for the discharge of such waste into a sanitary sewer, the user shall pay the applicable user charges and fees and shall meet such other conditions as required by the City of Stockton.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.8. WASH RACK WASTE:
No person owning or operating a private or public automobile wash rack shall permit any water or effluent therefrom to flow into any public sewer unless such wash rack is roofed over and is equipped with a sand-oil interceptor approved by the Director of Municipal Utilities or his representative.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.9. DRAINING OF SWIMMING POOLS:
Water from swimming pools whether public or private shall not be discharged into a storm sewer or gutter. All swimming pool water must be discharged into a sanitary sewer.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.10. CONDITIONS OF LATERALS AND SEWER CONNECTIONS:
All persons shall keep their sewer laterals or sewer connections in good order at their own expense and shall be liable for any damages which may result from their failure to do so.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.11. CONNECTION TO SANITARY SEWERAGE SYSTEM:
There shall be a separate connection to the sanitary sewerage system for each premises served except when otherwise authorized by the Director.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.12. ENCROACHMENT PERMIT AND COMPLIANCE TO PLUMBING CODE:
Connection to the sanitary sewerage system shall be made only after securing an encroachment permit from the Department of Public Works. Permits for sanitary sewer lines constructed on private property shall be obtained in accordance with the provisions of the Plumbing Code of the City of Stockton.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.13. USERS OUTSIDE OF CITY BOUNDARIES:
A. All users of the POTW outside of City boundaries shall comply with the regulations set forth in this Ordinance, Chapter 7, Part III, and the regulations shall apply equally to all of the users.
B. The plumbing upon the property and in all buildings that are constructed that are to be connected to the City sewerage system shall comply with the Plumbing Code of the City of Stockton. The owner or lessee of such property shall make application to connect as hereinbefore provided, obtain a plumbing permit from the Community Development Department, Building Division of the City of Stockton and pay the inspection fee required by said Plumbing Code.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.14. NATIONAL CATEGORICAL PRETREATMENT STANDARDS:
All users affected by the National Categorical Pretreatment Standards shall comply with the standards as set forth in 40 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter N, Parts 405-471. However, with regard to those categorical standards where the POTW has adopted limits more stringent than those contained in the National Categorical Pretreatment Standards, the specific prohibitions or limits on pollutants or pollutant parameters as developed by a POTW in accordance with the General Discharge Prohibitions as set forth in Section 7-089.1 of this Part shall be deemed the applicable pretreatment standards. The Director shall notify all affected users of the applicable reporting requirements.
(Amended by Ordinance 013-93C.S. — Effective June 10, 1993) (Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.15. MODIFICATION OF NATIONAL CATEGORICAL PRETREATMENT STANDARDS:
Where the City's wastewater treatment system achieves consistent removal of pollutants limited by Federal Pretreatment Standards, the City may apply to the Approval Authority for modification of specific limits in the Federal Pretreatment Standards.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.16. SPECIFIC POLLUTANT LIMITATIONS:
No person shall discharge wastewater containing in excess of:
6.0 mg/l arsenic
2.0 mg/l cadmium
6.0 mg/l copper
4.0 mg/l cyanide, total
2.0 mg/l lead
0.1 mg/l mercury
5.0 mg/l nickel
1.5 mg/l silver
5.0 mg/l chromium, total
7.0 mg/l zinc
200 mg/l animal/vegetable oil
100 mg/l mineral/petroleum oil
5.0-10.0 pH
150 degrees F*temperature
* (At point of discharge)
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.17. STATE REQUIREMENTS:
State requirements and limitations on discharges shall apply in any case where they are more stringent than Federal requirements and limitations or those in this Part.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

SEC. 7-089.18. CITY'S RIGHT OF REVISION:
The City reserves the right to establish by ordinance more stringent limitations or requirements on discharges to the wastewater disposal system if deemed necessary to comply with the objectives presented in this Part.
(Added by Ordinance 3690C.S. — Effective Oct. 13, 1983)

 

SEC. 7-089.19. GREASE INTERCEPTORS:
Section 711 of the Uniform Plumbing Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
A. Any type of business or establishment such as, but not limited to restaurants, bakeries, donut shops, takeout, drive-in eating establishments, ice cream or milk drive-in stations, hospitals, hotels, markets, recreation or reception halls, etc., where any grease or other objectionable materials may be discharged into a public or private sewage main or disposal system shall have a grease interceptor.
B. Interceptors shall be constructed in accordance with the design previously approved by the Director.
C. Each grease interceptor shall be so installed and connected that it shall be at all times easily accessible for inspection, cleaning and removal of the intercepted grease. A grease interceptor may not be installed in any part of a building where food is handled. Proper location of the grease interceptor shall meet the Plumbing Code and the approval of the Director.
D. Each business establishment for which a grease interceptor is required shall have an interceptor, which shall serve only that business establishment.
E. Buildings remodeled for use requiring interceptors shall be subject to these regulations.
F. Waste discharge from fixtures and equipment in the above-mentioned types of establishments which may contain grease or other objectionable materials, including, but not limited to, scullery sinks, pot and pan sinks, dishwashers, food waste disposals, soup kettles, etc. and floor drains located in areas where such objectionable materials may exist, may be drained into the sanitary waste through the interceptor when approved by the Director. Exception: toilets, urinals, and other fixtures containing fecal material may not flow through the interceptor.
G. The interceptors shall be maintained in efficient operating condition by periodic removal of the accumulated grease. No such collected grease shall be introduced into any drainage piping or public or private sewer.
H. Abandoned grease interceptors shall be emptied and filled as required for abandoned septic tanks in Section 1119 of the Uniform Plumbing Code.
I. The cover for grease interceptors shall be one-half inch (1/2") steel plate reinforced as required by the Director, said reinforcing to depend upon the load to be imposed on the plate. Except as otherwise provided, the cover shall be gas-tight on all interceptors and the waste shall enter the interceptor through the inlet pipe only.
J. Interceptors shall be installed in such a manner that drainage from area outside the area intended to be served may not enter.
(Added by Ordinance 3712C.S. — Effective Jan. 5, 1984)

SEC. 7-089.20. DISCHARGE OF PETROLEUM CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER:
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge petroleum contaminated groundwater to the sanitary sewer collection system of the City of Stockton, except as provided for hereunder, and in accordance with the following conditions and restrictions:
1. The maximum allowable concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the discharge entering the sanitary sewer shall be 100 mg/l. Compliance with this provision will be enforced by periodic self-monitoring and laboratory analysis by the discharger for total petroleum hydrocarbons over the course of the discharge. Sample collection, frequency of sampling, point of discharge, volumetric or seasonal restrictions, or other discharge conditions and limitations will be as specified in the Discharge Permit which shall be issued by the Director of Municipal Utilities.
2. Discharges shall not exceed a concentration of 4.57 mg/l of Total Toxic Organics (as currently listed by the Environmental Protection Agency for categorical electroplating dischargers, 40 CFR 413.02 (i)). Compliance with this provision will be enforced by grab samples obtained no less than once during the permit term. Analytical procedures will be in accordance with EPA rules in Guidelines Establishing Test Procedures for the Analysis of Pollutants: Final Rule (40 CFR Part 136) Methods 624 and 625. In addition, analysis by the permittee for benzene, toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene (BTXE) will be required at frequencies coinciding with the sampling and analysis for total petroleum hydrocarbons.
3. The discharger shall provide a recording Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) monitor. Installation will be at a location in the discharge system prior to entry into the sanitary sewer. The monitor is to be calibrated in a manner that indicates the percentage of LEL of gasoline and shall be connected to the facility in such a way that an alarm will be triggered at ten percent (10%) of the LEL of gasoline and the entire facility will be automatically shut down. The monitor shall be calibrated and maintained with a quality assurance program satisfactory to the Director of Municipal Utilities. If, after a period of evaluation, it is determined by the Director or a designated representative that continuous recording is no longer needed, the provision of a recorder may be deleted.
4. The Director or a designated representative shall have access to the facility shutdown switch as well as copies of keys to all locked enclosures at the site and shall be provided access to the facility for purposes of inspection.
5. The discharger shall provide flow monitoring and recording equipment and sampling taps or equipment in order to comply with these rules.
6. The discharger shall insure that all pretreatment facilities including, but not limited to, flow measuring and LEL monitors, are maintained in proper working order at all times. All measuring devices are to be calibrated for accuracy at a frequency as prescribed by the manufacturer of the monitoring device by a qualified technician approved by the Director.
7. In the event a required flow measuring device is found to be inoperative or to provide unreliable information as determined by the Director or a designated representative, maximum volumes will be used for billing purposes until such time as the equipment is restored to proper working order and approved by the Department of Municipal Utilities.
8. All costs incurred by the Municipal Utilities Department for administration and treatment of the discharge are to be paid for by the discharger according to the rates specified for the commercial category in the schedule of Wastewater Service Fees in effect at the time of the discharge.
9. Connection fees for dischargers will be assessed annually in accordance with the rate resolution of the Stockton City Council for the commercial user category, amortized over a thirty (30) year period.
10. Any costs incurred by the Municipal Utilities Department for sampling and analysis of the discharge in accordance with the City's Pretreatment Program will be paid for by the discharger.
11. All sampling procedures, schedules, and handling provisions must be satisfactory to the Director of Municipal Utilities and all analyses must be conducted by a laboratory certified by the California Department of Health Services for the specific analysis conducted.
(Added by Ordinance 009-89C.S. — Effective March 24, 1989)