A. 
No person shall discharge wastes, directly or indirectly, into the City sewer system or into any private sewer drain emptying into the City sewer system which cause, threaten to cause or are capable of causing, either alone or by interaction with other substances.
(1) 
Any liquids, solids or gases which, by reason of their nature or quantity, are or may be sufficient, either alone or by interaction with other substances, to cause fire or explosion or be injurious in any other way to the treatment works or to the operation of the treatment works, including but not limited to waste streams with a closed-cup flashpoint of less than 140º F. (60º C.), using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21. At no time shall two 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 5% nor shall any single reading be over 10% of the lower 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 and any other substance which the City, the DEC or EPA has notified the user is a fire hazard or a hazard to the system.
[Amended 4-18-1994]
(2) 
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, such as but not limited to grease, garbage, solids greater than one-half (1/2) inch in any dimension, petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause interference or pass through, animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshings, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, sand, spent lime, stone or marble, dust, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, whey, refining or processing of fuel or lubricating oil, mud or glass grinding or polishing wastes.
[Amended 4-18-1994]
(3) 
Any wastewater having a pH less than five point zero (5.0) or higher than nine point five (9.5) unless approved otherwise by the City Engineer or wastewater having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and/or personnel of the treatment works.
[Amended 4-18-1994]
(4) 
Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, or pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors or fumes within the POTW or wastewater collection system in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems 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 treatment works 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 Section 307(a) of the Federal Act.
[Amended 4-18-1994]
(5) 
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 are sufficient to prevent entry into the sewers for their maintenance and repair.
(6) 
Any substance which may cause the treatment works' effluent or any other product of the treatment works, such as residues, sludges or scums, to be unsuitable for reclamation and reuse or to interfere with the reclamation process where the treatment works is pursuing a reuse and reclamation program. In no case shall a substance discharged to the treatment works cause the treatment works to be in noncompliance with sludge use or disposal criteria, guidelines or regulations developed under Section 405 of the Federal Act and criteria, guidelines or regulations affecting sludge use or disposal developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act or DEC criteria applicable to the sludge management method being used.
(7) 
Any substance which will cause the treatment works to violate its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and/or State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit or the receiving water quality standards.
(8) 
Any wastewater with objectionable color not removed in the treatment process, such as but not limited to dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions.
(9) 
Any wastewater having a temperature which will inhibit biological activity in the treatment works treatment plant resulting in interference, but in no case wastewater with a temperature at the introduction into the sewer system which exceeds 150º F. (65.5º C.), unless the treatment works treatment plant is designed to accommodate such temperature or in such quantities that the temperature at the treatment works influent exceeds 104º F. (40º C.).
(10) 
Any pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released at a flow and/or pollutant concentration which, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, will cause interference to the treatment works.
[Amended 4-18-1994]
(11) 
Any wastewater which causes a hazard to human life or creates a public nuisance.
(12) 
Trucked or hauled pollutants, except at discharge points designated by the Chief Plant Operator of the POTW.
[Added 4-18-1994]
(13) 
Sludges, screenings or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial wastes.
[Added 4-18-1994]
(14) 
Medical wastes, except as specifically authorized by the City Engineer in a wastewater discharge permit.
[Added 4-18-1994]
(15) 
Detergents, surface-active agents or other substances which may cause excessive foaming in the POTW.
[Added 4-18-1994]
B. 
When the City Engineer determines that a user(s) is contributing to the treatment works any of the above-enumerated substances in such amounts as to interfere with the operation of the treatment works, the City Engineer shall implement the required administrative and/or criminal sanctions as specified in Article XII of this Part 3.
[Amended 4-18-1994]
C. 
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.
[Added 4-18-1994]
Stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, interior or exterior footing drainage, subsurface drainage, cooling water or unpolluted industrial process waters shall not be discharged through direct or indirect connections to the sanitary sewer. Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to designated storm sewers, combined sewers or other approved receivers of such unpolluted water where such designation is made.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any radioactive materials or wastes into the sanitary sewer system; additionally, the City of Watertown shall have the explicit right to refuse any radioactive discharges unless the City consents to the receipt of such discharge, subject to the following conditions:
A. 
When the person is authorized to use radioactive materials by the DEC or other governmental agency empowered to regulate the use of radioactive materials;
B. 
When the person is in compliance with all rules and regulations of all other applicable regulatory agencies; and
C. 
When the person has notified the Department of such discharge.
No person shall discharge substances directly into a manhole or other sanitary opening in a sanitary sewer other than through an approved building sewer.
[Amended 1-5-2009 by L.L. No. 1-2009]
A. 
Only generators and haulers who have obtained a permit from the City shall be allowed to discharge trucked or hauled pollutants at the wastewater treatment plant.
(1) 
The terms and conditions of the foregoing permit shall reflect the standard operating procedure for acceptance of hauled waste at the City's wastewater treatment plant that has been approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Except as modified herein, the limitations referenced in § 253-68 shall also apply to the discharge of hauled waste at the wastewater treatment plant.
(2) 
Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, a generator of hauled waste that is considered holding tank waste, as defined in § 253-23B, shall be allowed to discharge at the wastewater treatment plant, provided it uses a hauler who has been permitted under this section and 6 NYCRR Part 364 and it seeks to discharge only holding tank waste that can be accepted at the wastewater treatment plant in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules, ordinances and regulations, including requirements associated with the SPDES permit held by the City for the discharge of treated wastewater from the treatment plant ("applicable law"). Although no separate generator's permit shall be required for the discharge of holding tank waste, the generator of such waste shall be responsible, in addition to the hauler, for offering for discharge only holding tank waste that can be accepted at the wastewater treatment plant in accordance with applicable law.
B. 
Hauled waste with analytical sample data meeting the hauled waste effluent limitations set forth in § 253-29 (total) and holding tank waste authorized for discharge under the Code shall be discharged either at the tanker dump port at Influent A headworks or the gravity thickeners depending upon the percentage of solids in the hauled waste. The discharge points and guidance for placement of the hauled waste based on the percentage of solids are shown on the City of Watertown POTW Wastewater Flow Diagram,[1] a copy of which is attached.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said diagram is on file in the City offices.
C. 
Should analyses indicate that the hauled waste contains materials that would exceed any of the "24-Hour Allowable Effluent Concentration" limits listed at § 253-29 (that is, the hauled waste effluent limitations), the tanker will not be allowed to discharge at the headworks of the wastewater treatment plant.
D. 
Should analyses (total) indicate that the hauled waste contains metals that would exceed any of the hauled waste effluent limitations, but the dissolved component of the elevated analyte(s) would not, the tanker may discharge the hauled waste either before or after the gravity thickeners on the sludge handling side of the wastewater treatment plant, as shown on the City of Watertown POTW Wastewater Flow Diagram, a copy of which is attached.[2] For the purposes of this section, the "dissolved component" of the analyte is defined as the concentration of analyte in an aqueous sample that will pass through a 0.45 micron membrane filter assembly prior to sample acidification.
[2]
Editor's Note: Said diagram is on file in the City offices.
E. 
Hauled waste that does not qualify for discharge under either § 253-28B or § 253-28C is prohibited from being discharged at the wastewater treatment plant until such time that it can be demonstrated through analytical results that the characteristics of the hauled waste have been modified by pretreatment or process or material change so as to qualify for discharge under § 253-28.
F. 
At a frequency of no less than once per calendar year, a representative sample randomly selected by the City that has been taken from each of the trucked or hauled loads originating from a permitted generator delivered to the wastewater treatment plant shall be submitted by the City for additional analysis at the hauler's expense to confirm that the hauled waste meets all the conditions of the applicable permit(s).
(1) 
In the event that testing of the hauled waste indicates that its discharge at the wastewater treatment plant would violate a term of a generator's or hauler's permit, the control authority:
(a) 
Shall withhold permission to discharge the hauled waste being tested until it receives the results of testing and/or other documentation, showing that the proposed discharge will meet all the conditions of the applicable permit(s); and
(b) 
May, in addition to any other remedies available under applicable law, revoke the permit(s) to discharge the hauled waste to the wastewater treatment plant.
(2) 
The hauler and the generator of the hauled waste shall be jointly and severally responsible to reimburse the City for any damages that the City incurs for a discharge of hauled waste that violates the conditions of a permit authorizing the discharge at the wastewater treatment plant.
G. 
Fees for the acceptance of hauled waste for treatment at the wastewater treatment plant shall be as follows:
[Amended 6-16-2014 by L.L. No. 1-2014; 6-19-2017 by L.L. No. 4-2017]
(1) 
Five and one-half cents ($0.055) per gallon for hauled waste less than or equal to 5.6% solids by weight.
(2) 
For all leachate: five and one-half cents ($0.055) per gallon.
(3) 
Twelve cents ($0.12) per pound (dry weight) for hauled waste over 5.6% solids by weight.
(4) 
Minimum charge of $39.29 per delivery.
H. 
Permit fees.
(1) 
The fees for the following permits shall be as follows:
(a) 
Generator permit: $250 for every consecutive twelve-month period (the "term").
(b) 
Hauler permit: $250 per term.
(2) 
The payment for the first term shall be due and payable at the time of permit application and payment for subsequent terms shall be due and payable 30 days prior to the end of the prior term. At the discretion of the control authority, the fee for a hauler's permit may be waived if the applicant for the hauler's permit has, or will have, prior to discharge of the hauled waste, a valid generator permit that covers the waste that is the subject of the hauler's permit application, and is not in arrears for payment of the applicable generator permit fee.
[Amended 1-5-2009 by L.L. No. 1-2009]
The concentration in wastewater discharged into the City sanitary sewer system of any of the following pollutants, when averaged over a thirty-day period, shall not exceed the values specified below. The thirty-day average concentrations shall be computed using at least four individual twenty-four-hour composite samples taken during a thirty-day period. In addition, the concentration of any single twenty-four-hour composite sample shall not exceed three times the thirty-day average. These limitations shall apply to each and every individual industrial sewer lateral at a point immediately prior to discharge to the City sanitary sewer system.
Pollutant
30-Day Allowable Effluent Concentration
(milligrams/liter)
24-Hour Allowable Effluent Concentration
(milligrams/liter)
Cadmium, total
1
3
Chromium, total
8
24
Copper, total
1
3
Cyanide, total
0.3
0.9
Lead, total
10
30
Mercury, total
4
12
Nickel, total
7
21
Zinc, total
10
30
Phenol
10
30
Trichloroethylene
3
9
Tetrachloroethylene
3
9
l,l,l-Trichloroethane
0.5
1.5
No person shall discharge or permit the discharge or infiltration into the City sewer system of the following wastes unless prior written approval is granted by the City Engineer, subject to the limitations and requirements of § 253-31 of this Part 3:
A. 
Wastes containing more than 300 milligrams per liter of BOD.
[Amended 4-18-1994]
B. 
Wastes containing more than 350 milligrams per liter of total suspended solids.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, which immediately followed this subsection and restricted wastes containing phosphorus, was deleted 4-18-1994. Said ordinance also relettered former Subsection D as Subsection C.
C. 
Wastes containing more than 40 milligrams per liter of total Kjeldahl nitrogen.
A. 
Effluent limitations promulgated by the Federal Act shall apply in any instance where they are more stringent than limitations in this Part 3. Under Section 307 of the Federal Act, pretreatment standards are designed to achieve three purposes: to protect the operation of the publicly owned treatment works, to prevent discharge of pollutants which pass through such works inadequately treated and to prevent treatment plant sludges from becoming contaminated with toxic materials which would limit a public owned treatment works to sludge disposal alternatives. Users in industrial categories, subject to effluent guidelines issued under Section 304 of the Federal Act and discharging pollutants to publicly owned treatment works, are required to achieve the level of treatment established by federal regulations.
B. 
Nothing in this Part 3 shall be construed to relieve any industrial user from its obligation to comply with the pretreatment standards established pursuant to Section 307 of the Federal Act. Limitations on wastewater strength in §§ 253-29 and 253-30 of this Part 3 may be supplemented with more stringent limitations when, in the opinion of the City Engineer:
(1) 
The limitations in §§ 253-29 and 253-30 of this Part 3 may not be sufficient to protect the operation of the Department's treatment works; or
(2) 
The limitations in §§ 253-29 and 253-30 of this Part 3 may not be sufficient to enable the Department's treatment works to comply with the water quality standards or effluent limitations specified in the Department's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit or State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit.
C. 
All industrial users, whether permitted in accordance with Article VIII of this chapter or not, shall provide written notice to the City Engineer of any discharge that would otherwise be considered hazardous waste under 40 CFR 261 if disposed of in any manner other than to the City's POTW, consistent with requirements of notice contained within 40 CFR 403.12(p).
[Added 3-20-1995 by L.L. No. 2-1995]
No discharger into the City sewer system shall augment his use of process water or otherwise intentionally dilute his discharge as a partial or complete substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with any effluent limitations specified in this Part 3.
Waste not permitted to be discharged into the City sewer system must be transported in accordance with Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations to a state or federally approved waste disposal site.
No connection with or opening into any sewer, manhole or appurtenances thereto shall be made without the written approval of the City Engineer. The connection of a building sewer into any City sewer shall conform to the requirements of the Department and Administration Rules and Regulations Governing Plumbing Installations.
[Amended 3-20-1995 by L.L. No. 2-1995]
Prior written approval by the City Engineer is required for all new discharges, increased contributions of wastes or changes in waste characteristics to the City's sewer system. The City Engineer reserves the right to deny or condition new or increased contributions of wastes or changes in waste characteristics.