[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.1; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
1. 
No user shall contribute or cause to be contributed, directly or indirectly, any pollutant or wastewater which will cause pass through or interference in the Authority's wastewater collection and treatment system, will create a hazard to the environment, the general public or Authority personnel, or will cause the Authority to violate any General Pretreatment Regulation, NPDES permit or biosolids requirement. These general prohibitions, 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. A user may not contribute the following substances to the POTW;
A. 
Explosive Matter.
(1) 
Any liquids, solids or gases which by reason of their nature or quantity are, or may, by sufficient either alone or my interaction with other substances to create fire or an explosive hazard or be injurious in any other way to the POTW or to the operation of the POTW including, but not limited to, waste streams with a closed-cup flash point of less than 140° F. (60° C.) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21.
(2) 
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 any single reading 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, per chlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides and sulfides.
B. 
Solid or viscous substances which may cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer, or pass through or cause other interference with the operation of the wastewater treatment facilities or collection system, such as, but not limited to, grease, garbage with particles greater than 1/2 inch in any dimension, animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides, fleshings, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, spent lime, stone or marble dust, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, wastepaper, wood, plastics, gas, tar, asphalt residues, residues from refining or processing of fuel of lubricating oil, and residues from grinding or polishing processes.
C. 
Any wastewater having a pH less than — 6.0 or greater than — 9.0, or wastewater having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, and/or personnel of the POTW or the wastewater collection system. At the Borough of Conshohocken Authority's discretion, an industrial user may be permitted for a minimum pH of 5.0 and a maximum pH of 10.
D. 
Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, to injure or to cause interference with any wastewater treatment process, to constitute a hazard to the environment, humans or animals, to create a toxic effect in the POTW or the receiving waters, 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 § 307(a) of the Act.
E. 
Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases or solids which either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are present in sufficient concentrations to create a public nuisance or hazard to life, cause health and safety problems, or are sufficient to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance and repair.
F. 
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 § 405 of the Act; any criteria, guidelines or regulations affecting sludge use or disposal developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act, or State criteria applicable to the sludge management method being used.
G. 
Any substance which alone or in conjunction with other discharges will cause a pass through at the POTW or cause the POTW to violate its NPDES permit or the receiving water quality standards.
H. 
Any wastewater with objectionable color not removed in the treatment process such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions.
I. 
Any wastewater having a temperature which will inhibit biological activity in the POTW treatment plant or collection system resulting in interference. In no case shall wastewater have a temperature at the introduction into the POTW which exceeds 40° C. (104° F.).
J. 
Any wastewater containing pollutants, including oxygen demanding pollutants (CBOD, 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 to the POTW or any wastewater treatment or sludge process, or which will constitute a hazard to humans or animals. In no case shall a slug load have a flow rate or contain concentrations or quantities or pollutants that exceed for any time period longer than 15 minutes more than five times the average twenty-four-hour concentration, quantities or flow during normal operation. This slug load provision does not relieve the user from meeting the specific pollutant concentrations as identified in Table 1.[1]
K. 
Any wastewater containing any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the Superintendent in compliance with applicable State or Federal regulations.
L. 
Any wastewater which causes a hazard to human life or creates a public nuisance.
M. 
Stormwater, surface water, ground water, artisan well water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, swimming pool drainage, condensate, deionized water, noncontact cooling water and unpolluted industrial wastewater, unless specifically authorized by the Superintendent.
N. 
Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause interference or pass through.
O. 
Any 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.
P. 
Any trucked or hauled waste, except at discharge points designated by the Authority.
Q. 
Any sludges, screenings or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial wastes.
R. 
Any medical wastes, except as specifically authorized by the Authority in a permit.
2. 
Grease, oil and sand interceptors (traps) shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Superintendent and/or the Authority, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing floatable grease in such amounts as to cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer or other interference with the operation of the wastewater treatment facilities, or any flammable wastes, sand or other harmful ingredients, except 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 Superintendent and the Authority and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. In the maintaining of these interceptors, the owner(s) shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal by appropriate means of the captured material and shall maintain records of the dates and means of disposal which are subject to review by the Superintendent and the Authority. Any removal and hauling of the collected materials not performed by owner's (owners') personnel must be performed by currently licensed waste disposal firms.
3. 
Whenever the Superintendent determines that a user is contributing to the POTW any of the above enumerated substances in such amounts as to cause interference with the operation of the POTW, the Authority shall advise the user of the impact of his contribution on the POTW and develop effluent limitations for such user to correct the interference or pass through to the POTW.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.1; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
1. 
The owner of any improved property benefited, improved or accommodated by a sewer shall connect such improved property with such sewer, in such manner as this Authority may require, within 45 days after notice to such owner from this Authority to make such connection, for the purpose of discharge of all wastewater from such improved property; subject, however, to such limitations and restrictions as shall be established herein or otherwise shall be established by this Authority, from time to time.
2. 
All wastewater from any improved property, after connection of such improved property with a sewer shall be required under subsection (1) to be conducted into a sewer; subject, however, to such limitations and restrictions as shall be established herein or otherwise shall be established by this Authority, from time to time.
3. 
Deposits or Discharge.
A. 
No person shall place, shall deposit or shall permit to be placed or to be deposited upon public or private property within this Borough any wastewater in violation of this Chapter.
B. 
No person shall discharge or shall permit to be discharged to any natural outlet within this Borough any wastewater in violation of this Chapter.
4. 
Privy Vaults.
A. 
No privy vault, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank or similar receptacle shall be used or shall be maintained at any time upon any improved property that has been connected to a sewer or that shall be required under subsection (1) to be connected to a sewer.
B. 
Every such privy vault, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank or similar receptacle in existence shall be abandoned and, at the discretion of this Authority, shall be cleansed and shall be filled, at the expense of the owner of such improved property, under the direction and supervision of this Authority; and any such privy vault, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank or similar receptacle no so abandoned and, if required by this Authority, not cleansed and filled, shall constitute a nuisance, and such nuisance may be abated, as provided by law, at the expense of the owner of such improved property.
5. 
No privy vault, cesspool, sinkhole, septic tank or similar receptacle at any time shall be connected with a sewer.
6. 
The notice by this Authority to make a connection to a sewer, referred to in subsection (1), shall consist of a copy of this Chapter, including any amendments and/or supplements at the time in affect, or a summary of each Section hereof, and a written or printed document requiring the connection in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and specifying that such connection shall be made within 45 days from the date such notice is given. Such notice may be given at any time after a sewer is in place that can receive and can convey wastewater for treatment and disposal from the particular improved property. Such notice shall be given to the owner in accordance with law.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.4; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
1. 
No unauthorized persons shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter or disturb the POTW or any appurtenance thereof without first obtaining a written wastewater contribution permit from the Authority as set forth in § 18-404 of this Chapter.
2. 
There shall be two classes of wastewater contribution permits:
A. 
A connection permit.
B. 
A significant user permit.
In either case, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the Authority. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the Superintendent and/or the Authority. A permit fee and an inspection fee shall be paid to the Authority at the time the application is filed. All permit applications shall be reviewed and approved in writing by the Authority prior to permit issuance. Permit and inspection fees shall be in such amounts as may be established from time to time by the Authority.
3. 
All costs and expenses incidental to the installation, connection, and maintenance of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner(s). The owner(s) shall indemnify the Borough and the Authority from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.
4. 
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building.
5. 
Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the Superintendent to meet all requirements of this Chapter.
6. 
The size, slope, alignment, materials or construction of a building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe, joint testing, and backfilling the trench shall all conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable rules and regulations of the Borough and Authority. In the absence of code provisions or in amplification therefor, the materials and procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the ASTM and WPCF Manual of Practice No. 9 shall apply.
7. 
Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the POTW, wastewater carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the building sewer.
8. 
No person shall make connection of sump pumps, roof downspouts, foundation drains, areaway drains, or other sources of surface runoff or ground water to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to the POTW unless such connection is approved in writing by the Superintendent for purposes of disposal of polluted surface drainage.
9. 
The connection of the building sewer into the POTW shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable rules and regulations set forth in appropriate specifications of the ASTM and the WPCF Manual of Practice No. 9. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight, and verified by proper testing. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the Superintendent before installation.
10. 
The applicant for the permit shall notify the Superintendent when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the POTW. The connection to the POTW and testing shall be made under the supervision of the Superintendent or his representative.
11. 
All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights, so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the Borough and the Authority.
12. 
No excavation, construction or connection work shall be commenced within a Borough and/or an Authority right-of-way until the owner, his agents and/or independent contractor shall have first filed a bond in an amount as determined by the Authority, agreeing to indemnify and save harmless the Authority against any and all loss, damages, costs and expenses that the Authority may thereafter suffer, incur, be put to or pay by reason of the failure to complete properly any of the aforesaid excavation, construction or connection work. The term "owner" as used herein, shall be deemed to include the owner or owners in fee simple, lessees of the premises, occupiers of the premises and all other parties having a beneficial use or interest in the premises and occupying the same with the consent and permission of the owner of the fee title.
13. 
The Borough does grant to the Authority, its successors and assigns, all easements, rights-of-way and other rights and privileges necessary and desirable in along, over and under streets, roads, lanes, courts, culs-de-sac, alleys, public ways, public squares and other properties of this Borough together with free ingress egress and regress therein, for use in connection with constructing, replacing, repairing, altering, extending, improving, operating and maintaining the POTW, as the same shall exist from time to time.
14. 
The rights and privileges granted to the Authority under subsection (13) shall be exercised by the Authority under and subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as shall be adopted and specified, from time to time, by resolution or ordinance of this Borough and this Borough does reserve the right to adopt and specify, from time to time, such reasonable rules and regulations in connection with exercise by the Authority of such rights and privileges.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.4; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
Upon the promulgation of the Federal categorical pretreatment standard under § 307 of the Clean Water Act for a particular industrial subcategory, the Federal standard, if more stringent than limitations imposed under this Chapter for sources in that subcategory, shall be enforceable under this Chapter, per 40 CFR § 403.12. Each user shall be responsible to notify the Authority of changes to their status under the Federal, State, or local regulations.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.5; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
Where the Authority's wastewater treatment system achieves consistent removal of pollutants limited by Federal pretreatment standards, the Authority may apply to the approval authority for modifications of specific limits in the Federal pretreatment standards. "Consistent removal — the reduction in the amount of a pollutant or alteration of the nature of the pollutant by the wastewater treatment system to a less toxic of harmless state in the effluent which is achieved by the system in 95% of the samples taken when measured according to the procedures set forth in § 403.7(c)(2) of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 403 — "General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution," promulgated pursuant to the Act. The Authority may then modify pollutant discharge limits in the Federal pretreatment standards if the requirements contained in 40 CFR Part 403, § 403.7 are fulfilled and prior approval from the Approval Authority is obtained.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.6; as amended by Ord. 13-1997, 8/13/1997; by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003; and by Ord. 3-2009, 3/18/2009]
1. 
The following pollutant limits are established to protect against pass through and interference. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged wastewater containing in excess of:
Specific Pollutant Limitations
Table I
Parameter
Maximum Concentration
(milligrams/liter)
Arsenic
0.88
Cadmium
0.28
Chromium
57.21
Copper
4.41
Cyanide
5.52
Lead
1.33
Mercury
0.08
Molybdenum
5.25
Nickel
4.57
Selenium
1.15
Silver
13.08
Zinc
8.06
2. 
Concentrations apply at the point where the waste is discharged to the POTW. For users subject to categorical standards, categorical concentrations apply at the end of the process waste stream. All concentrations for metallic substances are for "total" metal unless indicated otherwise. At their discretion, the Authority may impose mass limitations in addition to or in place of the concentration based limitations above.
3. 
All wastewater entering the Authority's collection system shall be pretreated to normal domestic levels unless otherwise stated in writing by the Authority by way of the permit. These levels shall be:
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5)
250 mg/l
Total Suspended solids (TSS)
250 mg/l
Phosphate (Total as P)
10 mg/l
Ammonia Nitrogen as N (NH3-N)
25 mg/l
Total Kjedahl Nitrogen (TKN)
40 mg/l
Oil and grease
100 mg/l
4. 
In cases where any user requires greater than 5% of the POTW treatment plant's capacity on an average daily mass basis, more-stringent limitations may be imposed.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.7; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
State requirements and limitations on discharges shall apply in any case where they are more stringent than either Federal requirements and limitations or those in this Chapter.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.8; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
1. 
The Authority reserves the right to require each of the contributing municipalities to establish by ordinance and/or Rules and Regulations, limitations or requirements as least as stringent as the Authority's wastewater treatment plant, in order to comply with the objectives presented in (§ 101 of these Pretreatment Regulations).
2. 
The Borough reserves the right to establish by ordinance or in permits more stringent limitations or requirements on discharges to the wastewater system if deemed necessary to comply with the objectives presented in § 18-101 of this Part or the general and specific prohibitions in Part 1B of this Chapter.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.9; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
No user shall ever 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 with any other pollutant-specific limitation developed by the Authority, State or Federal agencies.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.10; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
Each user designated by the Authority shall provide protection from accidental or slug discharges of prohibited materials or other substances that have the potential to cause interference or pass through at the POTW and are regulated by this Chapter. Slug discharges include any discharge of a nonroutine, episodic nature including, but not limited to, and accidental spill or a noncustomary batch discharge. Facilities to prevent accidental discharges or slug discharges of prohibited materials shall be provided and maintained at the user's own cost and expense. Detailed plans showing facilities and operating procedures to provide this protection shall be submitted to the Authority and shall be approved by the Authority before construction of the facility. All existing users shall complete such a plan within 90 days of notification to do so by the Authority. No user who commences contribution to the POTW after the effective date of this Chapter shall be permitted to introduce pollutants into the system until the accidental discharge and slug discharge procedures have been approved by the Authority. Review and approval of such plans and operating procedures shall not relieve the user from the responsibility to modify its facility, as necessary, to meet the requirements of this Chapter. In the case of an accidental discharge or slug discharge, it is the responsibility of the user to immediately notify the Superintendent by telephone of the incident. The notification shall include location of discharge, type of waste, concentration, volume and corrective actions.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.11; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
1. 
Within five days following an accidental discharge, the user shall submit to the Superintendent a detailed written report describing the cause of the discharge, time and duration of the discharge, steps taken to reduce and minimize the impact of accidental discharge, and the measures to be taken to prevent similar future occurrences, to mitigate any expense, loss, damage or other liability which may be incurred as a result of damage to the POTW or aquatic life or any other damage to person or property.
2. 
Written reports will be deemed to have been submitted on the date postmarked. For reports which are not mailed, postage prepaid, into a mail facility serviced by the U.S. Postal Service, the date of receipt of the report by the Authority shall govern.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.12; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
Unless otherwise approved by the Authority, no materials considered a hazardous waste under 40 CFR, Part 261 shall be mixed with wastewater that will ultimately enter the Authority wastewater collection system.
[Ord. 12-1992, 5/13/1992, § 2.13; as amended by Ord. 15-2003, 12/12/2003]
A notice shall be permanently posted on the user's bulletin board or other prominent place advising employees whom to call in the event of an accidental or slug discharge. Employers shall ensure that all employees who may suffer from, or cause such a discharge to occur are advised of the emergency notification procedures.