[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Socorro
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-17-1993 by Ord. No. SUO-93-07]
The provisions of this article shall be known as the "Sewer
Use Ordinance of the City of Socorro, New Mexico."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ASTM International (formerly known as the "American Society
for Testing and Materials").
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 14-05-19]
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation
of organic matter by Standard Methods Procedure in five days at 20°
C. expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l).
That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system
which receives the discharge from soil, waste and other drainage pipes
inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer,
beginning five feet outside the inner face of the building wall.
The extension from the building drain to the public sewer
or other place of disposal.
The City of Socorro, New Mexico.
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the chemical oxidation
of organic and inorganic matter under standard laboratory procedure
by the dichromate reflux method expressed in milligrams per liter.
A sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.
Solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation,
cooking and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and
sale of produce.
Any person or his authorized representative so appointed
by the City or any New Mexico Environment Department representative
charged with approval or inspection of public or private wastewater
facilities.
All waterborne solids, liquids or gaseous wastes resulting
from any industrial, manufacturing or food processing operation or
process, or from the development of any natural resource or any mixture
of these with water or domestic sewage as distinct from normal domestic
sewage.
All customers discharging industrial waste to the sewer system
as hereby defined:
Industrial users subject to categorical pretreatment standards.
Industrial users that discharge an average of 25,000 gallons
per day (gpd) or more of process wastewater or which contribute a
process waste stream that makes up 5% or more of the average dry weather
hydraulic or organic capacity of the treatment plant.
Any other industrial user that is designated as significant
by the City on the basis that the industrial user has a reasonable
potential for adversely affecting the treatment plant's operation
or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement. This shall
include the following:
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Auto body repair and paint shops
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Auto repair
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Auto wash
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Bakeries
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Battery manufacturing
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Cooling plants
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Dairies
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Dry cleaners
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Eating establishments (restaurants and cafeterias)
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Electroplating and metal finishing
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Explosives and ammunitions
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Fuel oil dealers
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Funeral services
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Gasoline service stations
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Gum and wood chemical manufacturing
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Hospitals and medical offices
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Laundries
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Leather tanning and finishing
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Lumber and building materials — retail
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Jewelry manufacturing
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Machine and sheet metal shops
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Meat/Poultry/Vegetable products processing and packaging
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Nursing care facilities
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Paper mills
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Paving and roofing
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Pesticide processors and handling
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Professional cleaning
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Photographic processing
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Printing
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Schools and universities (research and educational labs)
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Scrap and waste material handling
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Veterinary services
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Woodworking shops
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Any condition or combination of conditions which causes degradation
of the operational efficiency of a wastewater facility.
Any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other
body of surface water or groundwater.
Waterborne wastes normally discharging from the sanitary
conveniences of buildings, including apartment houses and hotels,
office buildings, factories and institutions, free from storm surface
water and industrial wastes. Normal domestic wastewater shall mean
"normal" for the City of Socorro, New Mexico.
Any individual, firm, company, political or governmental
subdivision, association, society, corporation or group.
The logarithm, to the base 10, of the reciprocal of the weight
of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
The wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of
food that have been shredded to such a degree that all particles will
be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in
public sewers, with no particle greater than 1/2 inch in any dimension.
A sewer in which all owners of abutting properties shall
have equal rights and is controlled by public authority.
The public sewer portion of a wastewater facility which transports
wastewater and to which storm water, surface water and groundwater
are not intentionally admitted.
Those solids which settle during a preselected period of
time expressed as milliliters per liter of sample.
A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
The word "shall" is mandatory; the word "may" is permissive
or discretionary.
Any discharge of water, sewage, or industrial waste which
in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow exceeds
for any period of duration longer than 15 minutes more than five times
the average twenty-four-hour concentration or flow during normal operation.
The laboratory procedures set forth in the latest edition,
at the time of analysis, of Standard Methods for the Examination of
Water and Wastewater as prepared, approved and published jointly by
the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association
and the Water Environment Federation.
A sewer which carries storm water and surface water and drainage,
but excludes wastewater and polluted industrial wastes.
The Wastewater Department Superintendent of the City of Socorro,
New Mexico, or his immediate superior, authorized deputy, agent or
representative.
Solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension
in water, sewage or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory
filtering.
A device for retaining sand, silt, grit, mineral material,
petroleum solvent, grease or oil by gravity-differential separation
from wastewater and of a design and capacity approved by the City.
Any water or waste containing none of the following: emulsified
grease or oil; acid or alkali, phenols or other substances imparting
taste and odor to receiving water; toxic substances in suspension,
colloidal state or solution; and noxious or odorous gases.
The used water of a community. Such used water may be a combination
of the liquid and waterborne wastes from residences, commercial buildings,
industrial plants and institutions.
The structures, equipment and processes required to collect,
transport and treat wastewater liquid and dispose of the effluent.
An arrangement of devices and structures for treating wastewater
and sludge. Sometimes used as synonymous with "waste treatment plant"
or "wastewater treatment plant."
A channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously
or intermittently.
The Water Environment Federation.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater,
surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated
cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary
sewer.
Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged
to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers, or
to a natural outlet approved by the Superintendent. Industrial cooling
water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged, on approval
of the Superintendent, to a storm sewer or natural outlet.
It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within
the City or in any area under the jurisdiction of the City any sewage
or wastewater or other polluted water, except where suitable treatment
has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this
article.
Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful to construct
or maintain any privy, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other
facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 14-05-19]
The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human
occupancy, employment, recreation or other similar purposes situated
within the City and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way
in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public
sanitary sewer of the City is hereby required at his expense to install
suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect to said public
sewer, in accordance with the provisions of this article, within 90
days after date of official notice to do so, provided that such public
sewer is within 100 feet of the property line.
Residential, commercial and industrial properties situated outside
the City limits may be connected via building sewers to available
sewers or future sewers upon application and agreement to abide by
the provisions of this article and upon approval of the City.
A.
When permitted. Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under
the provisions of this article, the building sewer shall be connected
to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions
of this article.
B.
Permit. Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal
system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the
Superintendent. The application for such permit shall be made on a
form furnished by the City which the applicant shall supplement by
any plans, specifications, and other information as are deemed necessary
by the Superintendent. A permit and inspection fee shall be paid to
the City at the time the application is filed.
C.
Inspection. A permit for a private sewage disposal system shall not
become effective until the installation is completed to the satisfaction
of the Superintendent. He shall be allowed to inspect the work at
any stage of construction and, in any event, the applicant for the
permit shall notify the Superintendent when the work is ready for
final inspection and before any underground portions are covered.
The inspection shall be made within 72 hours of the receipt of notice
by the Superintendent.
D.
Design requirements. The type, capacities, location and layout of
a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all requirements
and recommendations of the State of New Mexico Environment Department.
No permit shall be issued for any private sewage disposal system employing
subsurface soil absorption facilities where the area of the lot is
less than 15,000 square feet. No septic tank or cesspool shall be
permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.
E.
Conversion to public sewer on availability. At such time as a public
sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal
system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in compliance
with this article and any septic tanks, cesspools and similar private
sewage disposal facilities shall be abandoned and filled with clean
soil, sand or gravel.
F.
Operation and maintenance. The owner shall operate and maintain the
private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times
at no expense to the City.
G.
Chapter not to limit reasonable requirements of health officer. No
statement contained in this article shall be construed to interfere
with any additional reasonable requirements that may be imposed by
the appropriate health officer.
A.
Permits required. No person shall uncover, make any connections with
or opening into, use, alter or disturb any public sewer or appurtenances
thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the Superintendent.
B.
Wastewater Department classifications.
[Amended 7-19-2010 by Ord. No. 10-06-21]
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Classification
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Description
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Wastewater Residential 1 (small)
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Single-family residential units served by individual meters
of less than or equal to 1 inch in size
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Wastewater Residential 2 (medium)
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Single-family residential units served by individual meters
greater than 1 inch or less than 3 inches in size
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Wastewater Residential 3 (large)
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Single-family residential units served by individual meters
greater than or equal to 3 inches in size
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Wastewater Multifamily 1 (small)
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Multifamily residential users served by a common meter of less
than or equal to 1 inch in size, with separate sanitary facilities
provided for each unit and connected to a common sewer service line.
This class includes mobile home parks, duplexes, triplexes, apartment
complexes, etc.
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Wastewater Multifamily 2 (medium)
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Multifamily residential users served by a common meter of greater
than 1 inch or less than 3 inches in size with separate sanitary facilities
provided for each unit and connected to a common sewer service line.
This class includes mobile home parks, duplexes, triplexes, apartment
complexes, etc.
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Wastewater Multifamily 3 (large)
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Multifamily residential users served by a common meter of greater
than or equal to 3 inches with separate sanitary facilities provided
for each unit and connected to a common sewer service line. This class
includes mobile home parks, duplexes, triplexes, apartment complexes,
etc.
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Wastewater Commercial 1 (small)
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Commercial, nonresidential users served by individual meters
of less than or equal to 1 inch in size with a wastewater discharge
comparable in quality to normal residential wastewater. Included are
schools, office buildings, shops, etc.
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Wastewater Commercial 2 (medium)
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Commercial, nonresidential users served by individual meters
of greater than 1 inch or less than 3 inches in size and with a wastewater
discharge comparable in quality to normal residential wastewater.
Included are schools, office buildings, shops, etc.
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Wastewater Commercial 3 (large)
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Commercial, nonresidential users served by individual meters
of greater than or equal to 3 inches in size and with a wastewater
discharge comparable in quality to normal residential wastewater.
Included are schools, office buildings, shops, etc.
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Wastewater Multi-Commercial 1 (small)
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Multiple, commercial and other nonresidential users served by
a common meter less than or equal to 1 inch in size and with wastewater
discharge comparable in quality to normal residential wastewater.
Included in this category are shopping centers, motels, educational
and other governmental institutions, etc.
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Wastewater Multi-Commercial 2 (medium)
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Multiple, commercial and other nonresidential users served by
a common meter of greater than 1 inch or less than 3 inches in size
and with wastewater discharge comparable in quality to normal residential
wastewater. Included in this category are shopping centers, motels,
educational and other governmental institutions, etc.
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Wastewater Multi-Commercial 3 (large)
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Multiple, commercial and other nonresidential users served by
a common meter of greater than or equal to 3 inches in size and with
wastewater discharge comparable in quality to normal residential wastewater.
Included in this category are shopping centers, motels, educational
and other governmental institutions, etc.
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Wastewater Industrial 1 (small)
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Nonresidential users served by individual meters of less than or equal to 1 inch in size and with an industrial discharge as defined by § 195-2
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Wastewater Industrial 2 (medium)
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Nonresidential users served by individual meters of greater than 1 inch or less than 3 inches in size and with an industrial discharge as defined by § 195-2
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Wastewater Industrial 3 (large)
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Nonresidential users served by individual meters of greater than or equal to 3 inches in size and with an industrial discharge as defined by § 195-2
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Wastewater Institutional: government buildings, schools, and
other similar industrial or commercial facilities which provide public
and quasi-public services where more than 1 building or structure
is serviced by a common water meter. The following categories for
wastewater institutional customers are:
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Wastewater Institutional (WWI 1)
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Customer water service line less than 1 inch
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Wastewater Institutional (WWI 2)
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Customer water service line equal to 1 inch
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Wastewater Institutional (WWI 3)
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Customer water service line greater than 1 inch or equal to
1.5 inches
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Wastewater Institutional (WWI 4)
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Customer water service line greater than 1.5 inches or equal
to 2 inches
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Wastewater Institutional (WWI 5)
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Customer water service line greater than 2 inches or equal to
3 inches
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Wastewater Institutional (WWI 6)
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Customer water service line greater than 3 inches or equal to
4 inches
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Wastewater Institutional (WWI 7)
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Customer water service line greater than 4 inches or equal to
6 inches
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C.
Permit applications and fees. The owner or his agent shall make application
for service on a special form furnished by the City.
(1)
At
a minimum, the application for the permit shall be in writing and
shall contain the following information:
(a)
Name and address of applicant.
(b)
Name and address of the owner of the premises where the connection
is to be made and where the drain or line is to be laid.
(c)
Location of the proposed connection, drain or sewer pipe.
(d)
Statement as to the type of connection and type of materials to be
discharged into the sewer.
(e)
Statement as to whether the connection is to be made to the storm
sewer or to the sanitary sewer.
(2)
The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications,
or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the Superintendent.
If the proposed connection does not violate any provision herein and
does not violate any other ordinance or resolution of the City, the
Superintendent shall issue a permit for such connection.
(3)
Such permit shall contain all information required of the applicant
and shall specify the type and kind of grease traps and/or sand traps
to be used. At the time of granting the permit, the applicant shall
pay a fee for the connection to the sewer. The amount of this fee
shall be in accordance with the City's Sewer Rate Ordinance and
shall include permit, inspection, connection and pavement repair fees.[1]
D.
Costs; indemnification. All costs and expenses incident to the installation
and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner.
The owner shall indemnify the City against any loss or damage that
may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the
building sewer, including, but not limited to, pavement replacement.
All connections to the City's sewer system must be made by a
licensed plumber, subject to the supervision, inspection and approval
of the City's Superintendent, and in compliance with the New
Mexico Plumbing Code and with the City's policies and procedures
for the Utility Department.
E.
Separate building sewers required. A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building; except where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard or driveway, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer and classified in accordance with Subsection B of this section.
F.
Use of old building sewers. 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 article.
G.
Design requirements; compliance with codes. The size, slope, alignment
and materials of construction of a building sewer and the methods
to be used in excavating, placing of the pipe, jointing, 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 City and the State of New Mexico. All new sewer connections
must be properly designed and constructed in accordance with applicable
codes.[2]
H.
Gravity flow or lift. 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 public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such
building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged
to the building sewer.
I.
Connection of stormwater, etc. No person shall make connection of
roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains or other
sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building
drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public
sanitary sewer.
J.
Connection procedures generally. The connection of the building sewer
into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the Building
and Plumbing Code or other applicable rules and regulations of the
City or the procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of
the ASTM and the WEF Manual of Practice No. 9. All such connections
shall be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed
procedures and materials must be approved by the Superintendent before
installation.
K.
Final inspection. The applicant for the building sewer permit shall
notify the Superintendent when the building sewer is ready for inspection
and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under
the supervision of the Superintendent or his representative.
L.
Safety and protective measures for excavations. 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 City.
M.
Abandonment of connections. No person shall abandon any building
connection without first obtaining a written permit therefor. Such
building connection shall be effectively sealed with a vitrified clay
stopper inserted in the bell of the sewer extending to the property
line. Said stopper shall be installed as directed by the Superintendent.
N.
Digging up of streets and alleys. No person shall in any way interfere
with the employees of the City in any discharge of their duties in
the tapping of any sewer pipe, main or lateral. No person shall dig
up or cause to be dug up any street, alley, or right-of-way in the
City for the purpose of connecting with the sewer system of the City
and no person shall connect with or tap into the sewer system of the
City without first obtaining a permit, and no person having a permit
shall dig up any portion of any street or alley of the City for the
purpose of connecting with the sewer system of the City and thereafter
fail or neglect to place the street or alley in its original condition.
A fee in the amount set by the City's Sewer Rate Ordinance shall
be paid by the applicant at the time of granting of the permit for
the repair of the street surface to be disturbed in connecting to
the sewer system.[3]
O.
Prohibition against depositing wastes. No person shall deposit or
permit to be deposited in any unsanitary manner upon public or private
property within the City or within the area within the jurisdiction
of the City any human or animal excrement wastes.
P.
Prohibition against damaging the system. No person shall maliciously,
willfully or negligently break, damage or destroy, uncover, deface
or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is part
of the public sewer system.
Q.
Ownership and maintenance. The City shall own the service line from
the main to the property line and shall connect the service line to
the main. The customer shall own the service line from the property
line to the customer facilities and shall maintain the service line
from the customer facilities to the main. The ownership and maintenance
of building sewers shall conform to the City's policies and procedures
for the Utility Department.
A.
Prohibited discharges. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged
any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface
drainage, uncontaminated cooling water or unpolluted industrial process
waters to any sanitary sewer.
B.
Prohibited substances. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged
to any public sewers any of the following described liquids or wastes:
(1)
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive
liquid, solid or gas or any other waste which creates a fire or explosive
hazard in sewers and wastewater facilities.
(2)
Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids
or gases or oxygen-demanding wastes in sufficient quantity, either
singly or by interaction with other wastes, to damage or interfere
with any wastewater facility, constitute a hazard to humans or animals,
create a public nuisance or create any hazard in the receiving waters
of the wastewater treatment works, including, but not limited to,
cyanides in excess of two mg/l as CN in the wastes as discharged to
the public sewer.
(3)
Any herbicides and pesticides.
(4)
Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.0 or higher than 9.0
or having any other corrosive property capable or causing damage or
hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the wastewater facility.
(5)
Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable
of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference
with the proper operation of the wastewater facility, such as, but
not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal,
glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole
blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails and paper, dishes,
cups, milk containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 14-05-19]
(6)
Any petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil or products of mineral
oil origin, in amounts that will cause interference with any wastewater
facility.
(7)
Any trucked or hauled waste, except at discharge points designated
by the City and authorized by the Superintendent.
(8)
Any wastewater which imparts color which cannot be removed by the
treatment process, such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable
tanning solutions.
(9)
Any wastewater containing any radioactive wastes or isotopes.
(10)
Any of the following metals or substances exceeding discharge
limits promulgated by the US EPA National Categorical Pretreatment
Standards in accordance with the Clean Water Act and by the State
of New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission Standards for Groundwater:
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Aldrin
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Heptachlor
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Antimony
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Hexavalent Chromium
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Arsenic
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Hexachlorobenzene
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Barium
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Iron
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Benzo (a) Pyrine
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Lead
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Beryllium
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Lindane
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Bismuth
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Manganese
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BOD
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Mercury
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Boron
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Molybdenum
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Benzene
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Nickel
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Cadmium
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PCBs
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Carbon Tetrachloride
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Rhenium
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Chlordane
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Selenium
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Chromium (Hexa)
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Silver
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Chromium (Tri)
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Strontium
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Cobalt
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Tellurium
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Copper
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Tin
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Cyanide
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Uranium
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Dieldrin
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Zinc
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Fluoride
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(11)
Dilution of toxic materials and heavy metals in lieu of removal
is not acceptable.
C.
Discharges subject to regulation. No person shall discharge or cause
to be discharged the following described substances, materials, waters
or wastes if it appears likely in the opinion of the Superintendent
that such wastes can harm the wastewater facility or equipment, have
an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or can otherwise endanger
life, limb, public property or constitute a nuisance. In forming an
opinion as to the acceptability of these wastes, the Superintendent
will give consideration to such factors as the materials of construction
of the sewers, nature and capacity of the wastewater facility, degree
of treatability of wastes in the wastewater treatment works and other
pertinent factors. The substances which must be considered include,
but are not limited to, the following:
(1)
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150° F.
(65° C.).
(2)
Any water or waste containing fats, grease, wax or oils, whether
emulsified or not, in excess of 100 mg/l or containing substances
which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32°
F. and 150° F. (0° C. and 56° C.).
(3)
Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The installation
and operation of any garbage grinder larger than those normally manufactured
and sold for residential and noncommercial use will not be allowed
without specific review and approval by the Superintendent.
(4)
Any waters or wastes containing strong acid, iron pickling wastes
or concentrated plating solutions cannot be discharged to the wastewater
facility unless completely neutralized and approved by the Superintendent
for discharge.
(5)
Any waters or wastes containing reducing substances of an organic
or inorganic nature, toxic or nontoxic, which exert an immediate chlorine
demand may not be discharged into the wastewater facility if discharge
of agents will prevent the achievement of an adequate chlorine residual
in the effluent of the wastewater treatment works.
(6)
Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste- or odor-producing
substances, in concentrations exceeding limits established by the
Superintendent after treatment of the composite sewage, to meet the
requirements of the state, federal or other public agencies of jurisdiction
for such discharge to the receiving waters.
(7)
Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentrations
as may exceed limits established by the Superintendent in compliance
with applicable state and federal regulations.
(8)
Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of 9.0.
(9)
Materials which exert or cause:
(a)
Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but
not limited to, Fullers earth, lime slurries and lime residues) or
of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chlorine
and sodium sulfate).
(b)
Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes
and vegetable tanning solutions).
(c)
Unusual chemical oxygen demand, or biochemical oxygen, or chlorine
requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load
on the wastewater treatment works.
(d)
Slugs or shocks constituting an unusual volume of flow or concentration
of wastes which will disturb the normal functioning of the wastewater
facility.
(10)
Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable
to treatment or reduction by the wastewater treatment works employed,
or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the effluent
cannot meet the requirements of agencies having jurisdiction over
discharge to the receiving waters.
(11)
Any wastes containing metals or substances regulated by the
Clean Water Act and the State of New Mexico Water Quality Control
Commission Standards for groundwater and any other applicable regulations
and standards contained in other state and federal law or in concentrations
exceeding limits established by the Superintendent to meet state and
federal requirements.
D.
Superintendent's discretion.
(1)
If any waters or wastes are discharged, or are proposed to be discharged,
to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess
the characteristics enumerated in this section, and which in the judgment
of the Superintendent may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater
facilities or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard
to life or constitute a public nuisance, the Superintendent may:
(2)
If the Superintendent permits the pretreatment or equalization of
waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment
shall be subject to the review and approval of the State of New Mexico
Environment Department and the Superintendent and subject to the requirements
of all applicable regulations, ordinances and laws.
E.
Testing industrial waste. Testing an industrial waste will be performed
at least twice a year or whenever found necessary by the Superintendent.
The person discharging the waste shall be liable for payment of all
costs arising from the testing of the industrial waste.
F.
Grease, oil and sand traps. Grease, oil, and sand traps shall be
provided when, in the opinion of the Superintendent, they are necessary
for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive
amounts or any flammable wastes, sand or other harmful ingredients,
except that such traps shall not be required for private living quarters
or dwelling units. All traps shall be of a type and capacity approved
by the Superintendent and shall be located so as to be readily and
easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Grease and oil traps
shall be installed in all new filling stations, garages, restaurants
and other new facilities wherein heavy discharge of grease and oil
is to be expected.
G.
Maintenance of preliminary treatment and flow-equalizing facilities.
Where preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided
for any industrial liquid wastes, they shall be maintained continuously
in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense.
H.
Waste meters; manholes.
(1)
When required by the Superintendent, the owner of any property serviced
by a building sewer carrying industrial liquid wastes shall install
a suitable control manhole together with such necessary meters and
other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation,
sampling and measurement of the wastes.
(2)
Such manhole, when required, shall be accessibly and safely loaded,
constructed in such a manner so as to prevent infiltration of groundwater
and surface waters and constructed in accordance with plans approved
by the Superintendent. The manhole shall be installed by the owner
at his expense and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and
accessible at all times.
I.
Methods of testing; location of test site. All measurements, tests
and analysis of the characteristics of water and wastes shall be determined
in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods and shall
be determined at the control manhole provided or upon suitable samples
taken at such manhole. The control manhole shall be located so that
sampling of the industrial waste will be performed before discharge
into the public sewer system.
J.
Sampling and analysis methods. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily
accepted methods to reflect the effect of constituents upon the wastewater
treatment works and to determine the existence of hazards to life,
limb and property. The particular analyses involved will determine
whether a twenty-four-hour composite of all outfalls of a premises
is appropriate or whether a grab sample or samples should be taken.
Normally, but not always, COD, BOD, and settleable solids analyses
are obtained from twenty-four-hour composites of all outfalls whereas
pHs are determined from periodic grab samples.
K.
Access for sampling. The Superintendent shall be allowed access to
the properties of all sewer users as necessary to sample, test, and
measure all wastewater discharges. Failure to allow such access may,
at the City's discretion, be the basis for discontinuance of
sewer and/or water service to the property to which access is denied.
A.
Establishment of equitable user fees. The governing body of the City
shall take the necessary steps to establish an equitable system of
user fees. The purpose hereof is that each individual user shall pay
an equitable portion of the City's cost of owning the wastewater
facilities plus an equitable portion of the total operation and maintenance
costs. The cost recovery system shall satisfy the following conditions:
(1)
The apportionment of costs must take into consideration the individual
user's contribution as related to the total waste load, taking
into account the volume and strength of all discharges.
(2)
The costs to be considered should include, but are not limited to:
(3)
Substantial prepayment of the capital investment or other financial
commitments will be required from each industry that contributes 30%
or more of the total volume or strength of the waste load to be treated
by the facilities.
B.
Fee computation for residential units. For residential units, the
user fees shall be computed as follows in accordance with the Sewer
Rate Ordinance of the City of Socorro:
|
UC = A + (K)(V)
|
|
Where:
| ||||
|
UC
|
=
|
monthly user charge fee in dollars per month.
| ||
|
A
|
=
|
minimum monthly charge in dollars per month for being connected
to the sewer system, whether or not any wastewater is discharged to
the system.
| ||
|
K
|
=
|
basic user charge in dollars per month made per unit of 100
gallons of water used per month.
| ||
|
V
|
=
|
volume of water used per month in hundreds of gallons (units);
based on the average water consumption for the months of December
through February (winter water average), inclusive, and becoming effective
for each user for a nine-month period beginning with the City's
billing for the month of April.
| ||
(1)
If actual water use measurements are not available, the volume basis
shall be established by the Superintendent on the basis of expected
water use for the building being served.
(2)
Billing for the months of December through February, inclusive, will
be based on actual water consumption during those months.
C.
Fee computation for other users. For all other users, the user fees
shall be computed as follows:
|
UC = A + (K)(V)
|
|
Where:
| ||||
|
UC and K
|
=
|
as previously defined in Subsection B above.
| ||
|
V
|
=
|
actual volume of water used per month in hundreds of gallons
(units); unless a winter water average has been established and accepted
by the Superintendent for the particular user.
| ||
D.
Industrial surcharge. A surcharge may be assessed against persons
discharging industrial liquid wastes which are of a greater strength
than normal, untreated domestic wastewater. Normal, untreated domestic
wastewater is defined as having a maximum yearly average chemical
oxygen demand not in excess of 400 milligrams per liter and a settleable
solids level not in excess of 5.0 milliliters per liter. The monthly
industrial surcharge shall be computed from the following formulation:
|
SR
|
=
|
(Vi)
|
Kss(SS-5)
5
|
+
|
KCOD (COD-400)
400
|
|
Where:
| ||||
|
SR
|
=
|
surcharge in dollars per month; such surcharge being in addition
to the monthly user charge.
| ||
|
Vi
|
=
|
volume of water used per month in units of 100 gallons.
| ||
|
Kss
|
=
|
charge in dollars per month made per unit of 100 gallons of
water used for wastes of normal settleable solids concentration.
| ||
|
KCOD
|
=
|
charge in dollars per month made per unit of 100 gallons of
water used for wastes of normal COD concentration.
| ||
|
SS
|
=
|
settleable solids concentration of the industrial waste in milliliters
per liter; shall not be less than 5 for computation of the surcharge.
| ||
|
COD
|
=
|
COD concentration of the industrial waste in milligrams per
liter; shall not be less than 400 for computation of the surcharge.
| ||
|
Kss and KCOD shall be computed by the City to reflect the City's
estimation of the respective costs of treating the settleable solids
and COD components of normal wastewater. To compute Kss and KCOD,
the following formula shall be utilized:
| |
|---|---|
|
K = Kss + KCOD + Kv
|
|
Where:
| ||||
|
K, Kss, and COD
|
=
|
are as previously defined in Subsection D above.
| ||
|
Kv
|
=
|
the estimated portion of K which may be attributed to the processing
of a unit of 100 gallons of wastewater independent of treatment or
renovation of that wastewater.
| ||
E.
Wastewater system expansion fee. A charge (impact fee) will be paid
to the City when any building, structure or premises is connected
to the sanitary sewer system operated and maintained by the City.
This charge shall be known as the "wastewater system expansion fee"
(WWSEF).
F.
Charges for extraneous flows. Cost for operation and maintenance
for all flow not directly attributable to users (i.e., infiltration/inflow)
shall be distributed among all users in the same manner as the cost
for their actual use.
G.
Access of City to water utility records of user. For the purpose
of assessing equitable user fees, any person discharging to the sanitary
sewers shall permit access by the City to water utility records for
that person's property.
H.
Standby charges. Where vacant, uninhabited, or unused land abuts
a City sewer within 100 feet thereof, the owner or lessee shall pay
a sewer standby charge to the City as reflected in the current rate
schedule.
I.
Faulty or broken water meter; estimate. In the event of the stoppage
of or the failure of any water meter to register the full amount of
water consumed, or inaccessibility of the meter, or failure by the
City to read the meter, the customer will be billed for such a period
based on an estimated normal consumption for corresponding periods
in the preceding year or years, or consumption in preceding months.
J.
Private water system; measurement of water use. Where any person,
business or industry is connected to the public sewer system but utilizes
a private water system, such person, business or industry shall allow
the City to install water meters to measure the water usage from the
private water system. The meters shall be provided by the City and
installed at the cost of the sewer user. The water usage from the
private water system shall be used as the volume of water consumed
for the purposes of computing the service charge for the person, business,
or industry. This is an alternative method for establishing sewer
service fees and the City, in its discretion, may instead assess sewer
fees based on a use of 100 gallons per capita per day. Such person,
business, or industry shall allow employees of the City to come onto
the property and read the water meter at all reasonable times.
K.
Monthly payments required. The sewer charges levied pursuant to this
section shall be payable monthly, in conjunction with the monthly
water bill rendered by the City. Properties outside the City shall
pay a surcharge of 50% of and in addition to the monthly charge. If
bills are not paid within 10 days after the due date, a late penalty
of 10% of the amount past due shall be paid. Sewer charges shall be
stated separately on the combined water and sewer bill.
L.
The City Council shall at a future date, prior to beginning sewer
services, establish by ordinance the specific service fee schedules
to be charged.
M.
The City shall review total operation and maintenance (O&M) costs
and user rates at a minimum frequency of every two years and shall
revise the fee schedule accordingly, if necessary.
A.
Penalties; continuing violations. Every person convicted of a violation of this article shall be punished as set forth in Chapter 1, Article III, Penalties, of the Socorro City Code. The conviction and punishment of any person for a violation shall not excuse or exempt such person from the payment of any fee due or unpaid at the time of such conviction, and nothing herein shall prevent a criminal prosecution of any violation of the provisions of this article.
[Amended 7-7-2014 by Ord.
No. 14-05-19]
B.
Remedies cumulative; liens.
(1)
All remedies prescribed or liens created hereunder or under the provisions
of the law for collection and enforcement of the fees shall be cumulative,
and the use of one or more remedies by the City shall not bar the
use of any other remedy for the purpose of enforcing the provisions
of this article created by the law. The fees authorized by this article
shall be a lien in favor of the City upon the real property served
and the personal property of the person used in connection with the
sewer use which gave rise to the fee, and such lien shall be imposed,
collected, enforced, and paid as provided by the law. No property
of any persons shall be exempt from levy and sale on execution issued
for the collection of a judgment for any fee imposed by this article.
(2)
If any bill for sewage charges remains unpaid for 60 days, a lien
on the property receiving the sewage service shall be filed by the
City Clerk, as provided by NMSA 1978, § 3-36-1 et seq.,
and shall be released only upon payment of the charges plus interest
as provided by the law.
C.
Disconnection of service. For repeated violations of this article,
the City may disconnect the violator's building sewer and refuse to
provide sewer service to the violator until assurances satisfactory
to the City are provided by the violator that such violations shall
cease.
Whenever an extension of the City's sewer line is required
to serve an applicant, or group of applicants, the extension will
be made under the following terms and conditions by the applicant
and in accordance with the City's policies and procedures for
the Utility Department:
A.
All line extensions shall be sized to provide adequate service. In
the event that the City system plan requires larger line size than
is required to serve the applicant's needs, the applicant will
not be required to absorb the difference in investment between the
applicant's required line size and the line size required by
the plan; but in no event shall the extension costs to the applicant
be based on lines smaller than those needed for the applicant's
domestic service. The City shall be the sole judge of proper line
sizing in any new construction and shall be the sole judge of the
line size cost to the applicant.
B.
The investment in the line extension required to serve the applicant's
domestic requirements as specified above will be paid in total by
the applicant requesting the line extension.
C.
All lines will be constructed in existing public roads, streets,
City-owned lands, alleys, or easements. The applicant shall furnish
such rights-of-way in the form of duly executed easements without
charge to the City and shall assist the City in securing other rights-of-way
necessary to provide service over property not owned by the applicant.
D.
Special conditions which affect the furnishing of sewer service to
an applicant or group of applicants such as elevation, terrain, volume
required in existing mains, and other conditions resulting in increased
costs to the City in providing sewer service shall be taken into consideration
by the City and the cost thereof shall be added to the tapping fee.
Employees of the City shall be allowed access to any private
property connected to the public sewer system at all reasonable times
for the purpose of inspecting the construction, maintenance, and operation
of the system. No persons shall interfere with such access.
All requirements contained in this article shall be considered
a part of the contract of every person utilizing the sewage disposal
system; every person shall be considered as having expressly consented
to be bound thereby.
[Adopted 11-16-2015 by Ord. No. 15-10-19]
This article shall be hereafter known as the "City of Socorro
Grease Remediation Ordinance."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The City of Socorro Authority.
Fats, waxes, free fatty acids, calcium and magnesium soaps,
mineral oils and certain other nonfatty material from animal or vegetable
sources, or from hydrocarbons of petroleum origins, commonly found
in wastewater from food preparation and food service. Grease may originate
from, but not be limited to, discharges from scullery sinks, pot and
pan sinks, dishwashing machines, soup kettles and floor drains located
in areas where grease-containing materials may exist.
Any food establishment in any building, room or place, or
any portion thereof or appurtenance thereto, where human food or drink
is mixed, cooked or otherwise prepared, offered for sale, sold, served
or given, with or without charge, to patrons, customers or guests
for consumption on the premises; provided, however, that this does
not include the mixing, cooking or other preparation or serving of
food in single-family dwellings to the resident family or its guests.
A structure or device designed for the purpose of removing
and preventing fats, oils, and grease from entering the sanitary sewer
collection system. These devices are often below-ground units in outside
areas and are built as two- or three-chamber baffled tanks, whose
rated flow exceeds 35 gallons per minute (gpm).
A device for separating and maintaining waterborne greases
and grease complexes prior to the wastewater exiting the trap and
entering the sanitary sewer collection and treatment system. Such
traps are typically compact under-the-sink units that are near food
preparation areas whose flow rate is 35 gpm or less and shall be rated
for a minimum of 22.5 gpm.
The City of Socorro's designee under the instruction
and supervision of the City of Socorro Utility Director, who is assigned
to investigate compliance and detect violations of this article.
A treatment works which is owned by a municipality, as defined
by Section 502(4) of the Clean Water Act. This definition includes
any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling
and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid
nature. It also includes all sewers, pipes and other conveyances that
transfer wastewater to a POTW. The term also means the municipality
as defined in Section 502(4) of the Act, which has jurisdiction over
the indirect discharges to and the discharges from such a treatment
works. For purposes of this article, the terms "sanitary sewer system"
and "POTW" may be used interchangeably.
Any public eating establishment where meals are prepared,
offered for sale, sold and served to patrons, customers or guests
for compensation based on the price charged for and generally paid
at the conclusion of each meal. The word "meals," as used herein,
means meals generally consisting of courses embracing some kind of
meat or its equivalent, vegetables, bread, pastry, beverages and accompaniments.
A.
Trap requirements.
(1)
Upon approval of the Building Inspector, grease traps/grease inceptors
must be installed in the waste line leading from sinks, drains, and
other fixtures or equipment in food service facilities where grease
may be introduced into the drainage or sewer system in quantities
that can effect line stoppage or hinder sewage treatment or proper
sewer disposal.
(2)
Grease trap sizing and installation shall conform to the New Mexico
Plumbing Code.
A.
All grease interceptors and grease traps shall be maintained and
kept in good working order at all times. The interceptor or trap shall
limit the amount of grease discharged into the public sewer system
to levels not exceeding those permitted by the City of Socorro. Oil/grease
discharges shall not exceed 100 ppm downstream of the interceptor
or trap.
B.
It shall be the duty and responsibility of any owner, lessee or agent
of any restaurant or food preparation facility to, at a minimum, quarterly
inspect the grease interceptor or trap. A written record shall be
kept of all inspections. The inspection record shall, at a minimum,
list the name (inspector and company), address, and phone number of
the inspection/disposal company, the method and frequency of cleaning
schedule and the date of the cleaning/inspection. Such records shall
be presented to the Authority upon request. A more-frequent cleaning/inspection
schedule may be ordered to be performed by the facility when it is
determined by the Authority that the facility is discharging excessive
amounts of grease to the public sewer system.
C.
The City of Socorro Authority has the authority to request random
sampling for the testing of grease traps or interceptors in restaurants
and food preparation facilities. Said testing shall require the grease
trap or interceptor samples to be sent to a certified laboratory.
It shall be the responsibility of any owner, lessee or any agent of
any restaurant or food preparation facility who fails the laboratory
analysis involved with the grease trap or interceptor testing to pay
the administrative costs that the Authority incurred as a result of
said test. Said administrative costs shall be in addition to any other
fines or penalties that may be assessed in accordance with this article.
A.
In the discharge of duties, the City of Socorro, Utility Director,
Authority personnel or authorized representative shall have authority
to enter, at any reasonable hour, any restaurant or food preparation
facility in the jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of this article.
B.
The City of Socorro Utility Director may delegate his or her authority
to the appropriate official of the City of Socorro with regard to
the enforcement of this article or any ordinance or regulation relating
to the subject matter within this article.
A.
It is unlawful for any user to discharge into the publicly owned
treatment plant in any manner that is in violation of this article
or any condition set forth in this article. Additionally, a person
commits an offense if the person causes or permits the plugging or
blocking of, or otherwise interferes with or permits interference
with, the grease interceptor or the POTW, including alteration or
removal of any flow-constricting devices so as to cause flow to rise
above the design capacity of the interceptor.
B.
No person and/or facility shall discharge grease to the POTW, except
as expressly authorized by this article. If such discharge occurs,
the person or facility shall be considered in violation of this article
and subject to the remedies described herein. This includes nonpermitted
facilities.
C.
The City may recover the fees and costs imposed by this section in
a civil action and may pursue any other remedy available by law or
in equity to address a violation of this article or to enforce compliance
with it.
A.
Major violation.
(1)
If the City, through the Director or his designee, determines that
a user is responsible for blockage of a collection system line, the
following shall apply:
(a)
For the first offense, a field citation with the date for compliance
shall be issued to the responsible person on site. The focus of the
citation shall be education. The cost of removal of the blockage shall
not be assessed for the first occurrence. However, the facility shall
be notified of the cost that it may incur for additional violations
in the future.
(b)
For the second offense within a twelve-month period, a notice
of violation shall be issued, with the penalty of no less than $1,000
in addition to the cost of the removal of both the first blockage
which gave rise to the second offense to be assessed. The discharger
shall be informed that a future blockage resulting from a violation
will result in the termination of sewer service.
(c)
For the third offense within a two-year period, a notice of
violation shall be issued with a penalty of no less than $2,500 per
violation plus the cost of the removal of the blockage and termination
of sewer service.
(2)
This enforcement is needed to maintain a healthy collection system
that will not affect the biological process at the City of Socorro
wastewater treatment plant in order to comply with the City of Socorro
EPA NPDES permit.
