A.
Use of public sewers required.
[Amended 11-19-2018 by L.L. No. 25-2018]
(1)
It shall be unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the
Town of Amherst any sewage or polluted waters, except where suitable
treatment has been provided in accordance with the provisions of this
Part 1, and except where an appropriate New York State pollutant discharge
elimination system (SPDES) permit has been applied for and been received.
A valid copy of such a permit and any modifications thereof must be
filed with the Town Engineer.
(2)
The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy,
employment, recreation or other purposes, situated within the Town
and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is
now located a public sanitary sewer of the Town, is hereby required
at his expense to install suitable toilet facilities therein as specified
in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and
to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in
accordance with the provisions of this Part 1 provided that said public
sewer is within 100 feet of the premises on which the building is
located, measured along a street in the case of one- or two-family
dwellings and within 500 feet for premises containing any other occupancies,
and provided that a connection may be made lawfully thereto.
(3)
Buildings constructed in areas of the Town without public sewers
may be connected to a private septic system complying with all laws
and regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation and the Erie County Department of Health. Such private
septic tank systems shall be constructed, maintained and operated
at all times in a sanitary manner and in compliance with all rules
and guidelines of the aforementioned agencies. Construction, alterations
and maintenance shall be performed in conformance with the appropriate
County health codes and other applicable regulations and only after
obtaining necessary permits.
Within 90 days from the date an available public sewer is located
within the limits described in subsection 2 above, the owner of said
property served by a private septic system shall directly connect
structures and discharge points on the property to the public sewer
in accordance with the provisions of this article and the Town of
Amherst Plumbing Code, and any private septic tank system shall be
abandoned and filled in accordance with Erie County and Town Building
Department requirements.
After the public sewer becomes available, no person shall construct,
alter or improve a private septic tank system. The Town shall not
issue a permit for such work. The Town shall notify all owner or occupiers
of the property when the public sewer service is available, and the
times prescribed in this section shall run from the date of the notice.
In no event shall a property with a private septic tank system be
transferred before connection to a public sewer, if available, at
time of sale.
(4)
Owners of buildings constructed under these provisions shall, when
making application for a building permit, sign an agreement to immediately
connect to a public sewer when available. Such agreement is to run
with the land.
B.
Installation of sanitary drains, sump pumps, and storm drains.
(1)
The main sanitary drain for any building shall be hung below the
first floor and exit through the foundation wall to allow six inches
between the basement floor and the pipe invert. All devices producing
wastewater and installed in cellars shall discharge into the main
sanitary drain at a point within the building above the level of the
exterior finished grade.
(2)
All buildings having cellars shall have an adequate sump and sump
pump to which any interior or exterior perimeter drain tile and floor
drains shall discharge. The sump pumps shall discharge into a storm
sewer. Weepers located above cellar floor level and through the cellar
walls are not permitted.
(3)
All buildings shall have adequate roof gutters and downspouts connected
to storm drains, which also receive the discharge from sump pumps
and from courts, yards and paved areas on the property. Such storm
drains shall discharge into an existing stormwater sewer, otherwise
it may discharge into an existing road or ditch or other general drainage
ditch if approved by the Town. Where such points of discharge are
not available, the Commissioner of Building will decide the manner
in which the stormwater shall be collected and disposed.
(4)
The building sewer shall not be connected to the building drain until
all foundation wall backfill has been made and the roof construction
of the building completed.
(5)
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 Town of Amherst from any loss or damage that may directly
or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.
(6)
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every
building except where special permission is received from the Commissioner
of Building.
(7)
Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings
only when they are found, on examination and test by the Commissioner
of Building, to meet all requirements of this Part 1.
(8)
Septic or holding tanks, which are abandoned, shall be required to
be removed or filled with select fill, concrete or other material
approved by the Commissioner of Building. Commercial and industrial
facilities may need to be sampled and tested prior to abandonment,
in accordance with New York State or Erie County regulations. Abandoned
septic or holding tanks may be converted for use in a stormwater disposal
system approved by the Commissioner of Building.
(9)
The following items and/or operations shall comply with the provisions
of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, Town
specifications and/or recommended standards for sewage works:
(10)
No footing drains, roof drains or other drains carrying surface
water or groundwater shall be connected to the building or sanitary
sewer. A sump pump shall be provided wherever required to carry groundwater
and surface water to a natural outlet or storm sewer.
(11)
The use of a main house trap to buildings shall be required.
The main trap must be provided with a fresh-air inlet to ventilate
the system in which plumbing fixtures are to be placed. The main trap
may be placed either within the cellar or outside of the building.
If an outside trap is used, a wye with a cleanout must be provided
inside the building. A fresh-air pipe must be carried to gradeline
and provided with a suitable vent cap. If an inside trap is used,
the fresh-air vent must connect to the top of the trap with a wye
and one-eighth bend and must run to the outside of the building above
grade. The fresh-air vent shall be at least four inches in diameter.
The fresh-air vent on a trap shall not be placed within 10 feet of
an openable window or door. Traps must be placed at a minimum depth
of 36 inches, or frost protection must be provided.
(12)
Saddle-type connections to the main sewers shall be made in
a smooth, round hole, machine drilled. The fitting used shall be made
to ensure that it will not protrude into the main sewer. The fitting
shall fit the contour of the inside of the main sewer and be designed
for the size of pipe into which construction is being made. One-eighth-inch
clearance shall be provided between the fitting and the hole and between
the shoulder of the fitting and face of the main pipe. These spaces
shall be completely filled with waterproof joint material capable
of withstanding any stress or strain likely to be encountered in normal
sanitary sewer construction or maintenance. The fitting shall be manufactured
of either cast aluminum alloy, vitrified clay pipe or other material
acceptable to the Town Engineer and shall be capable of receiving
all types of pipe normally used for house service connections.
(13)
All excavations for building or sanitary sewer installations
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 work shall be restored in a manner
satisfactory to the Town Engineer. Ditches and culvert pipes for storm
and surface water or other utilities disturbed during the installation
of sewers shall be replaced to their original condition. All driveways
and parking areas shall be backfilled with select fill.
(14)
Before commencing work in a highway right-of-way, the appropriate
highway department shall be notified and a permit taken out. Utility
companies, as appropriate, shall also be notified.
(15)
No connection of sanitary sewer extensions shall be permitted
to a main sewer of the district until infiltration, deflection or
other tests and final inspections have been made and approved by the
Town Board, in writing. The allowable rate of infiltration shall not
exceed 200 gallons per inch of pipe diameter per mile of sewer per
day. Sewers may be connected to the main sewer system when they are
found upon examination and test to comply with Town specifications.
(16)
Whenever pipe laying is not in progress, the end of the pipe
shall be securely closed with a tight-fitting cover or plug. Any earth
or other material entering the main sewer due to operations of the
plumber, contractor or building owner shall be removed at his expense.
All trenches must be protected by sufficient sheeting and bracing
or other acceptable methods as required by the Town specifications.
(17)
Within the highway right-of-way, backfilling and restoration
of the surface shall be in accordance with requirements of the highway
agency having jurisdiction.
(18)
An earthen dam made of suitable clay material shall be installed
in the trench of the building sewer per Town specifications. The dam
shall be 24 inches in length and located midway between the main sewer
and the house trap. The purpose of this dam is to prevent the conduction
of the groundwater through the stone trench of the building sewer.
Additional dams as ordered by the Plumbing Inspector may be required
where poor ground conditions or high groundwater elevations exist.
A.
General prohibitions.
(1)
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater,
surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage or uncontaminated
cooling water to any sanitary sewer.
(2)
Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged
to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers or to
other approved drainage facilities. Industrial noncontact cooling
water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged, on approval
of the Town Engineer, to a storm sewer or other drainage facilities.
It must be strictly understood that where approval is given for discharge,
a New York State SPDES permit may be required.
(3)
No user shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, either directly
or indirectly to any public sewers, any substance or wastewater which
causes pass-through or interferes with the operation or performance
of the Town's wastewater facilities. In addition, no user shall discharge
any substance which will cause the Town to violate its SPDES permit,
receiving water quality standards, or contaminate the Town's sewage
sludge to an extent which restricts sludge disposal options. These
general prohibitions also apply to all nondomestic users of the Town's
facilities whether or not the user is subject to categorical pretreatment
standards or any other national, state or local pretreatment requirements.
B.
Specific prohibitions. The following substances and wastewater are
specifically prohibited from discharge into the Town's facilities:
(1)
Any water or wastes having a pH lower than 6.0 or higher than 9.5,
or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or
hazard to structures, equipment and personnel involved with the Town's
wastewater facilities.
(2)
Any liquid or vapor containing heat in amounts which will inhibit
biological activity in the wastewater treatment facility and cause
interference with the treatment process, but in no case shall heat
be in such quantities that the temperature at the Town's wastewater
treatment works influent exceeds 40° C. (104° F.).
(3)
Any water or wastes containing fats, wax, grease or oils, whether
emulsified or not, in excess of 100 mg/l or containing substances
which may solidify or become viscous at 0° C. (32° F.); also,
petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral
oil origin, in amounts that will cause interference or pass-through.
(4)
Any radioactive wastes or isotopes except in compliance with applicable
state or federal regulations.
(5)
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.
(6)
Pollutants which create a fire or explosive hazard in the POTW, including,
but not limited to, waste streams with a closed-cup flashpoint of
less than 140° F. (60° C.) using the test methods specified
in 40 CFR 261.21.
(7)
Solid or viscous substances in quantities, or of such size, capable
of causing obstruction to the flow in the POTW resulting in interference,
but in no case solids greater than 1/2 inch in any dimension.
(8)
Wastewater which imparts color which cannot be removed by the treatment
process, such as but not limited to dye wastes and vegetable tanning
solutions, which consequently imparts color to the treatment plant's
effluent, thereby violating the Town's SPDES permit.
(9)
Pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released
in a discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which,
either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, will cause
interference with the POTW.
(10)
Volumes of flow or concentrations of wastes constituting slugs.
(12)
Sludges, screenings or other residues from the pretreatment
of industrial wastes.
(13)
Medical wastes, except as specifically authorized by the Town
Engineer in a wastewater discharge permit.
(14)
Wastewater causing, alone or in conjunction with other sources,
the treatment plant's effluent to fail a toxicity test.
(15)
Detergents, surface-active agents or other substances which
may cause excessive foaming in the POTW.
(16)
At the point of discharge into the POTW, wastewater causing
two readings on an explosion hazard meter of more than 10% or any
single reading over 20% of the lower explosive limit of the meter.
(17)
Wastes that do not require separation (i.e. urinals, toilets,
catch basins, etc.) to sewer lines intended for grease interceptor/grease
trap services.
(18)
Any additives into the Town of Amherst wastewater system for
the purpose of emulsifying FOG or biologically/chemically treating
FOG for grease remediation or as a supplement to interceptor maintenance,
unless a specific written authorization from the Town Engineer or
Pretreatment Coordinator is obtained.
(19)
Any waste, including FOG and solid materials, removed from the
grease control device or solids interceptor to the sewer system.
(20)
Any grease trap or interceptor with direct discharge to the
Town of Amherst sewer collection system without the approval of the
Town of Amherst Plumbing Department and the Town of Amherst Engineering
Department.
A.
Any promulgated national categorical pretreatment standard shall
immediately supersede the limitations imposed under this Part 1 if
more stringent than these limitations for sources in a particular
industrial category. The Town Engineer shall notify all affected users
of the applicable reporting requirements under 40 CFR 403.12.
B.
The categorical pretreatment standards found at 40 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N, Parts 405 through 471, are hereby incorporated. As new categorical pretreatment standards are promulgated or existing categorical standards modified, the Town Engineer, within 30 days of publication in the Federal Register, shall seek Town Board approval for incorporation into this Part 1.
(1)
Where a categorical pretreatment standard is expressed only in terms
of either the mass or the concentration of a pollutant in wastewater,
the Town Engineer may impose equivalent concentration or mass limits
in accordance with 40 CFR 403.6(c).
(2)
When wastewater subject to a categorical pretreatment standard is
mixed with wastewater not regulated by the same standard, the Town
Engineer shall impose an alternate limit using the combined waste
stream formula in 40 CFR 403.6(e).
(3)
A user may obtain a variance from a categorical pretreatment standard
if the user can prove, pursuant to the procedural and substantive
provisions in 40 CFR 403.13, that factors relating to its discharge
are fundamentally different from the factors considered by the EPA
when developing the categorical pretreatment standard.
(4)
A user may obtain a net gross adjustment to a categorical standard
in accordance with 40 CFR 403.15.
(Reserved)
Local limits will be based on a mass allocation system contained
in the Town of Amherst Mass Allocation and Pollutant Control Manual
approved by the Town Board of the Town of Amherst. Mass-based local
limits shall be included in all wastewater discharge permits, for
all users required to be permitted. Discharges, which exceed mass-based
local limits, are prohibited. In addition any user which discharges
a pollutant greater than the unallocated reserve for that pollutant,
shall be considered to be in violation of this Part 1. Further, concentration-based
local limits based on worker health and safety are contained in the
Town of Amherst Mass Allocation and Pollutant Control Manual and shall
be included in all wastewater discharge permits for all users required
to be permitted. In addition, concentration-based local limits applicable
to unpermitted industrial users are contained in this Manual. Discharges,
which exceed concentration-based local limits, are prohibited. The
Town of Amherst Mass Allocation and Pollutant Control Manual and any
limits developed through the use of such Manual are duly enforceable
by this Part 1. Any changes to the Manual must comply with all applicable
requirements of 40 CFR 403. The Town of Amherst Mass Allocation and
Pollutant Control Manual is available at the Town of Amherst Engineering
Department.
The Town reserves the right to establish more stringent limitations
or requirements on discharges to its wastewater facilities if deemed
necessary to comply with the objectives set forth above.
A.
No industrial user shall ever increase the use of process water or
in any other way attempt to dilute a discharge as a partial or complete
substitute for adequate treatment to achieve compliance with a discharge
limitation unless expressly authorized by an applicable pretreatment
standard or requirement.
B.
The Town may impose mass discharge limits on users who are using
dilution to meet any requirement of this Part 1 or in other cases
where the imposition of mass limits is appropriate.
