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Township of West Norriton, PA
Montgomery County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 1, Part 10A, Delinquent Sewer Fee Accounts.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
This Part sets forth uniform requirements for direct and indirect contributors into the wastewater collection system for West Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and enables the Township to comply with all applicable state and federal laws required by the Clean Water Act of 1977 and the General Pretreatment Regulations (40 CFR, Part 403).
2. 
The objectives of this Part are:
A. 
To prevent the introduction of pollutants into the Township wastewater system which will interfere with the operation of the Township or Borough system or contaminate the resulting biosolids.
B. 
To prevent the introduction of pollutants into the Township wastewater system which will pass through the Township and Borough system, inadequately treated, into receiving waters or the atmosphere or otherwise be incompatible with the system.
C. 
To improve the opportunity for recycling and reclamation of wastewaters and biosolids from the Township and Borough system.
D. 
To provide for equitable distribution of the cost of the Township wastewater system.
3. 
This Part provides for the regulation of direct and indirect contributors to the Township wastewater system through the issuance of permits to certain nondomestic users and through enforcement of general requirements for the other users, authorizes monitoring and enforcement of general requirements for the other users, authorizes monitoring and enforcement activities, requires user reporting, assumes that existing customer's capacity will not be preempted, and provides for the setting of fees for the equitable distribution of costs resulting from the program established herein.
4. 
This Part shall apply to the Township and to the persons outside the Township who are, by contract or agreement with the Township, users of the Township POTW. This Part shall supplement existing ordinances and shall also act as a repealer for existing ordinances inconsistent herewith.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the following terms and phrases, as used in this Part, shall have the meanings hereinafter designated:
ACT or THE ACT
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the "Clean Water Act," as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.
APPROVAL AUTHORITY
The director in an NPDES state with an approved state pretreatment program and the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a non-NPDES state or NPDES state without an approved state pretreatment program.
AUTHORITY
The Norristown Municipal Waste Authority, or the Board of the Norristown Municipal Waste Authority.
[Added by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF AN INDUSTRIAL USER
An authorized representative of an industrial user may be:
A. 
A principal executive officer of at least the level of vice president if the industrial user is a corporation.
B. 
A general partner or proprietor if the industrial user is a partnership or proprietorship, respectively.
C. 
A duly authorized representative of the individual designated above if such representative is responsible for the overall operation of the facilities from which the indirect discharge originates.
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedure, five days at 20° C., expressed in terms of mass and concentration [milligrams per liter (mg/l)].
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
BOROUGH
The Borough of Norristown, Pennsylvania, or the Borough Council of Norristown.
BUILDING SEWER
A sewer conveying wastewater from the premises of a user to the POTW.
CATEGORICAL PRETREATMENT STANDARDS
Standards promulgated by the EPA in accordance with Section 307(b) and (c) of the Act and which appear in 40 CFR, Chapter I, Subchapter N, or 40 CFR, Parts 401-471.
COMPATIBLE POLLUTANT
A pollutant for which the Authority wastewater treatment plant was specifically designed to treat and remove, such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total phosphorous (P), and to a lesser degree oil and grease.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
CONTROL AUTHORITY
Refers to the Township Manager or to the "approval authority," defined hereinabove, or the Authority.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
COOLING WATER
The water discharged from any use such as air-conditioning, cooling or refrigeration or to which the only pollutant added is heat.
DIRECT DISCHARGE
The discharge of treated or untreated wastewater directly to the waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE PLAN (ERP)
A plan developed by the Authority which details the course of action which will be taken by the Township and/or the Authority for various violations of this Part, a Categorical Pretreatment Standard or any other applicable law. The ERP is a supplement to this Part and is available through the Authority.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY or EPA
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or, where appropriate, the term may also be used as a designation for the Administrator or other duly authorized official of said agency.
GRAB SAMPLE
A sample which is taken from a waste stream on a one-time basis over a period of time not to exceed 15 minutes with no regard to the flow in the waste stream.
HOLDING TANK WASTE
Any waste from holding tanks such as vessels, chemical toilets, campers, trailers, septic tanks and vacuum-pump tank trucks.
INDIRECT DISCHARGE
The discharge or the introduction of nondomestic pollutants from any source regulated under Section 307(b) or (c) of the Act (33 U.S.C. § 1317) into the POTW (including holding tank waste discharged into the system).
INDUSTRIAL USER
Any nondomestic source of indirect discharge to the sewer system.
INTERFERENCE
A discharge which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, inhibits or disrupts the wastewater collection and treatment system treatment processes, operations or its biosolids processes, use or disposal, and, therefore, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the Authority treatment plant NPDES permit, including an increase in duration of the violation. The term includes prevention of biosolids use, biosolids processes or disposal by the receiving treatment facility in accordance with Section 405 of the Act (33 U.S.C. § 1345) or any criteria, guidelines or regulations developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA), the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act or more-stringent state criteria, including those contained in any state biosolids management plan prepared pursuant to Title IV of the SWDA applicable to the method of disposal or use employed by the receiving treatment facility.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
NATIONAL CATEGORICAL PRETREATMENT STANDARD or PRETREATMENT STANDARD
Any regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by the EPA in accordance with Section 307(b) and (c) of the Act (33 U.S.C. § 1347) and which applies to a specific category of industrial users.
NATIONAL POLLUTION DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PERMIT or NPDES PERMIT
A permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of the Act (33 U.S.C. § 1342).
NEW SOURCE
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
A. 
Any user of the Township's wastewater collection and treatment system which commenced operation after the publication by the EPA of proposed pretreatment standards which will be applicable to that user after final EPA promulgation of such standards in accordance with Section 307 of the Act, provided that:
(1) 
The building, structure, facility or installation from which the discharge originates is constructed at a site at which no other source is located.
(2) 
The building, structure, facility or installation totally replaces the process or production equipment that causes the discharge of pollutants at an existing source.
(3) 
The production or wastewater-generating processes of the building, structure, facility or installation are substantially independent of an existing source at the same site.
B. 
Construction on a site at which an existing source is located results in a modification rather than a new source if the construction does not create a new building, structure, facility or installation meeting the criteria of Subsection A above but otherwise alters, replaces or adds to existing process or production equipment.
C. 
Construction of a new source, as defined under this section, has commenced if the owner or operator has:
(1) 
Any placement, assembly or installation of facilities or equipment.
(2) 
Significant site preparation work, including clearing, excavation or removal of existing buildings, structures or facilities which is necessary for the placement, assembly or installation of new source facilities or equipment.
(3) 
Entered into a binding contractual obligation for the purchase of facilities or equipment which are intended to be used in its operation within a reasonable period of time. Options to purchase or contracts which can be terminated or modified without substantial loss and contracts for feasibility, engineering and design studies do not constitute a contractual obligation under this section.
PASS-THROUGH
A discharge which exits a POTW into waters of the United States in quantities or concentrations which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the POTW's NPDES permit (including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation).
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, copartnership, firm, company, corporation, association, joint-stock company, trust, estate, governmental entity or any other legal entity, or their legal representatives, agents or assigns. The masculine gender shall include the feminine. The singular shall include the plural where indicated by the context.
pH
The logarithm (base 10) of the reciprocal of the concentration of hydrogen ions, expressed in grams per liter of solution.
POLLUTANT
Any dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage biosolid, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discharged equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal and agricultural waste discharged into water.
POLLUTION
The man-made or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological and radiological integrity of water.
POTW TREATMENT PLANT
That portion of the POTW designed to provide treatment to wastewater.
PRETREATMENT REQUIREMENTS
Any substantive or procedural requirement related to pretreatment, other than a National Pretreatment Standard imposed on an industrial user.
PRETREATMENT or TREATMENT
The reduction of the amount of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties, in wastewater to a less-harmful state prior to or in lieu of discharging or otherwise introducing such pollutants into a POTW. The reduction or alteration can be obtained by physical or biological processes or process changes by other means, except as prohibited by 40 CFR 403.6(d).
PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS (POTW)
A treatment works, as defined by Section 212 of the Act (33 U.S.C. § 1292), which is owned in this instance by the Township. This definition includes any sewers that convey wastewater to the Authority POTW treatment plant but does not include pipes, sewers or other conveyances not connected to a facility providing treatment. For the purposes of this Part, "POTW" shall also include any sewers that convey wastewaters to the POTW from persons outside the Township who are, by contract or agreement with the Township, users of the POTW.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
SHALL
Is mandatory; MAY — Is permissive.
SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL USER
Any industrial/commercial user of the Township wastewater disposal system who:
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
A. 
Is subject to categorical pretreatment standards.
B. 
Discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day of process wastewater to the collection and treatment system.
C. 
Contributes a process waste stream which makes up 5% or more of the average dry-weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the Authority treatment plant.
D. 
Is designated as such by the Township or Authority on the basis that the user has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the operation of the sewer system or treatment plant, the quality of the biosolids generated at the Authority's WWTP or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement.
SIGNIFICANT NONCOMPLIANCE
An industrial user is in significant noncompliance if his violations meet one or more of the following criteria:
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
A. 
Chronic violations of wastewater discharge limits, defined as those in which 66% or more of all the measurements taken during a six-month period exceed (by any magnitude) the daily maximum limit or the average limit for the same pollutant parameter.
B. 
Technical review criteria (TRC) violations, defined as those violations in which 33% or more of all of the measurements for each pollutant parameter taken during a six-month period equal or exceed the product of the daily average maximum limit or the average limit times the applicable TRC (TRC = 1.4 for BOD, TSS, fats, oil and grease and 1.2 for all other pollutants except pH).
C. 
Any other violation of a pretreatment effluent limit (daily maximum or longer-term average) that the Township or the Authority determines has caused, alone or in combination with other discharges, an interference, pass-through or upset in the Township's sewer system or the Authority's treatment plant (including endangering the health of the Authority and/or Township personnel or the general public).
D. 
Any discharge of a pollutant that has caused imminent endangerment to human health, welfare or to the environment or has resulted in the Township exercising its emergency authority under 40 CFR 403, Paragraph (f)(1)(vi)(B), to halt or prevent such a discharge.
E. 
Failure to meet, within 90 days after the scheduled date, a compliance schedule milestone contained in a local control mechanism or enforcement action for starting construction, completing construction or attaining final compliance.
F. 
Failure to accurately report incidents of noncompliance.
G. 
Any other violation or group of violations that the Township and the Authority determine will adversely affect the overall implementation of its industrial pretreatment program.
SLUG CONTROL PLAN
All significant industrial users are required to submit to the Township and to the Authority a slug control plan which meets the criteria set forth in 40 CFR 403.8.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
SLUG DISCHARGE or SLUG LOAD
Any intentional or accidental discharge at a flow rate or concentration which could cause a violation of any pretreatment standard set forth in this Part or in Section 403.5 of the General Pretreatment Regulations.
STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION (SIC)
A classification pursuant to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual issued by the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, 1972.
STATE
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
STORMWATER
Any flow occurring during or following any form of natural precipitation and resulting therefrom.
SUPERINTENDENT
The person designated by the Township to supervise the operation of the POTW and who is charged with certain duties and responsibilities by this Part, or his duly authorized representative.
SUSPENDED SOLIDS
The total suspended matter that floats on the surface of or is suspended in water, wastewater or other liquids and which is removable by laboratory filtering.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of West Norriton, Pennsylvania, or the Board of Commissioners of West Norriton.
TOXIC POLLUTANT
Any pollutant or combination of pollutants listed as toxic in regulations promulgated by the Administrator of the EPA under the provisions of CWA 307(a) or other acts.
USER
Any person who contributes, causes or permits the contribution of wastewater into the POTW.
WASTEWATER
The liquid and water-carried industrial or domestic waste from dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial facilities and institutions, together with any groundwater, surface water and stormwater which may be present, whether treated or untreated, which is contributed into or permitted to enter the POTW.
WASTEWATER CONTRIBUTION PERMIT
As set forth in § 18-115 of this Part.
WATERS OF THE STATE
All streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, reservoirs, aquifers, irrigation systems, drainage systems and all other bodies or accumulations of water, surface or underground, natural or artificial, public or private, which are contained within, flow through or border upon the state or any portion thereof.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
The following abbreviations shall have the designated meanings:
BOD
Biochemical oxygen demand
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
COD
Chemical oxygen demand
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
l
Liter
mg
Milligrams
mg/l
Milligrams per liter
NPDES
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
POTW
Publicly owned treatment works
SIC
Standard Industrial Classification
SWDA
Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.
TSS
Total suspended solids
USC
United States Code
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
1. 
No user shall contribute or cause to be contributed, directly or indirectly, any pollutant or wastewater which will interfere with the operation or performance of the POTW of the Authority or the Township. These general prohibitions apply to all such users of the Township POTW, whether or not the user is subject to National Categorical Pretreatment Standards or requirements. A user may not contribute the following substances to any POTW:
A. 
Any liquids, solids or gases which, by reason of their nature or quantity, are or may be sufficient, either alone or by interaction with other substances, to cause fire or explosion or be injurious in any other way to the POTW or to the operation of the POTW. 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 rating over 10% of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the meter. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides and sulfides and any other substance which the Authority, the Township, the state or the EPA has notified the user is a fire hazard or a hazard to the system, including any material or waste stream exhibiting a closed-cup flash point of less than 140°.
B. 
Solid or viscous substances which may cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer or other interference with the operation of the wastewater treatment facilities, such as but not limited to grease, garbage with particles greater than 1/2 inch in any dimension, animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshings, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, sand, spent lime, stone or marble dust, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, wastepaper, wood, plastics, gas, tar, asphalt residues, residues from refining or processing of fuel or lubricating oil, mud or glass grinding or polishing wastes, petroleum oil, non-biodegradable cutting oil or mineral oil products which will interfere with or cause pass-through in the sewer system or the Authority's POTW.
C. 
Any wastewater having a pH less than 5.0 or greater than 10.0, unless the Township and the Authority POTW is specifically designed to accommodate such wastewater, or wastewater having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and/or personnel of the POTW.
D. 
Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, to injure or interfere with any wastewater treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a toxic effect in the receiving waters of the POTW, or exceed the limitation set forth in a Categorical Pretreatment Standard. A toxic pollutant shall include but not be limited to any pollutant identified pursuant to Section 307(a) of the Act.
E. 
Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases or solids which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to create a public nuisance or hazard to life or are sufficient to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance and repair.
F. 
Any substance which may cause the Authority's POTW effluent or any other product of the Authority's POTW, such as residues, biosolids 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 Township or Authority POTW cause the Authority POTW to be in noncompliance with biosolid use or disposal criteria, guidelines or regulations developed under Section 405 of the Act or any criteria, guidelines or regulations affecting biosolid use or disposal developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act or state criteria applicable to the biosolid management method being used.
G. 
Any substance which will cause the Township or Authority POTW to violate its NPDES and/or state disposal system 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 Authority POTW treatment plant resulting in interference, but in no case wastewater with a temperature at the introduction into the POTW which exceeds 40° C., unless the POTW treatment plan is designed to accommodate such temperature.
J. 
Any pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which a user knows or has reason to know will cause interference to the Township or Authority POTW. In no case shall a slug load have a flow rate or contain concentration or qualities of 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.
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. 
Any cooling water, either polluted or unpolluted.
N. 
Any inert insoluble solids, such as asphalt, clay, slag and mill scale or biosolids or slurries.
O. 
Any vapor or steam.
P. 
Any wastewaters containing amounts of animal or vegetable fats, oils, greases or wax in excess of 100 parts per million or wastes containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32° F. and 100° F.
Q. 
Stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage.
R. 
Trucked or hauled wastes, except at a point of discharge indicated by the Authority's wastewater treatment plant Superintendent or his duly authorized agent.
2. 
When the Township or the Authority determines that a user(s) is contributing to the POTW any of the above-enumerated substances in such amounts as to interfere with the operation of the Township or Authority POTW, the Township shall:
A. 
Advise the user(s) of the impact of the contribution on said POTW.
B. 
Develop effluent limitations for such user to correct the interference with said POTW.
C. 
Notify the Authority in order to respond according to the Authority Enforcement Response Plan.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
Upon the promulgation of the Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standards for a particular industrial subcategory, the federal standard, if more stringent than the limitation imposed under this Part for sources in that subcategory, shall immediately supersede the limitations imposed under this Part. Each user or significant industrial user shall be responsible to notify the Authority and the Township of changes to his status under the federal, state or local regulations. The National Categorical Pretreatment Standards found in 40 CFR, Parts 405-471, are hereby incorporated into this Part.
A. 
Where a Categorical Pretreatment Standard is expressed only in terms of the mass or the concentration of a pollutant in wastewater, the Township may impose equivalent concentration or mass limits in accordance with 40 CFR, Part 403.6(c).
B. 
When wastewater subject to a Categorical Pretreatment Standard is mixed with wastewater not regulated by the same standard, the Township shall impose an alternate limit using the combined waste stream formula in 40 CFR, Part 403.6(e).
C. 
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, Part 403.13, that factors relating to its discharge are fundamentally different from the factors considered by the EPA when developing the Categorical Pretreatment Standard.
D. 
A user may obtain a net gross adjustment to a Categorical Standard from the EPA in accordance with 40 CFR, Part 403.15.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
Where the Authority wastewater treatment system achieves consistent removal of pollutants limited by federal pretreatment standards, the Authority may apply to the approval authority for modification of specific limits in the federal pretreatment standards. "Consistent removal" shall mean reduction in the amount of a pollutant or alteration of the nature of the pollutant by the wastewater treatment system to a less-toxic or 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 Section 403.7(c)(2) of Title 40, CFR, Part 403, General Pretreatment Regulations for Existing and New Sources of Pollution, promulgated pursuant to the Act. The Borough 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. Such modification shall then be binding upon the user of the POTW.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
1. 
No user shall contribute or cause to be contributed, directly or indirectly, wastewater containing pollutants or substances in excess of the following:
Parameter
Maximum Concentration
(mg/l)
Aluminum — total
11.22
Arsenic — total
0.01
Cadmium — total
0.02
Chromium — total
0.04
Copper — total
0.60
Cyanide — total
0.15
Lead — total
0.15
Mercury — total
0.0016
Molybdenum — total
5.3149
Nickel — total
0.43
Oil/grease
100
Selenium — total
0.05
Silver — total
0.26
Sulfates
100
Sulfites
1.00
Sulfides
0.05
Zinc — total
5.81
2. 
These limitations shall be set forth in all wastewater discharge permits issued by the Township or the Authority to a user.
[1]
Editor's Note: This section was amended by Ord. 07-618, 9/11/2007, the provisions of which were inadvertently omitted from the 2008 revision to the chapter and were added back in through the codification process.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
State requirements and limitation on discharges shall apply in any case where they are more-stringent than federal requirements and limitations or those in this Part.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
The Township reserves the right to establish, by ordinance, more-stringent limitations or requirements on discharges to the wastewater disposal system if deemed necessary to comply with the objectives presented in § 18-101 of this Part.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
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 pretreatment standards or in any other pollutant-specific limitation developed by the Township or state. (Comment: Pretreatment may be an acceptable means of complying with some of the prohibitions set forth in § 18-104, e.g., the pH prohibition.)
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
Each user shall provide protection from accidental discharge of prohibited materials or other substances regulated by this Part. Facilities to prevent accidental discharge of prohibited materials shall be provided and maintained at the owner's or user's own cost and expense. Detailed plans showing facilities and operating procedures to provide this protection shall be approved by the Township before construction of the facility. No user who commences contribution to the POTW after the effective date of this Part shall be permitted to introduce pollutants into the system until accidental discharge procedures have been approved by the Township. Review and approval of such plans and operating procedures shall not relieve the industrial user from the responsibility to modify the user's facility as necessary to meet the requirements of this Part.
2. 
In the case of an accidental discharge, it is the responsibility of the user to immediately telephone and notify the Township and the Authority of the incident. The notification shall include the location of the discharge, the type of waste, concentration and volume and corrective actions.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
3. 
Written Notice. Within five days following an accidental discharge, the user shall submit to the Township and the Authority a detailed written report describing the cause of the discharge and the measures to be taken by the user to prevent similar future occurrences. Such notification shall not relieve the user of any expense, loss, damage or other liability which may be incurred as a result of damage to the Township or Authority POTW, fishkills or any other damage to person or property; nor shall such notification relieve the user of any fines, civil penalties or other liability which may be imposed by this Part or applicable law.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
It is the purpose of this Part to provide for the recovery of costs from users of the Township's wastewater disposal system for the implementation of the program established herein. The applicable charges or fees shall be set forth in the Township's Schedule of Charges and Fees.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended by Ord. 09-649, 12/8/2009]
1. 
The Township may adopt charges and fees which may include:
A. 
Fees for reimbursement of costs of setting up and operating the Township's pretreatment program.
B. 
Fees for monitoring, inspections and surveillance procedures.
C. 
Fees for reviewing accidental discharge procedures and construction.
D. 
Fees for permit applications.
E. 
Fees for filing appeals.
F. 
Fees for consistent removal (by the Township or the Authority) of pollutants otherwise subject to federal pretreatment standards.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
G. 
Other fees as the Township may deem necessary to carry out the requirements contained herein.
2. 
Tapping Fees. Tapping fees shall be established by the Township by resolution, which shall be imposed on either new contributors to the Township's sewer system or on existing contributors who increase their contribution to the Township's sewer system. The tapping fee shall be paid prior to connection to the sewer system in the case of a new contributor and prior to the increasing of contribution in the case of an existing contributor.
3. 
Sewer Rentals.
[Amended by Ord. 11-663, 12/13/2011; and by Ord. 2014-689, 12-29-2014[1]]
A. 
The quarterly sewer rental for individually owned residential units served by public water shall be $42 for the first zero to 3,000 gallons of usage and $7.51 for each 1,000 gallons of usage, or any increment thereof, over 3,000 gallons.
B. 
The quarterly sewer rental for individually owned residential units not served by public water shall be $107.
C. 
The quarterly sewer rental for multi-unit residential buildings under single ownership shall be:
(1) 
For such buildings containing three or fewer residential units, $82 for the first zero to 3,000 gallons of usage and $7.51 for each 1,000 gallons of usage, or any increment thereof, over 3,000 gallons.
(2) 
For such buildings containing four or more residential units, $20 per unit and $7.51 for each 1,000 gallons of usage, or any increment thereof.
D. 
The quarterly sewer rental for nonresidential users shall be $87 for the first zero to 3,000 gallons of usage and $7.51 for each 1,000 gallons of usage, or any increment thereof, over 3,000 gallons.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided that it become effect 1/1/2015.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
It shall be unlawful to discharge without a Township or Authority permit to any natural outlet within the Township or in any area under the jurisdiction of said Township and/or to the Township POTW any wastewater except as authorized by the Township in accordance with the provisions of this Part.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
2. 
The Township may require any unpermitted or permitted users of the sewer system to provide any information needed to determine compliance with this Part or other applicable local, state, or federal laws, rules or regulations. These requirements include but are not limited to:
A. 
Wastewater discharge peak-rate and volume records over a specified time period.
B. 
Information on raw materials, processes and products affecting wastewater volume and quality.
C. 
Quantity and disposition of specific liquid, biosolids, oil, solvent or other materials which may impact the operation of the sewer system.
D. 
A plot plan of all sewer facilities on the user's property, including the number and location of all sewer lateral connections to the sewer system.
E. 
Details of control measures taken by the user to prevent and control stormwater, drainage and roof runoff from entering the sewer system.
F. 
Details of any significant changes to the nature or quantity of their discharge, including increased flows of 25% or more, or the promulgation of a Categorical Pretreatment Standard which applies to their discharge.
3. 
All users must notify the Township, the Authority, the EPA and the PADEP of discharges to the sewer system which, if disposed of in any other manner, would be considered a hazardous waste under federal regulations at 40 CFR, Part 261.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
4. 
Costs incurred for developing the information described above shall be paid by the user and are in addition to all other sewer use, permit and surcharge fees charged by the Township. The user shall be responsible for obtaining and submitting all applicable Township, Authority, county, regional, state or federal permits or planning documents required for approval for a sewer connection. In addition, whenever an existing insignificant industrial user becomes subject to a national pretreatment standard, the user must apply to the Township and Authority for a wastewater contribution permit within 180 days after becoming subject to an applicable national pretreatment standard.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
General Permits. All significant users proposing to connect to or to contribute to the POTW shall obtain a wastewater discharge permit before connection to or contributing to the POTW. All existing significant users connected to or contributing to the POTW shall obtain a wastewater contribution permit within 180 days after the effective date of this Part.
2. 
Permit Application. All nonresidential users shall complete and file with the Township, within 30 days of receipt, the industrial sewer connection application. Proposed new nonresidential users shall complete and file this survey with the Township at least 90 days prior to connecting to or contributing to the POTW. In responding to this survey, the users shall submit, in units and terms appropriate for evaluation, the following information:
A. 
Name, address and location (if different from the address).
B. 
SIC number according to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, Bureau of the Budget, 1972, as amended.
C. 
Wastewater constituents and characteristics, including but not limited to those mentioned in this Part, as determined by a reliable analytical laboratory; sampling analysis shall be performed in accordance with procedures established by the EPA pursuant to Section 304(g) of the Act and contained in 40 CFR, Part 136, as amended.
D. 
Time and duration of contribution.
E. 
Average daily and thirty-minute peak wastewater flow rates, including daily, monthly and seasonal variations, if any.
F. 
Site plans, floor plans, mechanical and plumbing plans and details to show all sewers, sewer connections and appurtenances by size, location and elevation.
G. 
Description of activities, facilities and plant processes on the premises, including all materials which are or could be discharged.
H. 
Where known, the nature and concentration of any pollutants in the discharge which are limited by any Township, state or federal pretreatment standards and a statement regarding whether or not the pretreatment standards are being met on a consistent basis and, if not, whether additional operation and maintenance (O&M) and/or additional pretreatment is required for the user to meet applicable pretreatment standards.
I. 
If additional pretreatment and/or O&M will be required to meet the pretreatment standards, the shortest schedule by which the user will provide such additional pretreatment. The completion date in this schedule shall not be later than the compliance date established for the applicable pretreatment standard. The following conditions shall apply to this schedule:
(1) 
The schedule shall contain increments of progress in the form of dates for the commencement and completion of major events leading to the construction and operation of additional pretreatment required for the user to meet the applicable pretreatment standards (e.g., hiring an engineer, completing preliminary plans, completing final plans, executing contract for major components, commencing construction, completing construction, etc.).
(2) 
No increment referred to in Subsection I(1) shall exceed nine months.
(3) 
Not later than 14 days following each date in the schedule and the final date for compliance, the user shall submit a progress report to the Township, including, as a minimum, whether or not it complied with the increment of progress to be met on such date and, if not, the date on which it expects to comply with this increment of progress, the reason for delay, and the steps being taken by the user to return the construction to the schedule established. In no event shall more than nine months elapse between such progress reports to the Township.
J. 
Each product produced by type, amount, process or processes and rate of production.
K. 
Type and amount of raw materials processed (average and maximum per day).
L. 
Number and type of employees and hours of operation of plant and proposed or actual hours of operation of pretreatment system.
M. 
Any information as may be deemed by the Township or the Authority to be necessary to evaluate the permit application. The Township and the Authority will evaluate the data furnished by the user and may require additional information. After evaluation and acceptance of the data furnished, the Township or the Authority may issue a wastewater contribution permit, subject to terms and conditions provided herein.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
3. 
Wastewater Permits. Users who are required to obtain wastewater contribution permits shall be notified of that fact and will be sent a permit application to be completed within 15 days of receipt. (See Appendix A.[1] A fee for the permit application will be assessed in accordance with § 18-103 based on the Township and Norristown Municipal Waste Authority POTW cost recovery program implementation.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is on file in the Township offices.
4. 
Permit Modifications. Within nine months of the promulgation of a National Categorical Pretreatment Standard, the wastewater contribution permit of users subject to such standards shall be revised to require compliance with such standard within the time frame prescribed by such standard. Where a user subject to a National Categorical Pretreatment Standard has not previously submitted an application for a wastewater contribution permit as required by § 18-115, Subsection 2, the user shall apply for a wastewater contribution permit within 180 days after the promulgation of the applicable National Categorical Pretreatment Standard. In addition, the user with an existing wastewater contribution permit shall submit to the Township, within 180 days after the promulgation of an applicable Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standard, the information required by Subsection 2 of this § 18-115.
5. 
Permit Conditions. Wastewater discharge permits shall be expressly subject to all provisions of this Part and all other applicable regulations, user charges and fees established by the Township. Permits may contain the following:
A. 
The unit charge or schedule of user charges and fees for the wastewater to be discharged to a community sewer.
B. 
Limits on the average and maximum wastewater constituents and characteristics.
C. 
Limits on average and maximum rate and time of discharge or requirements for flow regulations and equalization.
D. 
Requirements for installation and maintenance of inspection and sampling facilities.
E. 
Specifications for monitoring programs, which may include sampling locations, frequency of sampling, number, types and standards for tests and reporting schedule.
F. 
Compliance schedules.
G. 
Requirements for submission of technical reports of discharge reports (see Subsection 3 of this § 18-115).
H. 
Requirements for notification of the Township of any new introduction of wastewater constituents or any substantial change in the volume or character of the wastewater constituents being introduced into the wastewater treatment system.
I. 
Requirements for notification of slug discharges as per § 18-121.
J. 
Other conditions as deemed appropriate by the Township to ensure compliance with this Part.
6. 
Permit Duration. Permits shall be issued for a specified time period, not to exceed five years. A permit may be issued for a period less than one year or may be stated to expire on a specific date. The user shall apply for permit reissuance a minimum of 180 days prior to the expiration of the user's existing permit. The terms and conditions of the permit may be subject to modification by the Township or the Authority during the term of the permit as limitations or requirements identified in § 18-106 are modified or other just cause exists. The user shall be informed of any proposed changes in his permit at least 30 days prior to the effective date of change. Any changes or new conditions in the permit shall include a reasonable time schedule for compliance.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
7. 
Permit Transfer. Wastewater discharge permits are issued to a specific user for a specific operation. A wastewater discharge permit shall not be reassigned nor transferred or sold to a new owner, new user, different premises or a new or changed operation without the approval of the Township or the Authority. Any succeeding owner or user shall also comply with the terms and conditions of the existing permit.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
Compliance Data Report. Within 90 days following the date for final compliance with applicable pretreatment standards or, in the case of a new source, following commencement of the introduction of wastewater into the POTW, any user subject to pretreatment standards and requirements shall submit to the Township and the Authority a report indicating the nature and concentration of all pollutants in the discharge from the regulated process which are limited by pretreatment standards or requirements. The report shall state whether the applicable pretreatment standards and requirements are being met on a consistent basis and, if not, what additional O&M and/or pretreatment is necessary to bring the user into compliance with the applicable pretreatment standards and requirements. This statement shall be signed by an authorized representative of the industrial user and certified to by a qualified professional.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
2. 
Periodic Compliance Reports.
A. 
Any user subject to a pretreatment standard, after the compliance date of such pretreatment standard or, in the case of a new source, after commencement of the discharge into the POTW, shall submit to the Township and the Authority during the months of June and December, unless required more frequently in the pretreatment standard or by the Township and the Authority, a report indicating the nature and concentration of pollutants in the effluent which are limited by such pretreatment standards. In addition, this report shall include a record of all daily flows which, during the reporting period, exceeded the average daily flow reported in this § 18-116. At the discretion of the Township and in consideration of such factors as local high or low flow rates, holidays, budget cycles, etc., the Township may agree to alter the months during which the above reports are to be submitted.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
B. 
The Township may impose mass limitations on users which are using dilution to meet applicable pretreatment standards or requirements or in other cases where the imposition of mass limitations are appropriate. In such cases, the report required by Subsection 2A of this § 18-116 shall indicate the mass of pollutants regulated by the pretreatment standards in the effluent of the user. These reports shall contain the results of sampling and analysis of the discharge, including the flow and the nature and concentration or production and mass, where requested by the Township, of pollutants contained therein which are limited by the applicable pretreatment standards. The frequency of monitoring shall be prescribed in the applicable pretreatment standard. All analysis shall be performed in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator pursuant to Section 304(g) of the Act and contained in 40 CFR, Part 136, and amendments thereto, or with any other test procedures approved by the Administrator. Sampling shall be performed in accordance with the techniques approved by the Administrator. In the event the results of the analysis exceed the pretreatment standards given in the wastewater contribution permit, the permittee shall provide immediate verbal notification to the Township Manager. The permittee shall also repeat sampling and analyses and submit the results of the analyses to the Township Manager within 30 days after becoming aware of the violation(s). (Comment: Where 40 CFR, Part 136, does not include a sampling or analytical technique for the pollutant in question, sampling and analysis shall be performed in accordance with the procedures set forth in the EPA publication, Sampling and Analysis Procedures for Screening of Industrial Effluents for Priority Pollutants, April 1977, and amendments thereto, or with any other sampling and analytical procedures approved by the Administrator.)
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
The Township and the Authority shall require to be provided and operated, at the user's own expense, monitoring facilities to allow inspection, sampling and flow measurement of the building sewer and/or internal drainage systems. The monitoring facility shall normally be situated on the user's premises, but the Township may, when such a location would be impractical or cause undue hardship on the user, allow the facility to be constructed in the public street or sidewalk area and located so that it will not be obstructed by landscaping or parked vehicles.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
2. 
There shall be ample room in or near such sampling manhole or facility to follow accurate sampling and preparation of samples for analysis. The facility, sampling or measuring equipment shall be maintained at all times in a safe and proper operating condition at the expense of the user.
3. 
Whether constructed on public or private property, the sampling and monitoring facilities shall be provided in accordance with the Township's requirements and all applicable local construction standards and specifications. Construction shall be completed within 90 days following written notification by the Township.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
The Township or the Authority shall inspect the facilities of any user to ascertain whether the purpose of this Part is being met and all requirements are being complied with. Persons or occupants of premises where wastewater is created or discharged shall allow the Township or its representative ready access at all reasonable times to all parts of the premises for the purposes of inspection, sampling, records examination or in the performance of any of their duties. The Township, the Authority, approval authority and (where the NPDES state is the approval authority) the EPA shall have the right to set up on the user's property such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling inspection, compliance monitoring and/or metering operations. Where a user has security measures in force which would require proper identification and clearance before entry into their premises, the user shall make necessary arrangements with their security guards so that, upon presentation of suitable identification, personnel from the Township, the Authority, approval authority and EPA will be permitted to enter without delay for the purpose of performing their specific responsibilities.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
Users shall provide necessary wastewater treatment as required to comply with this Part and shall achieve compliance with all federal pretreatment standards within the time limitations as specified by the federal pretreatment regulations. Any facilities required to pretreat wastewater to a level acceptable to the Township shall be provided, operated and maintained at the user's expense. Detailed plans showing the pretreatment facilities and operating procedures shall be submitted to the Township and the Authority for review and shall be acceptable to the Township and the Authority before construction of the facility. The review of such plans and operations procedures will in no way relieve the user from the responsibility of modifying the facility as necessary to produce an effluent acceptable to the Township under the provisions of this Part. Any subsequent changes in the pretreatment facilities or method of operation shall be reported to and be acceptable to the Township and the Authority prior to the user's initiation of the changes.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
2. 
The Township or the Authority shall annually publish in the Norristown Times Herald newspaper a list of the users which were not in compliance with all pretreatment requirements or standards at least once during the 12 previous months. The notification shall also summarize any enforcement actions taken against the user(s) during the same 12 months.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
3. 
All records relating to compliance with pretreatment standards shall be made available to officials of the EPA or approval authority upon request.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
Information and data on a user obtained from reports, questionnaires, permit applications, permit and monitoring programs and from inspections shall be available to the public or other governmental agency without restriction unless the user specifically requests and is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Township that the release of such information would divulge information, processes or methods of production entitled to protection as trade secrets of the user.
2. 
When requested by the person furnishing a report, the portions of a report which might disclose trade secrets or secret processes shall not be made available for inspection by the public but shall be made available upon written request to governmental agencies for uses related to this Part by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Disposal Elimination System Pretreatment Programs; provided, however, that such portions of a report shall be available for use by the state or any state agency in judicial review or enforcement proceedings involving the person furnishing the report. Wastewater constituents and characteristics will not be recognized as confidential information.
3. 
Information accepted by the Township as confidential shall not be transmitted to any governmental agency or to the general public by the Township until and unless a ten-day notification is given to the user.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
1. 
The Township or the Authority may suspend the wastewater treatment service and/or a wastewater contribution permit when such suspension is necessary, in the opinion of the Township, in order to stop an actual or threatened discharge which presents or may present an imminent or substantial endangerment to the health or welfare of persons or to the environment, causes interference to the POTW or causes the Authority to violate any condition of its NPDES permit.
2. 
Any person notified of a suspension of the wastewater treatment service and/or the wastewater contribution permit shall immediately stop or eliminate the contribution. In the event of a failure of the person to comply voluntarily with the suspension order, the Township shall take such steps as deemed necessary, including immediate severance of the sewer connection, to prevent or minimize damage to the POTW system or endangerment to any individuals. The Township shall reinstate the wastewater contribution permit and/or the wastewater treatment service upon proof of the elimination of the noncomplying discharge. A detailed written statement by the user describing the causes of the harmful contribution and the measures taken to prevent any future occurrence shall be submitted to the Township and the Authority within 15 days of the date of the occurrence.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008; as amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
Whenever the Township or the Authority finds that any user has violated or is violating this Part, the wastewater contribution permit or the general pretreatment regulations, the Township or the Authority may serve upon the user a written notice of violation (NOV). Within 15 days of the certified receipt of the NOV, the user must submit to the Township and/or the Authority a written response which contains the following information:
A. 
Cause of the noncompliance.
B. 
Anticipated duration of the noncompliance and the time by which the violation will be corrected.
C. 
Steps taken by the user to reduce and eliminate the noncomplying discharge.
D. 
Steps taken by the user to prevent recurrence of the condition(s) leading to the noncompliance.
E. 
The signature of an authorized representative of the user that certified to the validity of the report.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
1. 
The Township or the Authority may order any user who causes or allows an unauthorized discharge to enter the POTW to show cause before the Township why the proposed enforcement action should not be taken. A notice shall be served on the user specifying the time and place of a hearing to be held by the Township regarding the violation, the reasons why the action is to be taken, and the proposed enforcement action and directing the user to show cause before the Township why the proposed enforcement action should not be taken. The notice of the hearing shall be served personally or by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) at least 10 days before the hearing. Service may be made on any agent or officer of a corporation.
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
2. 
The Township or the Authority may itself conduct the hearing and take the evidence or may designate any of its members or any officer or employee to:
[Amended by Ord. 2016-701, 3/8/2016]
A. 
Issue, in the name of the Township, notices of hearing requesting the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence relevant to any matter involved in such hearing.
B. 
Take the evidence.
C. 
Transmit a report of the evidence and hearing, including transcripts and other evidence, together with recommendations to the Township for action thereon.
3. 
At any hearing held pursuant to this Part, testimony taken must be under oath and recorded stenographically. The transcript, so recorded, will be made available to any member of the public or any party to the hearing upon payment of the usual charges thereof.
4. 
After the Township has reviewed the evidence, it may issue an order to the user responsible for the discharge directing that, following a specified time period, the sewer services be discontinued unless adequate treatment facilities, devices or other related appurtenances are properly operated. Further orders and directives as are necessary and appropriate may be issued.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
If any person discharges sewage, industrial waste or other wastes into the Township wastewater disposal system contrary to the provisions of this Part, federal or state pretreatment requirements or any order of the Township, the Solicitor of the Township may commence an action for appropriate legal and/or equitable relief in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
Any user who is found to have violated an order of the Township or who willfully or negligently fails to comply with any provision of this Part and the orders, rules, regulations and permits issued hereunder shall be fined not less than $100 and not more than $25,000 for each offense. Each day on which a violation shall occur or continue shall be deemed a separate and distinct offense. In addition to the penalties provided herein, the Township may recover reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, court reporter's fees and other expenses of litigation by appropriate suit at law against the person found to have violated this Part or orders, rules, regulations and permits issued hereunder.
[Ord. 08-626, 3/11/2008]
Any person who knowingly makes any false statement, representation or certification in any application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained pursuant to this Part or wastewater contribution permit or who falsifies, tampers with or knowingly renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required under this Part shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 and, in default of payment thereof, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days.