[Adopted 5-11-1981 by Ord. No. 210]
A.
The purpose of this article is to provide for the use of City-owned
and -operated sewerage facilities, including the new proposed treatment
facility, without damage to the physical facilities, without impairment
of their normal function of collecting, treating and discharging domestic
wastewaters from the area served by the City, and without the discharge
by the publicly owned treatment works of pollutants which would be
in violation of its permitted discharge under the applicable rules
and regulations of state and federal regulatory agencies.
B.
Enactment of this article and its user charge system shall take place
prior to completion of construction of the new treatment facility,
Project No. C550985-03.
Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning
of terms used in this article shall be as follows:
The City Council or their authorized deputy, agent, representative
or consulting engineer. "Approving authority" and "City" are used
interchangeably.
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation
of organic matter, under standard laboratory procedure, in five days
at 20° C. and expressed in milligrams per liter.
A sewer intended to receive both wastewater and storm sewer
or surface water.
Those users of the publicly owned treatment works which are
not residential and are not classified as an industrial user.
Those pollutants generally characterized as BOD, suspended solids, pH and fecal coliforms, together with any additional pollutants defined in the City's WPDES permit, unless the concentrations of any of these pollutants are such that they interfere with the operation of the treatment works or exceed the limits established under §§ 445-18 and 445-19.
That charge to the users which shall, in whole or in part,
defray the costs of retiring the debts incurred in the construction
of any wastewater facilities by the City.
Waterborne wastes normally being discharged from the sanitary
conveniences of dwellings, apartment houses, hotels, office buildings,
factories and institutions, free of industrial wastes and in which
the average concentration of suspended solids is established at or
below 113 mg/l and the BOD is established at or below 250 mg/l.
The charge made to unmetered users for use of the treatment
works.
All pollutants which are not compatible, as defined in this
section.
Recovery by the City from industrial users of a wastewater
works of the grant amount allocable to the treatment of wastes from
such users pursuant to Section 204(b) of the Federal Act.
Any nongovernmental user of publicly owned treatment works which
discharges more than 25,000 gallons per day of sanitary waste, or
a volume of process waste, or combined process and sanitary waste,
equivalent to 25,000 gallons per day of sanitary waste. Sanitary wastes
are the wastes discharged from the average residential user in the
City's service area. The strength of the average residential waste
discharge in the City's service area shall be defined in terms of
a concentration of 250 mg/l biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and 113
mg/l suspended solids (SS). These concentrations will be applied in
determining equivalent volumes of process waste or combined discharge
of sanitary and process wastes.
Any nongovernmental user of publicly owned treatment works which
discharges wastewater to the treatment works which contains toxic
pollutants or poisonous solids, liquids or gases in sufficient quantity
either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere
with any sewage treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or
animals, create a public nuisance or create any hazard in or have
an adverse effect on the waters receiving any discharge from the treatment
works.
Any user of the publicly owned treatment works that engages
in the processing, blending, assembling or in some way transforming
of materials or substances into new products. This type of user would
normally occupy an establishment described as a plant, factory, or
mill.
The wastewater from an industrial user as distinct from domestic
wastewater.
The amount charged to each user regardless of use. This charge
does not provide the user a minimum amount of use.
All costs incurred in the operation and maintenance of the
City's wastewater treatment works. This class of cost shall include,
but not be limited to, labor, energy, chemicals and replacement cost
and excludes debt retirement.
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation
or group.
The logarithm (base 10) of the reciprocal of the hydrogen
ion concentration in gram moles per liter of solution as determined
by acceptable laboratory procedures.
Expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment accessories
or appurtenances which are necessary to maintain the capacity and
performance during the service life of the treatment works for which
such works were designed and constructed. The term "operation and
maintenance" includes replacement. The yearly replacement cost is
calculated as follows:
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a
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=
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Present Installed Cost
Projected Service Life
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A user of the publicly owned treatment works that would occupy
an establishment considered a house or apartment and other facilities
in which people live.
A sewer that conveys domestic wastewater or industrial waste
or a combination of both and into which storm, surface and ground
waters or unpolluted industrial wastewater are not intentionally passed.
The sum of the minimum charge, user charge, debt service
charge and any applicable surcharge.
Any discharge of water or wastewater which, in concentrations
of any 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 of flows during normal operation, and
which adversely affects the collection system and/or performance of
the wastewater treatment plant.
The examination and analytical procedures set forth in the
most recent edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water,
Sewage and Industrial Wastes," published jointly by the American Public.
Health Association, the American Waterworks Association and the Federation
of Sewage and Industrial Wastes Association.
A sewer which carries storm and surface drainage but excludes
domestic wastewater and industrial wastes.
An additional charge related to industrial wastes being discharged
by any user having unusual characteristics such as excessive BOD,
excessive suspended solids or other pollutants.
Total suspended matter that either floats on the surface
of or are in suspension in water, sewage, or other liquids and which
are removable by a laboratory filtration device. Quantitative determination
of SS shall be made in accordance with procedures set forth in "Standard
Methods."
Water of quality equal to or better that the effluent criteria
in effect, or water that would not cause violation of receiving-water
quality standards.
Any person discharging domestic wastewater or industrial
wastes into the collection system.
That charge to users of the treatment plant which adequately
provides for proportionate recovery of the operation and maintenance
costs.
A group of users having similar wastewater flows and characteristics,
levels of BOD, suspended solids, etc.
A combination of the water-carried waste discharged into
the collection system from residences, commercial buildings, institutions,
and industrial establishments, together with such ground surface and
stormwater as may be present.
All facilities for collection, pumping, treating and disposing
of domestic wastewater and industrial waste.
The Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit,
which allows the City to discharge wastes to a watercourse, provided
those wastes meet the conditions of the permit.
A.
Discharge of wastewater prohibited. It shall be unlawful to discharge
to any natural outlet within the City, or in any area under the jurisdiction
of the City, any wastewater or other polluted waters, except where
suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent
provisions of this article.
B.
Privies, septic tank and cesspools; compliance with provisions required.
Except as provided in this section, 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 wastewater.
C.
Connection with public sewer required. The owner of any house, building
or property used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other
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 the owner's expense, to install suitable toilet facilities therein,
and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer,
in accordance with the provisions of this article, within 90 days
after date of official notice to do so, provided that said public
sewer is within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of the property line. Where
a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of this
section, the building sewer shall be connected to a private wastewater
disposal system complying with the provisions of this article.
D.
Compliance with county regulations required. Before commencement
of construction of a private wastewater disposal system, the owner
shall first obtain a written permit signed by the Sawyer County Zoning
Administrator and comply with the then-applicable Sawyer County sanitary
laws. The City expressly consents to the enforcement of such laws
by the Sawyer County Zoning Administrator and other Sawyer County
officials within the City. Violations of this section may also be
prosecuted by the City.
E.
Inspection of installation. A permit for a private wastewater disposal
system shall not become effective until the installation is completed
to the satisfaction of the approving authority. The approving authority
shall be allowed to inspect the work at any stage of construction
and, if any event, the applicant for the permit shall notify the approving
authority when the work is ready for final inspection, and before
any underground portions are covered. The inspection shall be made
within 48 hours of the receipt of notice by the approving authority.
F.
Compliance with certain state provisions required; discharge to natural
outlet prohibited. The type, capacities, location shall comply with
all recommendations of the Plumbing Section of the Department of Safety
and Professional Services of the state. No septic tank or cesspool
shall be permitted to discharge to any natural outlet.
G.
Connection with public sewer required when. At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private wastewater disposal system, as provided in Subsection C above, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer within 90 days, in compliance with this article, and any septic tanks, cesspools and similar private wastewater disposal facilities shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with suitable material.
H.
Sanitary operation required. The owner shall operate and maintain
the private wastewater disposal facility in a sanitary manner at all
times, at no expense to the City.
I.
Conflict of provisions. No statement contained in this section shall
be construed to interfere with any additional requirements that may
be imposed by the health officer.
J.
Wastewater discharge permit. A wastewater discharge permit shall
be required of any person desiring to discharge wastewater to the
wastewater treatment works and shall be of two classes:
(1)
A domestic wastewater discharge permit shall be required of any person
desiring to discharge domestic waste and shall be considered as part
of the building permit required and issued by the City.
K.
Owner responsibility and compliance with City regulations. All costs
and expenses incidental to the installation and connection of the
building sewer shall be borne by the owner. 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.
L.
Inspection. The City shall be permitted to have an authorized representative
inspect any new or old installations for compliance with the regulations
of this article.
M.
New connections. New connections to the system shall not be allowed
unless all downstream components have a reserve capable of accepting
them.
A.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged, any unpolluted
waters, such as stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage
or cooling water to any sewer; except that stormwater runoff from
limited areas, which may be polluted at times, may be discharged to
the sanitary sewer by permission of the approving authority.
B.
Stormwater, other than that exempted under Subsection A above, 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 approving authority. Unpolluted industrial cooling water or process waters may be discharged, on approval of the approving authority, to a storm sewer or natural outlet.
C.
Except as provided in this article, no person shall discharge or
cause to be discharged any of the following described water or wastes
to any public sewer:
(1)
Gasoline, benzine, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive
liquid, solid or gas;
(2)
Water or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or
gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with
other wastes, to injure or interfere with any waste treatment process,
constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or create a public nuisance
in the receiving waters of the wastewater treatment plant;
(3)
Water or wastes having a pH lower than 6.0 or higher than 10.0, or
having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard
to structures, equipment and personnel of the wastewater works;
(4)
Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size to be capable
of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference
with the proper operation of the wastewater facilities such as, but
not limited to, ashes, 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.
The following described substances, materials, waters or wastes
shall be limited in discharges to municipal systems, to concentrations
or quantities which will not harm the sewers, wastewater treatment
process or equipment, will not have an adverse effect on the receiving
stream, or will not otherwise endanger life, limb or public property,
or constitute a nuisance. The approving authority may set limitations
lower than the limitations established in the regulations below, if
such limitations are necessary to meet the above objections. In forming
an opinion as to the acceptability, the approving authority will give
consideration to such factors as the quantity of subject waste in
relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction
of the sewers, the wastewater treatment process employed, capacity
of the wastewater treatment plant, degree of treatability of the waste
in the wastewater treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. The
limitations or restrictions on materials or characteristics of waste
or wastewaters discharged to the sanitary sewer, which shall not be
violated without approval of the approving authority, are as follows:
A.
Wastewater having a temperature higher than 150° F. (65°
C.);
B.
Wastewater containing more than 25 milligrams per liter of petroleum
oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oils, or products of mineral oil margin;
C.
Wastewater from industrial plants containing floatable oils, fats
or grease;
D.
Garbage that has not been properly shredded. Garbage grinders may
be connected to sanitary sewers from homes, hotels, institutions,
restaurants, hospitals, catering establishments or similar places
where garbage originates from the preparation of food in kitchens
for the purpose of consumption on the premises, or when served by
caterers;
E.
Water or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar
objectionable or toxic substances to such degree that any such material
received in the composite wastewater or at the wastewater treatment
works exceeds the limits established by the approving authority in
compliance with state regulations;
F.
Water or wastes containing odor-producing substances exceeding limits
which may be established by the approving authority in compliance
with state regulations;
G.
Radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentrations
as may exceed limits established by the approving authority, in compliance
with state or federal regulations;
I.
Water or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment
or reduction by the wastewater treatment processes employed, or are
amenable to treatment only to such degree that the wastewater treatment
plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of the City's WPDES permit;
J.
Water or wastes which, by interaction with other water or wastes
in the public sewer system, release obnoxious gases, from suspended
solids which interfere with the collection system, or create a condition
deleterious to structures and treatment processes;
K.
Materials which exert or cause:
(1)
Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand or chlorine requirements in such
quantities as to constitute a significant load on the wastewater treatment
plant;
(2)
Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting "slugs";
(3)
Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids, such as fuller's
earth, lime slurries and lime residues, or of dissolved solids, such
as sodium sulfate;
(4)
Excessive discoloration, such as dye wastes and vegetable tanning
solutions.
A.
Pretreatment required when; cost. When, in the opinion of the approving
authority, and in accordance with Title 40, Part 128, of the Code
of Federal Regulations, and other applicable state and federal regulations,
pretreatment is required to modify or eliminate wastes that are harmful
to the structures, processes or operation of the wastewater treatment
facility, the person creating the waste shall provide, at his expense,
such preliminary treatment or processing facilities as may be determined
required to render his wastes acceptable for admission to the public
sewers.
B.
Interceptor requirements. Grease, oil and sand interceptors shall
be provided when, in the opinion of the approving authority, they
are necessary, for the proper handling of such wastes, except that
such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters
or dwelling units. All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity
approved by state plumbing code, and shall be located so as to be
readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. In the
maintaining of these interceptors, the owner shall be responsible
for the proper removal and disposal, by appropriate means, of the
captured material, and shall maintain records of the dates and means
of disposal which are subject to review by the approving authority.
Any removal and handling of the collected materials not performed
by the owner's personnel must be performed by currently licensed waste-disposal
firms.
No statement contained in this article shall be construed as
prohibiting any special agreement between the City and any person,
whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be
admitted to the sewage disposal works, either before or after pretreatment,
provided that there is no impairment of the functioning of the sewage
disposal works by reason of the admission of such wastes, and no extra
costs are incurred by the City without recompense by the person.
A.
An industrial wastewater discharge permit is required under § 445-17 of this article. For any discharge by an industrial user, as defined in § 445-16 of this article, this permit must be obtained 180 days prior to the beginning of discharge. In support of this application, the user shall submit the following information:
(1)
Name, address and standard industrial classification number of applicant.
(2)
Average volume of wastewater to be discharged.
(3)
Wastewater constituents and characteristics as determined by examination
according to "Standard Methods."
(4)
Time and duration of discharge.
(5)
Average and peak wastewater flow rates, including daily, monthly
and seasonal variations, if any.
(6)
Site plan, floor plans, mechanical and plumbing plans and details
to show all sewers and appurtenances by size, location and elevation.
(7)
Description of activities, facilities and plant processes on the
premises including all materials and types of materials which are,
or could be, discharged.
(8)
Each product by type, amount and rate of production.
(9)
Number and type of employees and hours of work.
(10)
Any other information as may be deemed by the approving authority
to be necessary to evaluate the permit application.
B.
The approving authority will use a consulting engineer to evaluate
the date furnished by the user and may require additional information.
After evaluation and acceptance of the data furnished, the approving
authority may issue a wastewater discharge permit subject to appropriate
terms and conditions.
As the City currently has no user that would qualify for industrial
cost recovery, this section will be expanded in accordance with 40
CFR 35.928 at such time as an application for an industrial discharge
permit is made. A part of this section will be modified to include
such monitoring and testing requirements necessary for equitable division
of costs.
A.
Authority. The City Council of the City shall have the authority
to establish and collect a sewer service charge for the use of the
public wastewater treatment works maintained and operated by the City.
C.
Method of computing. The service charge shall be based on water or
wastewater meter readings, when available. When such meter readings
are unavailable, the service charges will be a flat charge based on
the estimate of usage for the unmetered users. This estimate shall
be 12,320 gallons per quarter as determined from the 1978 Public Service
Commission Report. Where the flat charge must be used, it will be
paid for the full quarter and shall not be prorated. If service should
be interrupted for any full quarter, only the minimum will be charged.
The flat charge will be adopted by resolution.
D.
Debt service charge. All charges incurred for debts prior to January
1, 1981, for capital improvements and operating and maintenance expenses
for the wastewater treatment works shall be paid for by a debt service
charge which is a part of the total sewer service charge, or by such
sums as the City Council may annually elect to take from the general
fund. The amount of this charge will be reviewed annually and adopted
by resolution.
E.
Minimum charge. The minimum charge per user shall be the charge to
cover the cost of billing and collecting of accounts and 75% of maintenance
cost of the sewage collection system to be paid for each connection
for the availability of the service. This charge will be made regardless
of use and shall be adopted by resolution.
F.
User charge. The user charge for the residential user class for discharging
domestic wastewater shall be based on a minimum annual charge per
user and on the volume used by each user. The amount of this charge
will be reviewed annually and adopted by resolution.
G.
Surcharges.
(1)
The commercial and institutional class of users shall be charged
at the residential user rate and such additional surcharges as may
be shown equitable.
(2)
The industrial user class of users shall be charged at the residential
user rate plus a surcharge developed at such time as an application
is received for a permit to discharge and industrial waste.
H.
Industrial cost recovery. As determined in § 445-23 of this article, shall be included here and made a part of the total sewer service charge.
I.
Total sewer service charge. The total sewer service charge shall
be the sum of the minimum charge, the debt service charge, user charge,
any applicable surcharges, and industrial cost recovery charges. Each
user within the service area shall pay its proportionate share of
Operation & Maintenance (O&M) and replacement expense. For
those unmetered services, the total sewer charge shall consist of
the minimum charge plus the flat charge. Extraneous flows (I/I) are
evenly distributed among all users.
J.
Billing periods. The debt charge, user charge, industrial surcharge
and ICG payment portions of the service charges provided in this section
shall be included as separate items by the City. The bill will be
payable in accordance with the schedule established by the City. These
bills are normally payable in four quarterly payments each year.
K.
Due date. All portions of the service charges shall be payable at
the time the bill for the same is issued.
L.
Late penalties. Charges levied in accordance with this section shall
be a debt due to the City and shall be a lien upon the property. If
this debt is not paid within 20 days after it is due and payable,
it shall be deemed delinquent, and a 3% charge added. This debt may
then be recovered by civil action in the name of the City against
the property owner, the person or both. If delinquent payments are
not received by November 1st of the calendar year, a 10% charge shall
be added to delinquent bills. Thereafter, if payment is not received
prior to November 15, the delinquent bill will be forwarded to the
county for placement on the succeeding tax roll.
M.
Failure to pay; removal or closure of connection; restoration of
service, when.
(1)
In the event of failure to pay sewer service charges after they become
delinquent, the City shall have the right to remove or close sewer
connections and enter upon the property for accomplishing such purposes.
(2)
The expense of such removal or closing, as well as the expense of
restoring service, shall likewise be a debt to the City and a lien
upon the property, and may be recovered by civil action in the name
of the City against the property owner, the person, or both.
(3)
Sewer service shall not be restored until all charges, including
the expense of removal, closing and restoration, shall have been paid.
(4)
Change of ownership or occupancy of premises found delinquent shall
not be cause for reducing or eliminating these penalties.
N.
Audit of general account. The City shall conduct an annual audit,
the purpose of which shall be to maintain the proportionality and
adequacy of the sewer service charge relative to changing system operation,
maintenance and debt service costs.
O.
Audit of industrial cost recovery account. The City shall conduct
an annual audit of the separate industrial cost recovery account,
if and when it is established, to ensure that proportionate and adequate
payments are being made by industries to the City and by the City
to the Federal Treasury.
A.
Written notice required. Any person found to be violating any provision of this article, except § 445-24J shall be served by the City with a written notice stating the nature of the violation, and providing a reasonable time for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations.
B.
Accidental discharge into sewers. Any person found to be responsible
for accidently allowing a deleterious discharge into the sewer system
which causes damage to the treatment facility and/or receiving body
of water shall, in addition to a forfeiture, pay the amount to cover
damages as established by the approving authority.
C.
Continued violations. Any person, partnership or corporation, or
any officer, agent or employee thereof, who shall continue any violation
beyond the notice time limit provided in this section shall, upon
conviction thereof, forfeit not more than $500 together with the costs
of prosecution. In default of payment of such forfeiture and cost,
the violator shall be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not
to exceed 30 days. Each day in which any violation is continued beyond
the notice time limit shall be deemed a separate offense.
D.
Liability for expenses, loss or damage. Any person violating any
provisions of this article shall become liable to the City for any
expense, loss or damage occasioned by reason of such violation, which
the City may suffer as a result thereof.
E.
Right to reject connections. The City reserves the right to reject
connections to the system if downstream facilities do not have adequate
capacity.
F.
Right to enter premises. The City reserves the right to enter premises
of any user to sample and/or inspect.
