Town of Salem, NH Article II Use of Public Sewers

§ 398-5 General requirements.

A. No person(s) shall discharge or cause to be discharged any unpolluted waters such as stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage or cooling water to any sewer.

B. Stormwater and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to storm sewers or to a natural outlet approved by the Town and other regulatory agencies. Unpolluted industrial cooling water or process waters require a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, approval of the Town, and approval of other regulatory agencies prior to discharge to a storm sewer or natural outlet.

C. No person(s) shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewers:

(1) Any gasoline, benzene, naptha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid, or gas.

(2) Any waters containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injure, interfere with or pass through any waste treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance or create any hazard in the receiving water of the wastewater treatment plant, including but not limited to cyanides, heavy metals, strong acids, basic waste, etc. Other hazardous, toxic, or reactive pollutants, including but not limited to halogenated hydrocarbons, organic solvents, and organochlorine insecticides, are also prohibited from the municipal sewer system.

(3) Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers or other interference with the proper operation of the wastewater facilities, such as, but not limited to, ashes, bones, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastic, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders.

(4) Strong acid pickling waste and concentrated plating solutions, whether neutralized or not.

§ 398-6 Discharge limitations.

The following described substances, materials, waters, or wastes shall be limited in discharge to the municipal sewerage system to concentrations or quantities which will not harm either the sewers, wastewater treatment processes or equipment, will not have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, and will not otherwise endanger life, limb, or public property or constitute a nuisance. The Board of Selectmen may set more restrictive limitations that those established herein to meet the above objectives. In forming an opinion as to acceptability, the Board of Selectmen 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 processes employed, capacity of 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 Board of Selectmen include but are not limited to the following:

A. Wastewater sufficiently hot to cause the influent at the wastewater treatment facilities to exceed 104° F. (40° C.).

B. Wastewater containing more than 25 milligrams per liter of petroleum oil, nonbiodegradeable cutting oils, or product of mineral oil origin.

C. Any waters 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 sewage treatment process.

D. Any garbage that has not been properly shredded (see the definition of "properly shredded garbage" in § 398-1). 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. Any waters or wastes containing heavy metals, solvents, and similar objectionable or toxic substances to such degree that any such material discharged to the public sewer exceeds the limits established by the Board of Selectmen, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services or the United States Environmental Protection Agency for such materials.

F. Any water or wastes containing phenols or other taste- or odor-producing substances, in such concentrations exceeding limits which may be established by the Board of Selectmen as necessary, after treatment of the composite sewage, to meet the requirements of the state, federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such a discharge.

G. Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the Board of Selectmen in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations.

H. Materials which exert or cause:

(1) Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, fuller's earth, lime slurries, and lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate).

(2) Excessive discoloration and dyes which cannot be removed by the treatment facility.

(3) Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting slug discharges. Any unusual concentrations, spills, or slugs (see the definition of "slug" in § 398-1) shall be reported immediately to the Director of Public Works. A written report shall be sent by the user to the Board of Selectmen within five days of the incident describing the reason for the spill and remedial action taken and the steps taken to prevent its recurrence.

I. Waters 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 a degree that the wastewater treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.

J. Any waters or wastes which, by interaction with other water or wastes in the public sewer system, release obnoxious gases, form suspended solids which interfere with the collection system, or create a condition deleterious to structure and treatment processes.

K. Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of 9.5 or lower than 5.5.

L. Any waters or wastes having a five-day biochemical oxygen demand greater than 250 milligrams per liter.

M. Any waters or wastes containing more than 300 milligrams per liter suspended solids.

N. Any waters or wastes containing floatable oils, fats or grease.

O. Any waters or wastes containing in excess of the following local limits:

	Arsenic	0.10 mg/l
	Cadmium	0.69 mg/l
	Chromium (total)	2.77 mg/l
	Copper	3.38 mg/l
	Cyanide	Total 1.20 mg/l
	Fluoride	20.00 mg/l
	Lead	0.69 mg/l
	Mercury	0.01 mg/l
	Nickel	3.98 mg/l
	Oil and grease	200.00 mg/l
	pH	5.5 to 9 units
	Sulfates	250.00 mg/l
	Sulfides	1.00 mg/l
	Silver	0.43 mg/l
	Zinc	2.61 mg/l
	Total toxic organics(TTO)	5.00 mg/l

§ 398-7 Rejection of discharge.

A. If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters or wastes contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in § 398-6 of this article, or which in the judgment of the Town may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater facilities, processes, equipment, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the Town may:

(1) Reject the wastes;

(2) Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers;

(3) Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and/or

(4) Require payment to cover added cost of handling and treating the wastes.

B. If the Board of Selectmen or federal effluent limitations require pretreatment of waste flows, the design and installation of such facilities shall be subject to the review and approval of the Board of Selectmen and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Such facilities shall not be connected until said approval is obtained in writing. Plans and specifications for proposed pretreatment facilities shall be the result of the design of a professional engineer registered in New Hampshire. Such approval shall not relieve the owner of the responsibility of discharging treated wastes meeting the requirements of this chapter.

C. To determine compliance with user discharge permits with respect to prohibited discharges and categorical limitations on wastewater discharges, prohibitions and limitations may be made on the basis of either instantaneous grab samples or composite samples of the wastewater. Sampling of industrial wastewaters for the purpose of compliance determination will be performed at such frequency as the Town designates and may be on either a scheduled or random basis to ensure compliance.

§ 398-8 Interceptors.

A. Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Town, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing floatable oil or grease in excessive amounts as specified in § 398-6 of this article or any flammable wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients, 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 the Board of Selectmen and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Grease and oil interceptors shall be constructed of impervious material capable of withstanding abrupt and extreme changes in temperature; they shall be of substantial construction, watertight, and equipped with easily removable covers which, when bolted in place, shall be gastight and watertight.

B. In the maintaining of these interceptors the owner(s) shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal by appropriate means of the captured material and shall maintain records of the dates and means of disposal which are subject to review by the Town. Any removal and hauling of the collected materials not performed by the owner's personnel must be performed by currently licensed waste disposal firms.

§ 398-9 Industrial waste.

All industrial waste shall be pretreated in accordance with federal and state regulations and this chapter to the extent required by applicable National Categorical Pretreatment Standards, state pretreatment standards or standards established by the Board of Selectmen, whichever are more stringent. Where pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided or required for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by and at the expense of the owner(s).

§ 398-10 Quantity of waste.

The Town shall determine the quantity and quality of all industrial wastes which can be properly taken into the sewerage system in addition to the sanitary sewage from the Town, and the Town may regulate the flow of industrial wastes into the sewerage system by separate industrial user agreement(s) approved by the Board of Selectmen.

§ 398-11 Metering of waste.

A. When required by the Town, the owner(s) of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable structure together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of the wastes. Such structures, when required, shall be accessible and safely located and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the Town. The structure shall be installed by and at the expense of the owner(s) and shall be maintained by the owner(s) so as to be safe and accessible at all times.

B. All industries discharging into a public sewer shall perform such monitoring as the Department of Public Works or duly authorized employees or agents of the Town may reasonably require, including installation, use and maintenance of monitoring equipment, keeping records and reporting the results of such monitoring to the Department of Public Works. Such records shall be made available upon request by the Department of Public Works to other agencies having jurisdiction over discharges to the receiving waters.

§ 398-12 Measurements and testing of waste.

All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this chapter shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association, or with the EPA-approved methods published in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 136 (40 CFR 136). Sampling methods, locations, times, durations, and frequencies are to be determined on an individual basis subject to approval by the Board of Selectmen.

§ 398-13 Special agreements.

No statement contained in this article shall be constructed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the Town and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the Town, provided that such agreements do not contravene any requirements of existing federal or state laws, and/or regulations promulgated thereunder, are compatible with any user charge system in effect, and do not waive applicable National Categorical Pretreatment Standards.

§ 398-14 Reporting.

A. Each industrial user shall be required to submit to the Town a semiannual report on the first of May and November of each year, or such other time as designated by the Town, containing information as to the minimum, average and peak flows of industrial wastewater discharges during the previous year and, at a time or times designated, analyses and wastewater samplings taken in an acceptable manner at approved times during the flow measuring periods.

B. When required by the permit, each industrial permittee shall submit a duly signed report to the Town containing all information required by the Town. This report shall include, if appropriate, schedules for industrial compliance with applicable pretreatment regulations, including but not limited to implementation schedules for installation of pretreatment facilities. If insufficient data has been furnished, additional information may be required.

§ 398-15 Salem waste collection system.

Neither domestic septic tank waste (septage) nor industrial septic tank waste (industrial septage) will be accepted into the Salem waste collection system. Septage and industrial septage may be discharged at the GLSD treatment facility in North Andover, Massachusetts, subject to prior approval by and specific regulations of the GLSD. Holding tank wastes may be accepted into the Salem collection system provided that such wastes do not contain toxic pollutants or materials and provided that such discharge does not result in violation of this chapter or other agreements entered into by the Town. Fees for dumping holding tank wastes will be established as part of the user charge system. Authorized Town employees, acting on behalf of the Town and its Department of Public Works, shall have authority to limit the disposal of such wastes, if such disposal would interfere with proper operation of collection and disposal facilities. Procedures for the disposal of such wastes shall be in conformance with the operating policy of the Town's Public Works Department, and disposal shall be accomplished under its supervision unless specifically permitted otherwise. Permits for discharge of holding tank wastes shall be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and subject to prior review and approval by the GLSD. Such review by GLSD shall be made on the basis of this chapter. It shall be illegal to meet requirements of this chapter by diluting wastes in lieu of proper pretreatment.