[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020[1]]
All sewage and authorized industrial waste may be discharged to the sewerage system except those which are deemed harmful to the system or are specifically prohibited by this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance deleted in its entirety and restated former Part 5, Use of Sanitary Sewers and Admission of Sewage and/or Industrial Waste, adopted by Ord. No. 1985-7, 10/17/1985, as amended.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer. Where existing surface water, groundwater, subsurface water or roof drains are connected to the sewerage system, they shall be removed within 30 days of receipt of a notice from the Township to remove such connection. In the event such connection is not removed, the Township shall cause such connection to be removed at the owner's expense.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
1. 
Any building floor drains shall have gravity or pumped discharge completely independent of the sewerage system, except where the entire finished floor is at an elevation above the finished grade around the exterior of the building.
2. 
In commercial or industrial buildings, floor drains intended to receive sewage and located below the exterior finished grade may be connected to a drainage system which is connected to the sewerage system, subject to the written approval of the Plumbing Inspector. Such approval will be contingent upon the owner or his representative demonstrating that adequate protection has been provided against the introduction of stormwater, spring water, groundwater, subsurface drainage or building foundation drainage into the sewerage system.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
1. 
Prohibited Discharge Standards.
A. 
Clear Water. No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, spring water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, building foundation drainage, cellar drainage, significant quantities of condensate, deionized water, noncontact cooling water and unpolluted water, drainage from roof leader connections and overflow or drainage from cesspools into the POTW.
B. 
General Prohibitions. No user or other person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW any pollutant or wastewater which causes pass through or interference. These general prohibitions apply to all users of the POTW, whether or not they are subject to categorical pretreatment standards or any other national, state, or local pretreatment standards or requirements.
C. 
Specific Prohibitions. Except as provided in § 18-511, no user or other person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the POTW the following pollutants, substances, or wastewater:
(1) 
Waste having BOD greater than 300 mg/l. Moreover, in addition to the prohibition in the preceding sentence, no user or other person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the sewerage system waste having BOD greater than 210 mg/l without the express written approval of the Township.
(2) 
Wastewater having a content of suspended solids greater than 360 mg/l. Moreover, in addition to the prohibition in the preceding sentence, no user or other person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the sewerage system waste having suspended solids greater than 230 mg/l without the express written approval of the Township.
(3) 
Wastewater having a content of total Kjeldahl nitrogen greater than 85 mg/l. Moreover, in addition to the prohibition in the preceding sentence, no user or other person shall introduce or cause to be introduced into the sewerage system waste having total Kjeldahl nitrogen greater than 40 mg/l without the express written approval of the Township.
(4) 
Pollutants which create a fire or explosive hazard in the POTW, including, but not limited to, waste streams with a closed-cup flashpoint of less than 140° F. (60° C.) using the test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21 or wastewater causing two readings on an explosion hazard meter at the point of discharge into the POTW, or at any point in the POTW, of more than 5% or any single reading over 10% of the lower explosive limit of the meter.
(5) 
Wastewater having a pH less than 5.0 or more than 12.0, or otherwise causing corrosive structural damage to the POTW or equipment.
(6) 
Solid or viscous substances in amounts which, alone or in combination with other substances, will cause obstruction of the flow in the POTW resulting in interference.
(7) 
Any unground garbage.
(8) 
Pollutants, including oxygen-demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released in a discharge at a flow rate and/or pollutant concentration which, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, will cause interference with the POTW.
(9) 
Wastewater having a temperature that will inhibit biological activity in the treatment plant resulting in interference, but in no case wastewater which causes the temperature at the introduction into the treatment plant to exceed 104° F. (40° C.). Wastewater having a temperature higher than 150° F. shall not be introduced into the sewerage system without the express written approval of the Township.
(10) 
Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin, in amounts that will cause interference or pass through.
(11) 
Pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors, or fumes within the POTW in a quantity that may cause acute worker health and safety problems.
(12) 
Trucked or hauled pollutants.
(13) 
Noxious or malodorous liquids, gases, solids, or other wastewater which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are sufficient to create a public nuisance or a hazard to life, or to prevent entry into the sewers for maintenance or repair.
(14) 
Wastewater which imparts color which cannot be removed by the treatment process, such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions, which consequently imparts color to the treatment plant's effluent, thereby violating the City's NPDES permit.
(15) 
Wastewater containing any radioactive wastes or isotopes, except in compliance with applicable federal or state regulations.
(16) 
Biosolids sludges, screenings, or other residues from the pretreatment of industrial wastes.
(17) 
Medical wastes, except as specifically authorized by the Township and the Director of Public Works in a wastewater discharge permit.
(18) 
Wastewater causing, alone or in conjunction with other sources, the treatment plant's effluent to fail a toxicity test.
(19) 
Detergents, surface-active agents, or other substances which may cause excessive foaming in the POTW or its discharge.
(20) 
Fats, oils, or greases of animal or vegetable origin in concentrations greater than 200 mg/l.
(21) 
Pollutants, substances, or wastewater prohibited in the POTW by any federal or state permit.
(22) 
Any substance which is a hazardous waste under 40 CFR Part 261.
D. 
Storage and Processing of Wastes. Pollutants, substances, or wastewater prohibited by this section shall not be processed or stored in such a manner that they could be discharged to the sewerage system or the POTW.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
1. 
In General. Users must comply with the categorical pretreatment standards found at 40 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter N, Parts 405 through 471, which are hereby incorporated.
2. 
Standard Expressed in Mass or Concentration, but not both. Where a categorical pretreatment standard is expressed only in terms of either the mass or the concentration of a pollutant in wastewater, the Township and the Director of Public Works may impose equivalent concentration or mass limits in accordance with Subsections 5 and 6.
3. 
Conversion of Limits. When the limits in a categorical pretreatment standard are expressed only in terms of mass of pollutant per unit of production, the Township and the Director of Public Works may convert the limits to equivalent limitations expressed either as mass of pollutant discharged per day or effluent concentration for purposes of calculating effluent limitations applicable to individual industrial users.
4. 
Mixed Wastewater Whose Components are Subject to Different Standards. When wastewater subject to a categorical pretreatment standard is mixed with wastewater not regulated by the same standard, the Township and the Director of Public Works shall impose an alternate limit using the combined waste stream formula in 40 CFR 403.6(e).
5. 
Request by Industrial User for Conversion. When a categorical pretreatment standard is expressed only in terms of pollutant concentrations, an industrial user may request that the Township and the Director of Public Works convert the limits to equivalent mass limits. The determination to convert concentration limits to mass limits is within the discretion of the Township and the Director of Public Works. The Township and the Director of Public Works may establish equivalent mass limits only if the industrial user meets all the conditions set forth below:
A. 
To be eligible for equivalent mass limits, the industrial user must:
(1) 
Employ, or demonstrate that it will employ, water conservation methods and technologies that substantially reduce water use during the term of its wastewater discharge permit.
(2) 
Currently use control and treatment technologies adequate to achieve compliance with the applicable categorical pretreatment standard, and not have used dilution as a substitute for treatment.
(3) 
Provide sufficient information to establish the facility's actual average daily flow rate for all waste streams, based on data from a continuous effluent flow monitoring device, as well as the facility's long-term average production rate. Both the actual average daily flow rate and the long-term average production rate must be representative of current operating conditions.
(4) 
Not have daily flow rates, production levels, or pollutant levels that vary significantly that equivalent mass limits are not appropriate to control the discharge.
(5) 
Have consistently complied with all applicable categorical pretreatment standards during the period prior to the industrial user's request for equivalent mass limits.
B. 
An industrial user subject to equivalent mass limits must:
(1) 
Maintain and effectively operate control and treatment technologies adequate to achieve compliance with the equivalent mass limits.
(2) 
Continue to record the facility's flow rates through the use of a continuous effluent flow monitoring device.
(3) 
Continue to record the facility's production rates and notify the Township and the Director of Public Works whenever production rates are expected to vary by more than 20% from its baseline production rates determined in Subsection 5A(3) of this section. Upon notification of a revised production rate, the Director of Public Works will reassess the equivalent mass limit and revise the limit as necessary to reflect changed conditions at the facility.
(4) 
Continue to employ the same or comparable water conservation methods and technologies as those implemented pursuant to this section so long as it discharges under an equivalent mass limit.
C. 
When developing equivalent mass limits, the Township and the Director of Public Works:
(1) 
Will calculate the equivalent mass limit by multiplying the actual average daily flow rate of the regulated process(es) of the industrial user by the concentration- based daily maximum and monthly average standard for the applicable categorical pretreatment standard and the appropriate unit conversion factor.
(2) 
Upon notification of a revised production rate, will reassess the equivalent mass limit and recalculate the limit as necessary to reflect changed conditions at the facility.
(3) 
May retain the same equivalent mass limit in subsequent wastewater discharger permit terms if the industrial user's actual average daily flow rate was reduced solely as a result of the implementation of water conservation methods and technologies, and the actual average daily flow rates used in the original calculation of the equivalent mass limit were not based on the use of dilution as a substitute for treatment pursuant to § 18-507. The industrial user must also be in compliance with § 18-1403 regarding the prohibition of bypass.
6. 
Conversion of Concentration Limits. The Township and the Director of Public Works may convert the mass limits of the categorical pretreatment standards of 40 CFR Parts 414, 419, and 455 to concentration limits for purposes of calculating limitations applicable to individual industrial users. The conversion is at the discretion of the Township and the Director of Public Works.
(Note: When converting such limits to concentration limits, the Township and the Director of Public Works will use the concentrations listed in the applicable subparts of 40 CFR Parts 414, 419, and 455 and document that dilution is not being substituted for treatment as prohibited by § 18-507 of this chapter [see 40 CFR 403.6(d)]. In addition, the Township and the Director of Public Works will document how the equivalent limits were derived for any changes from concentration to mass limits, or vice versa, and make this information publicly available [see 40 CFR 403.6(c)(7)].)
7. 
Compliance with Equivalent Limitations. Once included in its permit, the industrial user must comply with the equivalent limitations developed in this section in lieu of the promulgated categorical standards from which the equivalent limitations were derived. [Note: See 40 CFR 403.6(c)(7).]
8. 
Varying Limits for Calculating Maximum Daily and Monthly Discharge Limits. Many categorical pretreatment standards specify one limit for calculating maximum daily discharge limitations and a second limit for calculating maximum monthly average, or four-day average, limitations. Where such standards are being applied, the same production or flow figure shall be used in calculating both the average and the maximum equivalent limitation. [Note: See 40 CFR 403.6(c)(8).]
9. 
Notification of Change in Level. Any industrial user operating under a permit incorporating equivalent mass or concentration limits calculated from a production-based standard shall notify the Township and the Director of Public Works within two business days after the user has a reasonable basis to know that the production level will significantly change within the next calendar month. Any user not notifying the Township and the Director of Public Works of such anticipated change will be required to meet the mass or concentration limits in its permit that were based on the original estimate of the long-term average production rate. [Note: See 40 CFR 403.6(c)(9).]
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
1. 
The Director of Public Works is authorized to establish local limits pursuant to 40 CFR 403.5(c).
2. 
City Limits. Limits for discharging pollutants which are of concern to the POTW will be made by the City using headworks loading analyses which have been reviewed and approved by the Allentown Authority. Allocations for discharging such pollutants will be made to each significant industrial user. Limits may be in the form of monthly average concentration, daily maximum concentration, or instantaneous maximum concentration. Limits will be contained in the wastewater discharge permits issued under § 18-702 and will be applied at the point where the wastewater is discharged to the POTW unless otherwise specified in the permit issued. All concentrations for metallic substances are for "total" metal unless indicated otherwise. The Township and the Director of Public Works may impose mass limitations in addition to, or in place of, the concentration-based limitations above.
3. 
The Director of Public Works may develop best management practices (BMPs), by ordinance or in a wastewater discharge permit, to implement local limits and the requirements of § 18-1402.
4. 
Revisions. The City reserves the right to establish, by ordinance, intermunicipal agreement, or in wastewater discharge permits, more stringent standards or requirements on discharges to the POTW consistent with the purpose of this chapter.
5. 
Adoption by Township. No person shall discharge pollutants into the sewerage system which would exceed the limits, or violate the restrictions established by the City or the Director of Public Works as described in this section and other portions of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
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 a discharge limitation unless expressly authorized by an applicable pretreatment standard or requirement. The Township or the Director of Public Works may impose mass limitations on users who are using dilution to meet applicable pretreatment standards or requirements, or in other cases when the imposition of mass limitations is appropriate.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
The Township reserves the right to refuse permission to connect to the sewerage system, to compel discontinuance of use of the sewerage system or to compel pretreatment of wastewater in order to prevent discharges deemed harmful or to have a deleterious effect upon the sewerage system or any other part of the POTW.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
1. 
Pretreatment Facilities.
A. 
Required Facilities. Users shall provide wastewater treatment as necessary to comply with this chapter and shall achieve compliance with all categorical pretreatment standards, City limits, Township limits, and the prohibitions set forth in § 17-504 within the time limitations specified by EPA, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Director of Public Works, or the Township, whichever is more stringent. Any facilities necessary for compliance shall be provided, operated, and maintained at the user's expense.
B. 
Plans, Specifications, Etc. Detailed plans describing a user's proposed wastewater pretreatment facilities and operating procedures shall be submitted to the Director of Public Works and the Township for review and approval before such facilities are constructed. Review and approval of plans are not an endorsement of the effectiveness of any facilities set forth therein, and neither the City nor the Township shall be held liable or responsible in any way for the performance of said facilities. The review of such plans and operating procedures shall in no way relieve the user from the responsibility of modifying such facilities as necessary to produce a discharge acceptable to the City and the Township under the provisions of this chapter.
2. 
Additional Pretreatment Measures.
A. 
In General. Whenever deemed necessary, the Township or the Director of Public Works may require users to restrict their discharge during peak flow periods, designate that certain wastewater be discharged only into specific sewers, relocate and/or consolidate points of discharge, separate sewage waste streams from industrial waste streams, and such other conditions as may be necessary to protect the sewerage system and the POTW and determine the user's compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
B. 
Flow Equalization. The Township or the Director of Public Works may require any person discharging into the POTW to install and maintain, on his property and at his expense, a suitable storage and flow control facility to ensure equalization of flow. A wastewater discharge permit may be issued solely for flow equalization.
C. 
Grease, Oil, and Sand Interception. Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Township or the Director of Public Works, they are necessary for the proper handling of wastewater containing excessive amounts of grease and oil, or sand, except that such interceptors shall not be required for residential users. All interception units shall be of type and capacity approved by the Township and the Director of Public Works, and shall be so located as to be easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Such interceptors shall be inspected, cleaned, and repaired regularly, as needed, by the user at the user's expense.
D. 
Combustible Gas Detection Meters. Users with the potential to discharge flammable substances may be required to install and maintain an approved combustible gas detection meter.
3. 
Accidental Discharge/Slug Control Plans.
A. 
Requirement of Plan. The Director of Public Works and/or the Township shall evaluate whether each significant industrial user needs an accidental discharge/slug control plan. The Township or the Director of Public Works may require any user to develop, submit for approval to both the Township and the Director of Public Works, and implement such a plan. Alternatively, the Township or the Director of Public Works may develop such a plan for any user, which shall be implemented by the user.
B. 
Content of Plan. An accidental discharge/slug control plan shall address, at a minimum, the following:
(1) 
Description of discharge practices, including nonroutine batch discharges.
(2) 
Description of stored chemicals.
(3) 
Procedures for immediately notifying the Director of Public Works and the Township of any accidental or slug discharge, as required by § 18-806.
(4) 
Procedures to prevent adverse impact from any accidental or slug discharge. Such procedures include, but are not limited to, inspection and maintenance of storage areas, handling and transfer of materials, loading and unloading operations, control of plant site runoff, worker training, building of containment structures or equipment, measures for containing toxic organic pollutants, including solvents, and/or measures and equipment for emergency response.
4. 
Hauled Wastewater.
A. 
Tank Trucks and Equipment. Any tank truck or any equipment used or intended to be used for the removal, transportation and disposal of sewage and industrial wastes shall conform to the following requirements:
(1) 
The container shall be watertight.
(2) 
Tanks, containers or other equipment shall be so constructed that every portion of the interior and exterior can be easily cleaned and shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(3) 
Piping, valves and permanent or flexible connections shall be accessible and easily disconnected for cleaning purposes.
(4) 
The inlet opening, or opening to every container, shall be so constructed that the material will not spill outside during filling, transfer or transport.
(5) 
The outlet connections shall be so constructed that no material will leak out, run out to other than the point of discharge and shall be of a design and type suitable for the material handled and capable of controlling the flow or discharge without spillage, undue spray or flooding immediate surroundings while in use.
(6) 
No connection shall be made at any time between a tap or outlet furnishing potable water on any premises and any container or equipment holding material by any means other than an open connection.
B. 
Discharge to Sewerage System. No hauler, operator, or other person cleaning cesspools, septic tanks, privies, or other equipment for on-lot management and storage of sewage shall discharge or otherwise dispose of any wastewater into the Township's sewerage system.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
Whenever the sewage and/or industrial waste discharged into the sewerage system contains substances which exceed the limitations specified in this chapter, or contain substances which clog sewers, are hazardous to the public health, or hinder sewage treatment or disposal, such as nonsoluble, flammable, or hazardous substances, the sewage and/or industrial waste must have been passed through an approved grease, oil, sand, or other type of interceptor which will effectively prevent such substances from entering the sewerage system. The interceptor shall conform to the requirements of the applicable provisions of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, with amendments [Chapter 5, Part 1], and shall be maintained by the owner, at his expense, in continuously efficient operation.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
The use of mechanical garbage grinders producing a finely divided mass, properly divided mass, properly flushed with an ample amount of water, shall be permitted under the condition that no such mechanical garbage grinder to serve premises used for commercial purposes shall be installed until a permit for such installation has been obtained from the Plumbing Inspector, upon written application therefor. For such permit, owner or owners thereof shall pay such fee as shall be required by the applicable provisions of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, with amendments [Chapter 5, Part 1].
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
1. 
When pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided, they shall be maintained continuously in a satisfactory and effective operation by the owner, at his expense, and shall be subject to periodic inspection by the Township and the City.
2. 
Failure by the owner to properly maintain pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities shall be considered sufficient cause for disconnection of the improved property from the sewerage system.
3. 
The owner shall be liable for any and all damages directly attributable to the pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
1. 
Residential, commercial, or industrial property may be connected to the storm sewer, providing the waste to be discharged thereto conforms to the following:
A. 
All discharge of waste to storm sewers shall be in compliance with the laws or regulations of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the federal government, or any agency thereof having jurisdiction over streams, rivers, waterways, or water resources.
B. 
No waste, other than unadulterated rain, roof, or surface drainage water, shall be discharged into a storm sewer, and the Township may regulate the rate of discharge of such waste into a storm sewer.
2. 
No person shall drain any wastewater, except stormwater or authorized industrial waste, into any drainage ditch or basin which will ultimately, by natural flow or otherwise, enter into the storm sewer, or into a stream, river, or watercourse. No person shall drain any wastewater, except stormwater, into any gutter, street, or pavement.
3. 
All present connections to the storm sewer which are in violation of any provisions of this chapter shall be abated immediately, and application to connect to the storm sewer under the provisions of this chapter shall be submitted within 30 days after the passage of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
Where a person or industrial user stores material which is classified as a hazardous substance or which is required by federal regulations to be controlled or which requires a preparedness, prevention, and contingency plan to be prepared in compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Township will require as part of any industrial waste permit application complete documentation of the safeguards employed to prevent the discharge of leakage of the material to any sanitary sewer or storm sewer.
[Ord. No. 2020-04, 10/1/2020]
Where pretreatment facilities are provided, sludges, floatables, and oils generated by such facilities must be contained and transported in a manner as prescribed by the rules of regulatory agencies including, but not limited to, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and handled, processed, and disposed of according to all federal, state, and local regulations.