City of Saco, ME: Definitions.

The Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), as amended.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS (ASTM) INTERNATIONAL

International organization that publishes standards for various materials.

Any person requesting approval to discharge wastewater into municipal facilities or to facilities which connect to municipal facilities. The terms "developer" and "subdivider" may also be used interchangeably with this term. The term "applicant" also applies to those persons requesting waivers or appeals from certain provisions of this chapter.

APPROVAL AUTHORITY

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

AUTHORIZED OR DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISCHARGER

If the discharger is a corporation:

(1)

The president, secretary, treasurer, or vice president of the corporation in charge of a principal business function, or any other person who performs similar policy or decision making functions for the corporation; or

(2)

The manager of one or more manufacturing, production, or operating facilities, provided the manager is authorized to make management decisions that govern the operation of the regulated facility including having the explicit or implicit duty of making major capital investment recommendations, and initiate and direct other comprehensive measures to assure long-term environmental compliance with environmental laws and regulations; can ensure that the necessary systems are established or actions taken to gather complete and accurate information for wastewater discharge permit requirements; and where authority to sign documents has been assigned or delegated to the manager in accordance with corporate procedures.

If the discharger is a partnership or sole proprietorship: a general partner or proprietor, respectively.

If the discharger is a federal, state, or local governmental facility: a director or highest official appointed or designated to oversee the operation and performance of the activities of the government facility, or their designee.

The individuals described in Subsections A through C, above, may designate a duly authorized representative if the authorization is in writing, the authorization specifies the individual or position responsible for overall operation of the facility from which the discharge originates or has overall responsibility for environmental matters for the company, and the written authorization is submitted to the City, and found satisfactory to the Director.

AUTOMATIC GREASE RECOVERY UNIT (AGRU)

A grease control device capable of automatic collection and skimming fats, oils, and greases, diverting collected fats, oils, and greases into a dedicated container.

AVERAGE DAILY FLOW

Daily flow averaged over a thirty-day period.

AVERAGE DAILY PRODUCTION FLOW

Daily flow averaged over a thirty-day period, based solely on number of production days.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs)

Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to implement the prohibitions listed in § 176-5.01 and 40 CFR 403.5(a)(1) and (b). BMPs include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, biosolids, waste disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage. BMPs also include alternative means (i.e., management plans) of complying with, or in place of, certain established effluent limits.

BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD)

The value of the five-day test for biochemical oxygen demand, as described in the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater."

BIOSOLIDS

Any solid or semisolid from a manufacturing process, utility service, pretreatment facility, or the like. Biosolids may also be referred to as "sludge" in this chapter.

BUILDING DRAIN

That part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building sewer, beginning five feet (1.5 meters) outside the inner face of the building wall.

BUILDING SEWER

The extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal.

BYPASS

The intentional diversion of waste streams from any portion of a discharger's treatment facility.

CAPACITY

Not only the ability of the treatment works to physically convey and receive a particular amount of flow per day but also the ability of the treatment works to properly convey and effectively treat the flow with all limits of engineering, design, and any federal and state licensing.

CATEGORICAL PRETREATMENT STANDARDS

Any regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in accordance with Section 307(b) and (c) of the Act (33 U.S.C. § 1317) which applies to a specific category of users and that appear in 40 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter N, Parts 405 through 471.

CESSPOOL

An underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage.

CHANGE IN OPERATIONS

Any change of food types processed or served, processes, materials processed, or operational procedures that have the potential to increase the amount of FOG, BOD, TSS, and/or flow generated and/or discharged by establishments, including other pollutants defined and yet undefined.

CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (COD)

The amount of oxygen required for chemical oxidation of carbonaceous (organic) materials in wastewater, using inorganic dichromate as oxidants in a two-hour test, expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L).

CITY

The City of Saco, Maine.

CITY ENGINEER

The person or firm employed or retained by the City to review plans, specifications, and other engineering data.

CLEAN WATER ACT

The federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq., also known as the "Clean Water Act"), and any subsequent amendments thereto.

COMBINED SEWER

A sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.

COMPLIANCE MANAGER

Individual responsible for, among other things, administering the pretreatment and FOG program(s), authorized by the Director to inspect any existing or proposed wastewater generation, conveyance, processing, and/or disposal facility.

COMPOSITE SAMPLE

A time composite sample or flow composite collected using automatic sampling equipment or a minimum of eight equal volume grab samples collected over equal time intervals for the total period of discharge not to exceed 24 hours.

CONTROL AUTHORITY

The City of Saco Water Resource Recovery Department (WRRD).

DAILY MAXIMUM

The arithmetic average of all effluent samples for a pollutant collected during a calendar day.

DAILY MAXIMUM LIMIT

The maximum allowable discharge limit of a pollutant during a calendar day. Where daily maximum limits are expressed in units of mass, the daily discharge is the total mass discharged over the course of a day. Where daily maximum limit is expressed in terms of a concentration, the daily discharge is the arithmetic average measurement of the pollutant concentration derived from all measurements taken that day.

DEVELOPMENT

An area of land improved to include residential dwelling units, streets, landscaping, commercial buildings and services such as water and sewer.

DIRECT DISCHARGE

The discharge of treated or untreated wastewater directly to the waters of the State of Maine. For purposes of Article XX of this chapter, "direct discharge" or "point source" shall mean any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including, but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation or vessel or other floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged.

DIRECTOR

The Director of the City of Saco Water Resource Recovery Department (WRRD).

DISCHARGE

Any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, dumping, disposing or other addition of pollutants to waters of the state.

DISCHARGER

Any nonresidential user who discharges into the City WRRF by means of pipes, conduits, pumping stations, and force mains.

DOMESTIC WASTEWATER

Wastewater from any residence, building, structure, facility or installation from which only sanitary sewage will normally be discharged to the WRRF.

DWELLING UNIT/EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNIT (EDU)

One or more rooms arranged with separate means of ingress and egress, intended to be used, or is used as a complete housekeeping unit for one or more individuals with independent living, cooking, sleeping, bathing and sanitary facilities. One unit equals 185 gallons per day.

EFFLUENT

Any wastewater outflow from a discharger that is discharged to the wastewater facilities.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or where appropriate the term may also be used as designation for the Administrator or other duly authorized official of said agency.

EXCESSIVE

Amounts or concentrations of a constituent of a sanitary or industrial wastewater which in the judgment of the WRRD: (a) will cause damage to any facility; (b) will be harmful to a wastewater treatment process; (c) cannot be removed in the City's WRRF to the degree required in the City's MEPDES permit; (d) can otherwise endanger life or property, or (e) can constitute a nuisance.

EXEMPT PERSON OR DISCHARGE

Any person who is subject to a multisector general permit for industrial activities, a general permit for construction activity, a general permit for the discharge of stormwater from the Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, or a general permit for the discharge of stormwater from state or federally owned authority municipal separate storm sewer system facilities; and any nonstormwater permitted under a NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge license or order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") or the Maine Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP").

EXISTING SOURCE

Any source of discharge that is not a "new source."

FAMILY

A group of individuals, not necessarily related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship, living together in a dwelling unit as a single housekeeping unit, sharing common use and access to all living, eating, and bathroom areas.

FATS, OILS AND GREASE (FOGs)

Any substance such as a vegetable or animal product that is used in, or is a byproduct of, the cooking or food preparation process, and that turns or may turn viscous or solidify with a change in temperature or conditions.

FEE

Any cost charged to a user, applicant, permittee, discharger, person, corporation, lessee, business, organization, per provisions of this chapter and City Council's adopted fee schedule for the WRRD. The term "fee" may be used interchangeably with, and has the same meaning as: impact fees, user rates, user charges, surcharge fees, permit fees, pretreatment fees, inspection fees, and any other fees outlined within this chapter.

FLOATABLE OIL

Oil, fat, or grease in a physical state such that it will separate by gravity from wastewater by treatment in an approved treatment facility. A wastewater shall be considered free of floatable oil if it is properly pretreated and the wastewater does not interfere with the water resource recovery facilities.

FLOOR DRAIN

A fixture providing an opening in a floor to allow wastewater into the sewer system.

FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT (FSE)

Any permanent facility within the boundaries of the City which prepares and/or packages food or beverages for distribution, sale, or consumption, on or off site, which has any process or device that uses or produces FOG. Excluding private residences, FSEs include but are not limited to food courts, food manufacturers, food packagers, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, delis, bakeries, butchers, hospitals, hotels, nursing homes, churches, and school cafeterias.

FORCE MAIN

A pressurized line delivering wastewater from a pump station to a point where gravity flow is possible.

GARBAGE

Solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation, cooking and dispensing of food and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.

GRAB SAMPLE

A sample that is taken from a waste stream without regard to the flow in the waste stream and over a period of time not to exceed 15 minutes.

GREASE

The material removed from a grease control device serving a food service establishment, food processing establishment or other facility requiring a FOG control device. Also means volatile and nonvolatile residual fats, fatty acids, soaps, waxes and other similar materials.

GREASE INTERCEPTOR

A device in which the grease in wastewater leaving a structure is intercepted, congealed by cooling, accumulated, and stored for pump-out and disposal.

GREASE TRAP

A device designed to retain grease from a single plumbing fixture.

HHE-200

Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Application. The form used by licensed site evaluators for designing septic systems, as prescribed by the MEDEP.

INDIRECT DISCHARGE

The discharge or the introduction of nondomestic pollutants from a source regulated under Section 307(b) or (c) of the Act into the City WRRF.

INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY

For purposes of Article XX, "industrial activity" shall mean "activity or activities subject to NPDES industrial permits as defined in 40 CFR 122.26(b)(14)."

INDUSTRIAL WASTE

Nondomestic wastewater originating from a nonresidential source.

INSTANTANEOUS LIMIT

The maximum concentration of a pollutant allowed to be discharged at any time, determined from the analysis of and discrete or composited sample collected, independent of the industrial flow rate and duration of the sampling event.

INTERFERENCE

A discharge that, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, inhibits or disrupts the WRRF, its treatment processes or operations or its biosolids processes, use or disposal; and, therefore, is a cause of a violation of the City's MEPDES permit or of the prevention of sewage biosolids use or disposal in compliance with any of the following statutory/regulatory provisions or permits issued thereunder, or any more stringent state or local regulations: Section 405 of the Act; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, including Title II, commonly referred to as the RCRA; any state regulations contained in any state biosolids management plan prepared pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act; the Clean Air Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; and the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.

LOCAL LIMIT

Specific discharge limits developed and enforced by the City upon nonresidential, industrial or commercial facilities to implement the general and specific discharge prohibitions listed in § 176-5.01 of this chapter.

LOW-PRESSURE FORCE MAIN

A pressurized line designed to accommodate individual building pump stations. A low-pressure force main would not have a single pump station responsible for transferring the wastewater to the gravity point.

MAINE POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (MEPDES)

The State of Maine permit program for discharges to waters of the U.S.

MEDICAL WASTE

Isolation wastes, infectious agents, human blood and blood products, pathological wastes, sharps, body parts, contaminated bedding, surgical wastes, potentially contaminated laboratory wastes, and dialysis wastes.

MONTHLY AVERAGE

The sum of all daily discharges measured during a calendar month divided by the number of daily discharges measured during that month.

MONTHLY AVERAGE LIMIT

The highest allowable average of daily discharges over a calendar month, calculated as the sum of all daily discharges measured during a calendar month divided by the number of daily discharges measured during that month.

MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM or MS4

A conveyance or system of conveyances designed or used for collecting or conveying stormwater [other than a publicly owned treatment works (POTW)], as defined at 40 CFR 122.2, or a combined sewer), including, but not limited to, roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, human-made channels or storm drains owned or operated by any municipality, sewer or sewage district, Maine DOT, MTA, state agency or federal agency or other public entity that discharges to waters of the state other than groundwater.

MUNICIPALITY

The City of Saco, Maine. The City of Saco, Maine is also referred to as "the City" in this chapter.

NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES)

A permit issued by the EPA or the DEP that authorizes the discharge or pollutants to waters of the United States, whether the permit is applicable to an individual, group, or general area-wide basis.

NATURAL OUTLET

Any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface or groundwater.

NEW SOURCE

Any building, structure, facility or installation from which there is (or may be) a discharge of pollutants, whereas:

(1)

The building, structure, facility or installation is constructed at a site at which no other source is located; or

(2)

The building, structure, facility or installation totally replaces the process or production equipment that causes the discharge of pollutants at an existing source; or

(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. In determining whether these are substantially independent, factors such as the extent to which the new facility is integrated with the existing plant, and the extent to which the new facility is engaged in the same general type of activity as the existing source should be considered.

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(2) or (3) above, but otherwise alters, replaces or adds to existing process or production equipment.

Construction of a new source as defined under this subsection has commenced if the owner or operator has:

(1)

Begun, or caused to begin, as part of a continuous onsite construction program:

(a)

Any placement, assembly, or installation of facilities or equipment; or

(b)

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; or

(2)

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 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 subsection.

NONCONTACT COOLING WATER

Water used for cooling that does not come into direct contact with any raw material, intermediate product, waste product or finished product.

NONDOMESTIC POLLUTANT

Any substance other than human excrement or household gray water.

NONSTORMWATER DISCHARGE

Any discharge to an MS4 that is not composed entirely of stormwater.

NUISANCE

Any source of filth, odor, or probable cause of sickness. (Cross-reference: State of Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Rules, definitions).

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE (O&M)

Those functions that result in expenditures during the useful life of the treatment works for materials, labor, utilities and other items which are necessary for managing and for which such works were designed and constructed. The term "operation and maintenance" also includes and may refer to "replacement."

OTHER WASTES

Decayed wood, sawdust, shavings, bark, lime, refuse, ashes, garbage, offal, oil, tar, chemicals and all other substances except sewage and industrial wastes.

OWNER

The person or persons having title to the pumping station and may include the person or persons having title to the land upon which the pumping station is located. Includes any person whom property taxes on a building or parcel are assessed.

PASS THROUGH

The discharge of pollutants through the WRRF into navigable water in quantities or concentrations which are a cause of or significantly contribute to a violation of any requirement of the City's MEPDES permit.

PERSON

Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation, party, or group. For the purposes of Article XX, "person" shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, municipality, quasimunicipal corporation, state agency or federal agency or legal entity, which creates, initiates, originates or maintains a discharge of stormwater or a nonstormwater discharge.

The logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.

POINT SOURCE

For the purposes of Article XX, "point source" shall have the same meaning as "direct discharge."

POLLUTANT

Any dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage biosolids, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discharged equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, domestic, commercial or agricultural wastes of any kind.

PREMISES

Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land, whether improved or unimproved, including adjacent sidewalks and parking strips, located within the municipality from which discharges into the storm drainage system are or may be created, initiated, originated, or maintained.

PRESSURE SEWER

Any pipe or conduit conveying wastewater from a low elevation to a higher elevation, and shall include force mains from lift stations, as well as inverted syphons.

PRETREATMENT

The reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination 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 the City WRRF.

PRETREATMENT REQUIREMENTS

Any substantive or procedural requirement related to pretreatment imposed on a nonresidential discharger of wastewater to the City sewer.

PRETREATMENT STANDARDS or STANDARDS

Prohibited discharge standards and local limits.

PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

A subsurface wastewater disposal system or septic system.

PRIVATE SEWER SYSTEM or PRIVATE SEWER

Any sewer, not owned by the City, located on private property or private ways, that collects wastewater from two or more building sewers and discharges into a public sanitary sewer.

PRIVY

A toilet located in a small shed outside a house or other building; outhouse.

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

A person licensed to practice professional engineering in Maine, pursuant to 32 M.R.S.A., Chapter 19. (Cross-reference: State of Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Rules, definitions).

PROHIBITED DISCHARGE STANDARDS or PROHIBITED DISCHARGES

Absolute prohibitions against the discharge of certain substances; these prohibitions appear in § 176-5.01 of this chapter.

PROPERLY SHREDDED GARBAGE

The wastes from preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that have been shredded to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public sewers, with no particle greater than 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) in any dimension.

PUBLIC SEWER

A sewer in which all owners of abutting properties have equal rights, and which is controlled by public authority.

PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS (POTW)

The City's devices or systems used in the collection, storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature. It also includes sewer pipes and other conveyances only if these structures convey wastewater to the WRRF.

PUMPING STATION

Equipment designed to provide for the proper flow of sewage from a lower elevation to a higher elevation for eventual entry into the public sewer system.

RECEIVING WATERS

Any watercourse, river, pond, ditch, lake, aquifer, or any other body of surface water or groundwater receiving discharge of wastewaters.

REGULATED SMALL MS4

Any small MS4 regulated by the State of Maine General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems ("general permit") latest edition adopted by the Maine DEP, including all those located partially or entirely within an urbanized area (UA) and those additional small MS4s located outside a UA that, as of issuance of the general permit, have been designated by the DEP as "regulated small MS4s."

REPLACEMENT

Expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the treatment works to maintain the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.

SAMPLE POINT

A location approved by the Director, from which wastewater can be collected that is representative in content and consistency of the entire flow of wastewater being sampled.

SANITARY SEWER

A sewer, which carries sewage and to which storm-, surface and ground waters are not intentionally admitted.

SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW (SSO)

An overflow of untreated wastewater from the sanitary sewer system into the environment.

SANITARY WASTEWATER or SEWAGE

The liquid waste discharge from a building's or structure's sanitary conveniences, such as toilets, washrooms, urinals, sinks, showers, and small laundries free of industrial wastes or toxic materials. Sanitary wastewater may or may not be discharged separately from industrial wastewater. For a combined discharge, the WRRD shall determine if a wastewater discharge meets the definition of "sanitary wastewater."

SEPTAGE

Waste, refuse, effluent, biosolids and any other materials from septic tanks, cesspools, or any other similar facilities.

SEPTIC TANK

An underground chamber made of concrete, fiberglass, plastic, or similar material through which domestic wastewater (sewage) flows for basic treatment.

SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE

Substantial physical damage to property, damage to the treatment facilities which causes them to become inoperable, or substantial and permanent loss of natural resources which can reasonably be expected to occur in the absence of a bypass. Severe property damage does not mean economic loss caused by delays in production.

SEWAGE SURCHARGE

The demand payment for use of a public sewer and/or sewage treatment plant for the handling of any sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes accepted for admission thereto in which the characteristics therefor exceed the maximum values of such characteristics in normal sewage.

SEWER

A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.

SEWER EXTENSION

Any newly constructed sewer that is to be adopted and maintained by the WRRD or privately maintained but connected to the City's water resource recovery facilities.

SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNIT

A structure containing only one dwelling unit for occupancy by not more than one family.

SLUG

Any discharge of water, sewage or industrial waste which, in concentration of any given 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 or flow during normal operation.

SLUG LOAD

Any substance released in a discharge at a rate and/or concentration which causes interference to the City WRRF.

SMALL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM or SMALL MS4

Any MS4 that is not already covered by the Phase I MS4 stormwater program, including municipally owned or operated storm sewer systems, state or federally owned systems, such as colleges, universities, prisons, Maine Department of Transportation and Maine Turnpike Authority road systems and facilities, and military bases and facilities.

STANDARD METHODS

The methods and procedures set out in the edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater" published by the American Public Health Association and current at the time of any examination of wastewater.

STATE PLUMBING CODE

The State of Maine Plumbing Code, as amended from time to time.

STORM DRAIN

(Sometimes termed "storm sewer") A sewer which carries storm- and surface waters and drainage but excludes sewage and industrial wastes other than unpolluted cooling water.

STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM

The municipality's regulated small MS4 and all premises.

STORMWATER

Any flow occurring during or following any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from such precipitation, including snow melt. For the purposes of Article XX, stormwater shall mean "the part of precipitation including runoff from rain or melting ice and snow that flows across the surface as sheet flow, shallow concentrated flow, or in drainage ways."

SUB-METER

A meter that is permanently installed and hard plumbed that measures the amount of water used that is not discharged to the sewer.

SUBSURFACE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM

Any system designed to dispose of waste or wastewater on or beneath the surface of the earth including, but not limited to, septic tanks; disposal fields; legally existing, nonconforming cesspools; holding tanks; pretreatment filter, piping, or any other fixture, mechanism, or apparatus used for those purposes; does not include any discharge system licensed under 38 M.R.S.A. § 414, any surface wastewater disposal system, or any municipal or quasimunicipal sewer or wastewater treatment system. (Cross-reference: State of Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Rules, definitions).

SYSTEM, MALFUNCTIONING

A system that is not operating or is not functioning properly, based on, but not limited to, the following indicators, as determined by the City's Code Enforcement Department: ponding or outbreak of wastewater or septic tank effluent onto the surface of the ground; seepage of wastewater or septic tank effluent into parts of buildings below ground; back-up of wastewater into the building being served that is not caused by a physical blockage of internal plumbing; and contamination of nearby water wells and waterbodies/courses. (Cross-reference: State of Maine Subsurface Wastewater Disposal System Rules, definitions).

TECHNICAL DESIGN CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS MANUAL (TDCSM)

The City's design manual, outlining design standards and specifications for certain development infrastructure requirements.

TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS (TSS)

Solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, wastewater, sewage or other liquids and that are removable by a standard laboratory filtering procedure, expressed in mg/L.

TOTAL TOXIC WASTE ORGANICS

Any element or compound, alone or in combination, which disrupts or inhibits the wastewater treatment process or operation or which causes or contributes to a violation of any requirements of the NPDES permit.

TOXIC POLLUTANTS

Any pollutant or combination of pollutants listed as toxic in regulations promulgated by the Administrator of the U.S. EPA under the provision of Act 307(a) or other Acts.

TRANSPORTED WASTES

Any liquid nonhazardous waste delivered to the water resource recovery facility by a truck or similar conveyance that has different chemical constituents or a greater strength than the influent described on the WRRF's permit. Such wastes may include but are not limited to septage, industrial wastes or other wastes to which chemicals in quantities potentially harmful to the WRRF or receiving water have been added. (State of Maine, DEP Rules Chapter 555, Standard for the Addition of Transported Wastes to Wastewater Treatment Facilities).

TREATMENT WORKS

Any devices and systems for storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage, domestic sewage or liquid industrial wastes. These include intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, sewage collection systems, pumping, power and other equipment and their appurtenances; extensions, improvements, remodeling, additions and alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a reliable recycled supply, such as standby treatment units and clear-well facilities; and any works, including site acquisition of the land that will be an integral part of the treatment process or is used for ultimate disposal of residues resulting from such treatment (including land for composting biosolids, temporary storage of such compost and land used for the storage of treated wastewater in land treatment systems before land application); or any other method or system for preventing, abating, reducing, storing, treating, separating or disposing of municipal waste or industrial waste, including waste in combined stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.

UPSET

An exceptional incident in which a discharger unintentionally and temporarily is in a state of noncompliance with the standards set forth in this chapter due to factors beyond the reasonable control of the discharger and excluding noncompliance to the extent caused by operational error, improperly designed treatment facilities, inadequate treatment facilities, lack of preventive maintenance or careless or improper operation thereof.

URBANIZED AREA

The area of the State of Maine so defined by the inclusive sum of the 2,000 decennial census and the latest decennial census (2010) by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

USEFUL LIFE

The estimated period during which a treatment work will be operated.

USER

Any person who discharges or causes a discharge of wastewater directly or indirectly to the treatment works. "User" shall mean the same as "discharger." "User" also means the owner of real estate served by the sewer system or the person against whom taxes on that real estate are assessed. "User" may also be used interchangeable with "owner" in this chapter.

COMMERCIAL USERA business establishment that does not produce industrial waste.

GOVERNMENTAL USERIncludes legislative, judicial, administrative and regulatory activities of federal, state and local governments.

INDUSTRIAL USERA source of indirect discharge or any source which discharges industrial waste to the facility.

(1)

SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL USER

(a)

An industrial user subject to categorical pretreatment standards; or

(b)

An industrial user that:

[1]

Discharges an average of 25,000 gpd or more of process wastewater to the WRRF (excluding sanitary, noncontact cooling and boiler blowdown wastewater);

[2]

Contributes a process wastestream which makes up 5% or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the treatment plant; or

[3]

Is designated as such by the WRRD on the basis that it has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the WRRF's operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement.

[4]

Upon a finding that a user meeting the criteria in Subsection C(1)(b) of this definition has no reasonable potential for adversely affecting the WRRF's operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement, the WRRD may at any time, on its own initiative or in response to a petition received from an industrial user, and in accordance with procedures in 40 CFR 403.8(f)(6), determine that such user should not be considered a significant industrial user. (Reference: ME DEP Rules Chapter 528.)

INSTITUTIONAL USERIncludes social, charitable, religious and educational activities such as schools, churches, hospitals, nursing homes, penal institutions, and similar institutional users.

NONRESIDENTIAL USERRefers to any user category that is not residential. The term "nonresidential discharger" has the same meaning as "nonresidential user" and may be used interchangeable with "nonresidential user" throughout this chapter.

RESIDENTIAL USERAny contributor to the City's WRRF whose lot, parcel, real estate, or building is used for domestic dwelling purposes only, but not including hotels, motels, boardinghouses, tourist homes or bed-and-breakfast establishments.

SEASONAL USERA user who has the water company remove a water meter for any period during the year.

USER CHARGE

That portion of the total wastewater service charge which is levied in a proportional and adequate manner for the cost of operation, maintenance, replacement and debt service of the WRRF.

WASTE

Sewage and any and all other waste substances, liquid, solid, gaseous or radioactive, associated with human habitation or of human or animal nature, including such wastes placed within containers of any nature prior to and for the purpose of disposal.

WASTE HAULER

Any person carrying on or engaging in vehicular transport of waste as part of, or incidental to, any business for that purpose.

WASTE MINIMIZATION PRACTICES

Plans or programs intended to reduce or eliminate discharges to the sewer system or to conserve water, including, but not limited to, product substitutions, housekeeping practices, inventory control, employee education, and other steps to minimize wastewater production.

WASTEWATER DISCHARGE FORM

An application form completed by dischargers, used to report information about the discharger's wastewater and any potential effects such wastewater may have on the WRRF.

WASTEWATER DISCHARGE PERMIT (WDP)

A permit issued by the Director, that establishes regulations and restrictions on certain users, including but not limited to monitoring, reporting and inspection requirements.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

Any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating sewage.

WASTEWATER, WASTEWATER DISCHARGE, WASTES

Industrial waste or sewage or any waste, including that which may be combined with any groundwater, surface water or stormwater, that may be discharged to the City's WRRF.

WATER COMPANY

Maine Water Company.

WATER METER

A device for measuring and recording water volume furnished and/or installed by a user and approved by the water company or the Director.

WATER RESOURCE RECOVERY DEPARTMENT (WRRD)

Municipal department charged with operating the City's sewage collection system and wastewater treatment plants.

WATER RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES (WRRF)

Any treatment works, and the sewers and conveyance appurtenances discharging thereto, owned and operated by the City. The term is used interchangeably throughout this chapter with the term "publicly owned treatment works."

WATERS OF THE STATE

For purposes of Article XX, "waters of the state" shall mean any and all surface waters and subsurface waters that are contained within, flow through, or under or border upon the State of Maine or any portion of the state, including marginal and high seas, except such waters as are confined and retained completely upon the property of one person and do not drain into or connect with any other wastes of the state, but not excluding waters susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, or whose use, degradation or destruction would affect interstate or foreign commerce.