Unless a provision explicitly states otherwise, the following terms and phrases, as used in this article, shall have the meanings hereinafter designated:
Act or “the Act.”The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. sec. 1251 et seq.
Best management practices (BMPs).Scheduling activities, prohibiting practices, enforcing maintenance procedures, and implementing other management practices listed in 40 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter N, 403.5 (a)(1) and (b). BMPs include treatment requirements, operating procedures, and practices to control plant site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or waste disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage. Such BMPs shall be considered local limits and pretreatment standards for the purposes of 40 CFR 403 and Section 307(b) of the Clean Water Act.
Biochemical oxygen demand or BOD.The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedures for five (5) days at twenty (20) degrees centigrade, usually expressed as a concentration (e.g., mg/l).
City.The City of Brenham, Washington County, Texas.
Chemical oxygen demand (COD).The value of the test for COD, as described in the latest edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water & Wastewater” (a published guidebook for the testing of water and wastewater, meeting the approval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
Director of public utilities.The person designated by the city to supervise the operation of the POTW, and who is charged with certain duties and responsibilities by this article, or a duly authorized representative.
Fats, oils, and greases (FOG).Organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. These substances are detectable and measurable using analytical test procedures established in 40 CFR 136, as may be amended from time to time. All are sometimes referred to herein as “grease” or “greases.”
Generator.Any person who owns or operates a grease and/or grit trap/ interceptor, or whose act or process produces a grease trap waste.
Grab sample.A sample, which is taken from a wastestream without regard to the flow in the wastestream and over a period of time not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes.
Grease trap or interceptor.A device designed to use differences in specific gravities to separate and retain light density liquids, waterborne fats, oils, and greases prior to the wastewater entering the sanitary sewer collection system. These devices also serve to collect settleable solids, generated by and from food preparation activities, prior to the water exiting the trap and entering the sanitary sewer collection system. Grease traps and interceptors are also referred to herein as “grease traps/interceptors.”
Grease trap waste.Material collected in and from a grease trap/interceptor in the sanitary sewer service line of a commercial, institutional, or industrial food service or processing establishment, including the solids resulting from de-watering processes.
Grit.Sediment such as sand, gravel, cinders or other heavy materials.
Hauler.A person who is registered with and authorized by the TCEQ to transport sewage sludge, water treatment sludge, domestic septage, chemical toilet waste, grit trap waste, or grease trap waste in accordance with 30 Texas Administrative Code sec. 312.142; and is registered as a licensed grease and/or grit trap hauler with the City of Brenham.
Indirect discharge or discharge.The introduction of pollutants into the POTW from any nondomestic source regulated under Section 307(b), (c), or (d) of the Act.
Interference.A discharge which alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources inhibits or disrupts the POTW, its treatment processes or operations, its sludge processes, its use or disposal capacity, or is a cause of a violation of the city’s TPDES permit.
pH.The measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity of water and is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the hydrogen ion concentration.
POTW or Publicly owned treatment works.A treatment works which is owned by a state or municipality as defined by Section 502(4) of the Clean Water Act. This definition includes any devices and systems used in the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal sewage or industrial wastes of a liquid nature. It also includes all sewers, pipes and other conveyances that convey wastewater to a POTW treatment plant. The term also means the municipality as defined in Section 502(4) of the Act, which has jurisdiction over the indirect discharges to and the discharges from such a treatment works. For purposes of this article, the terms “sanitary sewer system” and “POTW” may be used interchangeably.
TCEQ.The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and its predecessor and successor agencies.
TPDES.The Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which is the federal regulatory program to control discharges of pollutants to surface waters of the United States.
TSS.The value of the test for total suspended solids, as described in the latest edition of “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water & Wastewater.”
User.Any person, including those located outside the jurisdictional limits of the city, who contributes, causes or permits the contribution or discharge of wastewater into the POTW, including persons who contribute such wastewater from mobile sources.
(Ordinance O-11-001, sec. 1, adopted 1/6/11)