Unless a provision explicitly states otherwise, the following terms and phrases, as used in this article, shall have the meanings hereinafter designated:
Biochemical oxygen demand or BOD.The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory procedures for five days at 20° centigrade, usually expressed as a concentration (e.g., mg/l).
Categorical pretreatment standard or categorical standard.Any regulation containing pollutant discharge limits promulgated by the EPA in accordance with sections 307(b) and (c) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. section 1317) which apply to a specific category of users and which appear in 40 CFR, chapter
1, subchapter N, parts 405-471.
A sample taken over a period of time, usually 24 or 8 hours, in which the amount collected is proportional to the amount of flow discharged.
Conventional pollutants.Chemical constituents of wastewater which are typically a measure of its strength or common characteristics, specifically, BOD, TSS, COD, O&G and pH.
Grab sample.A sample which is taken from a waste stream without regard to the flow in the waste stream and over a period of time not to exceed fifteen minutes.
Industrial waste.Materials which could be discharged to the city wastewater collection from a nonresidential establishment which contains pollutants as defined in this section.
Interference.A discharge which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, inhibits or disrupts the treatment plant, its treatment processes or operation or its sludge processes, use or disposal, and therefore is a cause of a violation of the city’s TNRCC discharge permit or NPDES permit, or of the prevention of sewage sludge use or disposal in compliance with any other more stringent state or local regulations.
Noncontact cooling water.Water used for cooling which does not come into direct contact with any raw material, intermediate product, wastewater protection [waste product], or finished product.
Normal wastewater.Wastewater discharged into the collection system which has conventional pollutant levels below or within the following values:
Pass-through.A discharge which exits the wastewater treatment plant into waters of the United States in quantities or concentrations which, alone or in conjunction with a discharge or discharges from other sources, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the city’s discharge permit, including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation.
Permit holder or holder.A person, business or corporation which has been issued an industrial wastewater discharge permit in conformance with this article.
pH.A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, expressed in standard units.
Pollutant.Dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, filter backwash, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive material, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, municipal, agricultural and industrial process wastewater, and certain characteristics of wastewater (e.g., pH, temperature, TSS, turbidity, color, BOD, COD, toxicity or odor).
Pretreatment.The reduction of the amount of pollutants, the elimination of pollutants, or the alteration of the nature of pollutant properties in wastewater prior to, or in lieu of, introducing such pollutants into the wastewater treatment system.
Process wastewater.Wastewater generated from an industrial, manufacturing or commercial operation which is not from personnel restroom and washroom facilities.
Significant industrial user.(1) A user subject to categorical pretreatment standards; or
A user that:
(A) Discharges an average of 25,000 gpd or more of process wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant;
Contributes a process waste stream which makes up 5 percent or more of the average dry weather hydraulic flow or organic load of the wastewater treatment plant; or
Is designated as such by the city on the basis that it has a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the wastewater treatment plant operation or for violating any pretreatment standard or requirement.
Slug load or slug.Any discharge at a flow rate or concentration which could cause a violation of the prohibited discharge standards in section
13.04.031 of this article.
The total suspended matter that floats to the surface of, or is suspended in, water, wastewater, or other liquid, and which is removable by laboratory filtering.
Wastewater.Liquid and water-carried industrial wastes and sewage from residential dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial and manufacturing facilities, and institutions, whether treated or untreated, which are contributed to the wastewater treatment plant.
(Ordinance 395, sec. 1, adopted 7/21/15)