Article I General Provisions

From the noncommercial preparation, cooking, and handling of food; or

Containing human excrement and similar matter from the sanitary conveniences of dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and institutions. It shall not contain groundwater, stormwater, surface water, cooling water, or industrial process wastewater.

DWELLING UNIT

A house, an apartment, a group of rooms, or a single room occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living quarters. Separate living quarters are those in which the occupants have either:

Direct access from the outside of the building or through a common hall; or

Complete kitchen facilities for the exclusive use of the occupants.

ENABLING LEGISLATION

Chapter 84 of the Public Laws of Rhode Island, 1973, as amended.

EQUIVALENT DWELLING UNIT

For assessment purposes shall be defined as a unit whose wastewater flows are equal to 345 gallons per day. The basis by which projected daily wastewater flows will be determined are based upon current RIDEM-published Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) (formerly ISDS) values per establishment. For flow wastewater volumes not stated in the OWTS regulations, standard engineering values will be used.

FLOATABLE OIL

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

GARBAGE

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

INCOMPATIBLE POLLUTANT

Any pollutant which is not a "compatible pollutant" as defined in this section.

INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER

The liquid wastes resulting from the processes employed in industrial, manufacturing, trade, or business establishments, as distinct from domestic wastes.

INFECTIOUS WASTE

Waste which contains pathogens with sufficient virulence and quantity so that exposure to the waste by a susceptible host could result in disease. Under this definition, the normal microflora of the body are not classified as infectious. Categories of waste designated as infectious are as follows:

HUMAN BLOOD, BODY FLUIDS, and BLOOD PRODUCTSAll waste human blood, blood products (such as serum, plasma, and other blood components) and body fluids (such as suction fluid and wound drainage) which exist in nonabsorbed liquid form in more than trace quantities.

CONTAMINATED SHARPSConsists of discarded sharps, e.g., hypodermic needles, syringes, pasteur pipettes, broken glass and scalpel blades which may have come into contact with infectious agents during use in patient care or in medical research or have been removed from their original sterile container.

CONTAMINATED ANIMAL CARCASSES, BODY PARTS, AND BEDDINGRefers to carcasses, body parts, and bedding of animals that were exposed to pathogens in research and in the production of biologicals or in vivo production of pharmaceuticals.

DISCARDED CULTURES and STOCKS OF INFECTIOUS AGENTS and ASSOCIATED BIOLOGICALConstitute infectious wastes because pathogenic organisms are present at high concentration in these materials. Included in this category are pathological laboratories and pharmaceutical companies, wastes from the production of biological and discarded live and attenuated vaccines. Also, culture dishes and devices used to transfer, inoculate and mix cultures shall be designated as infectious waste.

INFECTIOUS WASTE TREATMENT

PATHOLOGICAL WASTEConsists of tissues, organs, body parts removed during surgery and autopsy.

Any method, technique, or process designed to eliminate the infectious hazard, i.e., to change the biological character or composition of waste so as to remove any disease-causing potential and to render such waste noninfectious by killing the infectious agents present in the waste.

INTERCEPTING SEWER

A sewer which receives sewage flow from a number of main sewers and conducts such flow to a point for treatment.

LATERAL SEWER

A sewer that discharges into a main or other sewer and has no other common sewer tributary.

ON-SITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM (OWTS)

Formerly individual sewage disposal system (ISDS). A system approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management which provides sanitary sewage disposal by means other than discharge into a public sewer.

ORDINANCE

The Sewer Use Ordinance of the Town of North Smithfield, Chapter 285 of this Code.

OWNER

Any person who alone, or jointly:

Has a legal title to any premises; or

PRIVATELY OWNED WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY

Has control of any premises, such as an agreement to purchase, agent, executor, administrator, trustee, lessee or guardian of the estate of a holder of a legal title.

PERSON

Includes an individual, trust, firm, joint-stock company, corporation (including a quasi-government corporation) partnership, association, syndicate, municipality, municipal or state agency, fire district, club, nonprofit agency or any subdivision, commission, department, bureau, agency or department of state of federal government (including quasi-government corporation) or of any interstate body.

The logarithm of the reciprocal of the concentration of hydrogen ions in grammoles per liter.

PLUMBING INSPECTOR

The Plumbing Inspector of the Town.

POLLUTED WATER

Water containing man-made or man-induced alterations to its chemical, physical, biological or radiological integrity.

POTW

Publicly owned treatment works.

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 a water pollution control facility. The reduction or alteration can be obtained by physical, chemical, or biological processes, except as prohibited by 40 CFR 403.6(d).

PRETREATMENT COORDINATOR

The representative of the City of Woonsocket who is responsible for administrating the rules and regulations of the commercial and industrial users.

PRETREATMENT STANDARDS

All applicable federal rules and regulations implementing Section 403 of the Act, as well as any nonconflicting state or local standards. In cases of conflicting standards or regulations, the more stringent thereof shall be applied.

A pump station, collection system and/or wastewater treatment facility owned by a user or an individual or association that is connected to a publicly owned wastewater treatment or collection system.

PROPERLY SHREDDED GARBAGE

The wastes from the 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 the 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 is controlled by public authority.

RHODE ISLAND POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (RIPDES)

The Rhode Island system for issuing, modifying, revoking and reissuing, terminating, monitoring and enforcing discharge permits and imposing and enforcing pretreatment requirements pursuant to R.I.G.L. Title 46, Chapter 12 and the Clean Water Act.

SANITARY SEWER

A sewer which carries sewage and to which stormwaters, surface waters, and groundwaters are not intentionally admitted.

SEPTAGE WASTE

The wastewater or waste solids from a domestic on-site wastewater treatment system.

SEWAGE

A combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, and industrial establishments.

SEWER

A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.

SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL USER (SIU)

Any industrial user of the Town collection system whose flow exceeds:

An average of 25,000 gallons per day of process wastewater to the collection system (excluding sanitary, noncontract cooling and boiler blowdown wastewater); or

Five percent or more of the average dry-weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the Woonsocket POTW; or

A Federal EPA Categorical Industrial Standards; or

The industries discharging toxic substances, prohibited pollutants, but who are not subject to Federal EPA categorical standards; or

WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM

Industries with sanitary or nontoxic discharges using solvents, toxic chemicals and/or hazardous chemicals that could potentially be discharged to the sewers.

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 flows during normal operation.

STORM DRAIN

Sometimes termed "storm sewer." A pipe or conduit which carries stormwaters and surface waters and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes other than unpolluted cooling water.

STORMWATER

Any flow occurring during or immediately following any form of natural precipitation and resulting therefrom.

SUPERINTENDENT

The Superintendent of Sewer and Water of the Town appointed by the Board of Sewer Commissioners, or a duly appointed deputy agent or representative.

TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS

The total suspended matter that floats on the surface of, or is suspended in, wastewater, or other liquids, and which is removable by laboratory filtering.

TOWN

The Town of North Smithfield, Rhode Island or duly appointed representatives thereof.

TOXIC

Any substance listed as toxic under Section 307(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C.§ 1251 et seq., listed under the Hazardous Substances Right-to-Know Act, R.I.G.L. § 28-21-1 et seq., and as may otherwise be designated by the Town.

UNPOLLUTED WATER

Water not containing any pollutants limited or prohibited by the effluent standards in effect, or water whose discharge will not cause any violation of receiving water quality standards.

USER

Any person who discharges or causes or permits the discharge of wastewater into the Town's wastewater treatment system.

USER CLASSIFICATION

A classification of user based on the 1972 (or subsequent) edition of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual prepared by the Office of Management and Budget.

WASTEWATER

The liquid- and water-carried industrial or domestic wastes from dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and institutions, together with any groundwater, surface water, and stormwater that may be present, whether treated or untreated, which is discharged into or permitted to enter the Town's wastewater treatment system.

Any devices, facilities, structures, equipment or works owned or used by the Town for the purpose of the transmission, storage, treatment, recycling, and reclamation of industrial and domestic wastes, or necessary to recycle or reuse water at the most economical cost over the estimated life of the system, including intercepting sewer, 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 work, including site acquisition of the land that will be an integral part of the treatment process or is used for ultimate disposal of residues from such treatment.

Y-CONNECTION

The point at which the individual sewer lateral connects into the main sewer line (sometimes referred to as the chimney connection).

§ 285-2 Use of public sewers required generally.

Required installation of toilet facilities. The owner(s) of all houses, buildings, or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes, situated within the Town and abutting on any street, alley, right-of-way or easement in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer, is hereby required at his expense to install suitable toilet and waste removal facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, provided that the public sewer is determined by the Commission to be accessible and available to said property.

Connections shall be made within one year from the date of notice to do so, unless a written extension of time is obtained from the Commission. The Commission may, in its sole discretion, grant such extensions up to one additional year for just cause, including, without limitation, extreme and unusual weather conditions or the unavailability of contractors capable of performing the work. This shall not limit any extension granted under § 285-15C.

Sewer improvement charge. The owner(s) of all property situated within the Town and abutting on any street, alley, right-of-way, or easement in which there is now located or may in the future be located an accessible and available public sanitary sewer must, before such property is improved, pay a sewer improvement charge in an amount recommended by the Commission and approved by the Town Council by ordinance. No building permit shall be issued to improve property unless the permit application is accompanied by evidence of payment of the foregoing sewer improvement charge. For purposes of this section, property shall be deemed improved whenever, after an assessment has been levied on it, any new structure containing waste removal facilities and used for any of the purposes set forth in § 285-7 is constructed or whenever any existing structure is converted for use for any of those purposes and a substantial increase, as determined by the Commission, in the number of equivalent dwelling unit of sewage to be discharged from the structure(s) to be constructed or converted. Funds received from the sewer improvement charge shall be deposited in a separate account within the sewer budget to be used for the sole purpose of providing improvements to the existing wastewater collection system.

§ 285-3 On-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS).

When permitted. Where a public sanitary sewer is not accessible and available, the building sewer shall be connected to an OWTS complying with the requirements of the Town and the State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM).

Required approval. Before commencement of construction of a private sewage disposal system the owner shall first obtain approval from the Town, and the Director of RIDEM. Evidence of such approval shall be filed with the Superintendent.

Abandoning and filling when public sewer becomes available. When it is determined by the Commission that a public sewer is accessible and available to property served by a private sewage disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be cleaned of sludge and filled with clean sand or gravel within one year of the time of connection, or within such other time as may be specified by the Commission.

Operation of private disposal systems. The owner shall operate and maintain private sewage disposal facilities (OWTS) in a sanitary manner at all times, at no expense to the Town.

Proper removal and disposal. In the maintaining of these OWTS, the owner shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal by the 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 Director of Public Works and/or the Superintendent.

§ 285-4 Building sewers and permit requirements.

General requirements. The following general requirements shall be applicable for all existing and proposed users of the wastewater collection system:

It shall be unlawful for any person to connect, or permit the connection of, or authorize the connection of any service line to the wastewater collection system without obtaining a wastewater discharge permit from the Town.

No building permit for the construction or alteration of any building or structure which requires a sewer connection shall be issued, unless the owner of the property on which such building or structure is to be situated has obtained a wastewater discharge permit.

No permit shall be issued until the applicant has presented proof satisfactory to the Superintendent that the applicant has either made application for a building permit or notified the Building/Zoning Official's office of the proposed change in use or occupancy, in accordance with Chapter 340, Zoning, of the Town Code.

Wastewater discharge permits shall be issued on a first-come-first-served basis.

Any service line which was connected without a wastewater discharge permit, or which was connected as a result of any false statement, misrepresentation or nondisclosure on the application therefore or which was connected through any means which circumvented the limitations created by this chapter shall be disconnected from the sanitary sewer system at the owner's expense.

(6)

Any user violating any provision of this Subsection A, General requirements, shall be fined in accordance with§ 285-24, Violations and penalties.

Classes of permits; applications. There shall be four classes of sewer permits:

Class A permits, which shall authorize the connection of residential or commercial buildings to the public sewers;

Class B permits, which shall authorize the connection of establishments producing industrial wastes to the public sewer;

Class C permits, which shall authorize the installation and maintenance of private sewage disposal facilities; and

Class D permits, for repair work or modifications to existing sewers and connections to the public sewers.

Drain laying permit.

Building sewers and connections shall be made only by drain layers licensed to perform such work in the Town, and/or master plumbers licensed by the State of Rhode Island in accordance with the Standard Sewer Requirements. Notice must be left at the office of the Superintendent at least 48 hours before work is begun on a connection, and no material shall be used or work covered until inspected and approved by the Plumbing Inspector, the Superintendent or his agent. Such information as the Town has with regards to the position of junctions or branches will be furnished to drain layers but at their risk as to the accuracy of the same.

Drain layers shall complete and file application for drains in the name of the owner, obtain the owner's signature thereon, pay application and inspection fee, and complete the location plan required by § 285-4.

Drain layers or licensed master plumbers within the State of Rhode Island must complete the requirements for qualifying as a licensed drain layer in the Town of North Smithfield as specified in the Standard Sanitary Sewer Requirements.

Superintendent's power to adopt rules and regulations. The Superintendent is hereby empowered with the prior authorization of the Commission and the Town Council to:

Make and adopt such written rules and regulations as may be necessary for proper enforcement of the provisions of this chapter;

Establish a procedure for the application and issuance of permits to make sewer connections;

Adopt materials and workmanship standards;

Protect and indemnify the Town from damage and loss; and

Interpret and secure the intent of this chapter.

Permit applications. Prior to connecting and/or contributing to the wastewater collection system, all users shall apply for a sewer permit.

Significant industrial user. Users classified as significant industrial users shall be required to obtain a Class B permit from the Town of North Smithfield and an industrial wastewater discharge permit from the Woonsocket Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Industrial Pretreatment Program.

Commercial users. Commercial users must apply for a sewer permit and be required, when necessary, to install pretreatment apparatus, including, but not limited to, grease traps, oil separators, silver reclamation units and pH adjustment systems, as required by the Woonsocket Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Industrial Pretreatment Program.

Fees.

A permit and inspection fee per unit for a domestic or commercial building sewer permit must be paid to the Town of North Smithfield at the time the application is filed. The fee provides for site inspections and is specified in § 285-23.

The permit and inspection fee for an industrial building sewer permit must be paid to the Town of North Smithfield at the time of the application. The fee provides for site inspections and is specified in § 285-23.

Cost of building sewers. All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the Town for any loss or damage which may be occasioned, directly or indirectly, by the installation of the building sewer.

Permit transfer. Wastewater discharge permits are issued to a specific user for a specific operation. A wastewater discharge permit shall not be reassigned or transferred or sold to a new owner, new user, different premises, or a new or changed operation.

Number of building sewers. A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, unless otherwise authorized by the Superintendent.

Plugging required. Upon the permanent discontinuance of the use of the Town's sewer system at any premises, including discontinuance caused by the abandonment of any premises, the tearing down of any building or any other cause, the property owner shall cause the connection to the sewer main of the Town to be plugged in a manner which will be strong enough to prevent any leakage of any fluids. All such plugging shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Town, provided that no permit fee, inspection fee or other fee shall be charged for such inspection. If the owner of the property fails to plug the sewer connection in a satisfactory manner within 30 days of the time the owner is notified in writing by the Town to plug the sewer service line, the Town shall proceed to plug the service line and bill the owner for the costs. The cost may be collected by the Town and a civil action filed in court. The collection of the costs in a civil action shall not prevent the filing of an action for a fine for the violation of this chapter. Any user violating the provisions of this section shall be fined in accordance with § 285-25, Violations and penalties.

Town's responsibilities.

[Amended 2-6-2023]

The Town shall be responsible for all repair and maintenance of all main sewer lines and laterals under the sidewalk and/or public roadway if the property owner, at their expense, conclusively demonstrates by a drain camera inspection, or other evidence, that the sewer line repair and maintenance required is under the sidewalk and/or public roadway. The property owner shall, at their expense, be responsible for repair and maintenance of the building's lateral pipe from the building to the edge of the sidewalk or public roadway.

§ 285-5 Sewer construction requirements.

The Town shall be responsible for all repair and maintenance of all main sewer lines up to the "Y" connection for a building lateral if the property owner, at their expense, does not conclusively demonstrate by drain camera inspection, or other evidence, that the sewer line repair and maintenance required is under the sidewalk and/or public roadway. The property owner shall, at their expense, be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the building lateral pipe, from the building to the "Y" connection.

General. All construction procedures, materials and specifications shall conform with the "Standard Sanitary Sewer Requirements of the Town of North Smithfield" and all applicable federal, state, and Town building and plumbing codes.[1] Any deviations from these prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the Superintendent before installation.

[1]

Editor's Note: See also Ch. 130, Buildings and Building Construction.

Location plans. Accompanying each application for permit shall be a location plan showing the lot lines and dimensions, location of water pipes, gas lines, buried cable, location of permanent buildings and location of building sewers, storm drains and the water authority meter number and initial reading. The plans must be approved and stamped by a registered professional engineer or registered land surveyor.

Use of old building sewers. Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when the applicant provides adequate data to the Superintendent which shows that the building sewer has been examined, tested and meets all requirements of this chapter.

Size, slope, alignment, etc. The size, slope, alignment, materials of construction of a building sewer, and the methods to be used in excavating, placing the pipe, jointing, testing and backfilling the trench, shall all conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable rules and regulations of the Town. All connections are to be made gastight and watertight in conformance with all state and local plumbing codes.

Elevation. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public sewer, sanitary sewage carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the building sewer.

Connection of roof downspouts, floor drains, sump pumps, areaway drains, etc. No person shall make connections of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains, or other surface runoff or groundwater to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.

Pipe size. Unless excepted below, all lateral sewer pipes shall have a minimum diameter of eight inches.

Sewer pipes for house connections from the sewer main to the property line shall have a minimum diameter of six inches.

§ 285-6 Prohibitions and restrictions on wastewater discharges.

Sewer pipes for single-family dwelling house from the property line to the building shall have a minimum diameter of four inches.

Lint traps. Commercial laundries shall be equipped with an interceptor having a wire basket or similar device, removable for cleaning, that will prevent passage into the drainage system of solids 1/2 inch (13mm) or larger in size, string, rags, buttons, or other materials detrimental to the public sewage system.

Grease, oil and solids interceptors. An interceptor (trap) shall be required to receive the drainage from fixtures and equipment discharging excessive amounts of grease, oil or sand. This applies to establishments such as restaurants, clubs, hotel kitchens, bars, factory cafeterias, car washes, and any establishment which, in the opinion of the Superintendent, is necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, sand, or other ingredients. All costs incurred in obtaining, installing and maintaining the interceptor and appurtenances shall be borne by the establishment. Interceptors shall have a minimum capacity of 1,000 gallons and shall be approved by the Woonsocket Industrial Pretreatment Program. All interceptors shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. The establishment must clean the interceptor a minimum of twice per year. Maintenance records must be kept for a minimum of three years, and made available to wastewater treatment personnel. Interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. Collected materials shall not be introduced into the wastewater collection system.

Cleanouts. Cleanouts shall be installed at the property line, at every fitting over 22 1/2 and at seventy-five-foot intervals up to 150 feet. Service connections which are longer than 150 feet shall have sanitary manholes installed at a location(s) as directed by the Superintendent.

Backflow valves. One backflow valve per unit shall be installed prior to connection to the Town's sewer system for all residential and multiunit dwellings. The backflow valve shall be installed by the owner at the owner's expense and shall be maintained by the owner so as to be safe and accessible at all times. The quantity of backflow valves necessary for commercial and industrial establishments must be submitted to and approved by the Superintendent prior to installation.

Notification of readiness for inspection and connection. The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the Superintendent 48 hours prior to the applicant requiring inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the Superintendent.

Testing. The Superintendent shall require appropriate tests to the pipes, and the drain layer and contractor, at their own expense, shall furnish all necessary tools, labor, materials, and assistance for such tests and shall remove or repair any defective materials when so ordered by the Superintendent.

Guarding of excavation, restoration of streets and sidewalks. All excavations for building sewer installation shall be adequately guarded with barricades and lights so as to protect the public from hazard. Streets, sidewalks, parkways, and other public property disturbed in the course of work shall be restored in a manner satisfactory to the Town.

Crossing roads, driveways, etc. The contractor shall not block any driveway, street, road or railroad at any time without permission of the Superintendent, Director of Public Works or other controlling agencies. Every effort shall be made to permit the movement of vehicular traffic at all times. Whenever it becomes necessary to cross or interfere with roads, walks or drives, whether public or private, the contractor shall maintain, at his own expense, and subject to the approval of the Superintendent, safe bridges or other means of egress.

Excavation and repaving. No person shall open any road, street or highway in the Town for the purpose of installing sewer lines without first receiving a permit and complying with all of the criteria required by the Code of the Town of North Smithfield. Failure to comply with these regulations shall be deemed a violation of this Code. Any person or persons guilty of said violation shall be liable for a fine as specified in § 285-25, Violations and penalties.

Low-pressure grinder pumps. Low-pressure grinder pumps shall be manufactured by Environment One, or equal. The unit shall consist of a grinder pump, level controls, siphon breaker, check valve and seventy-gallon high-density polyethylene tank. The unit shall be equipped with an electrical quick disconnect plug, a discharge line shutoff valve and a quick disconnect assembly. The alarm/disconnect panel shall contain circuit breakers, an audible and visual alarm transfer switch and generator receptacle. A second check valve shall be provided at the curb stop.

Privately owned pump stations. All privately owned wastewater treatment facilities (pump stations and collection systems) that are physically connected to and so empty into a municipal wastewater treatment facility must comply with the Town's Standard Sanitary Sewer Requirements as it relates to design, operation and maintenance.

Prohibitions on wastewater discharges. No person shall discharge or deposit or cause or allow to be discharged or deposited into the wastewater collection system any wastewater which contains the following:

Oil and grease.

(a)

Oil and grease concentrations of 100 mg/l or greater or amounts from industrial facilities violating federal pretreatment standards.

(b)

Wastewater from industrial facilities containing floatable fats, wax, grease, petroleum oil, cutting oil, or products of mineral oil origin that may cause interference or pass through.

Explosive mixtures. Liquids, solids, or gases which by reason of their nature or quantity are, or may be, sufficient either alone or by interaction with other substances to cause fire or explosion or be injurious in any other way to the sewerage facilities or to the operation of the system. At no time shall two successive readings on an explosion hazard meter, at the point of discharge into the sewer system, be more than 5% nor any single reading over 10% of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the meter. Also prohibited is the discharge of wastewater, which alone or by interaction with other wastewater has a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140° F. (60° C.) using test methods specified in 40 CFR 261.21. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, gasoline, petroleum products, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides, and sulfides.

Noxious material. Noxious or malodorous solids, liquids, or gasses, which either singly or collectively interact with other wastes which are capable of creating a public nuisance or hazard to life, including wastewater which results in the presence of toxic substances, gasses, vapors or fumes within the wastewater treatment system in a quantity sufficient to cause worker health, safety or accessibility problems.

Improperly shredded garbage. Garbage that has not been ground or comminuted to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely in suspension under flow conditions normally prevailing in the public sewers, with no particle greater than 1/2 inch in dimension. No commercial or industrial users shall operate a garbage grinder unless specifically approved by the Superintendent and/or the Pretreatment Coordinator. A garbage grinder may only be used in conjunction with an in-ground grease interceptor specifically designed to accept such waste.

Radioactive wastes. Wastewater containing any radioactive wastes or isotopes, except in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations.

(6)

Solid or viscous wastes. Solid or viscous substances which will or may cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer, or otherwise interfere with the proper operation of the wastewater treatment system. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, grease, uncomminuted garbage, animal guts or tissues, paunch manure, bones, hair, hides or fleshings, entrails, whole blood, feathers, ashes, cinders, sand spent lime, stone or marble dust, metal, glass, straw, shavings, grass clippings, rags, spent grains, spent hops, wastepaper, wood, plastic, tar, asphalt residues from refining or processing of fuel or lubricating oil, and similar substances.

(7)

Excessive discharge rate. Wastewaters at a flow rate or containing such concentrations or quantities that exceeds for any time period longer than 15 minutes more than five times the average twenty-four-hour concentration, quantities or flow during normal operation and that would cause a treatment process upset at the Woonsocket Regional Facility and subsequent loss of treatment efficiency.

(8)

Toxic substance.

(a)

Any toxic substances in amounts exceeding standards promulgated by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 307(a) of the Act, and chemical elements or compounds, phenols or other taste or odor producing substances, or any other substances which are not susceptible to treatment.

(b)

This also includes any wastewater having a lethal concentration of 50% (LC₅₀) as determined by a toxicity test of 96 hours or less using 100% of the industrial user's discharge and aquatic test species chosen by the Superintendent.

(9)

Unpolluted waters. Any unpolluted water including, but not limited to, water from cooling systems or of stormwater or groundwater origin, which, in the opinion of the Superintendent, will significantly increase the hydraulic load on the collection system. This includes, but is not limited to, stormwater, surface water, groundwater, artesian well water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, swimming pools drainage, condensate, de-ionized water, cooling water and unpolluted wastewater.

(10)

Discolored material. Wastes with objectionable color not removable by the treatment process.

(11)

Corrosive wastes. Any waste which will cause corrosion or deterioration of the treatment system. All nondomestic wastes discharged to the public sewer system must have a pH value in the range of 6.0 to 10.0 standard units. Prohibited materials include, but are not limited to, acids, bases, hydroxides, peroxides, sulfides, concentrated chloride and fluoride compounds, and substances which will react with water to form corrosive products.

(12)

Untreatable wastes. Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the wastewater treatment system employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such a degree that the wastewater treatment system effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.

(13)

High temperature liquids. Any liquid or vapor having temperature higher than 150° F. (65° C.) or which, either singly or in combination with other discharges, would cause a temperature at the introduction into the treatment plant which exceeds 104° F. (40° C.).

(14)

Viscous wastes. Any water or waste containing fats, wax, grease or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 mg/l or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperature between 32° F. and 150° F. (0° C. and 65° C.).

(15)

Hazardous waste. Any material identified as hazardous waste according to 40 CFR 261.

(16)

Infectious waste. Any infectious or medical waste, except such waste which receives infectious waste pretreatment and meets the approval of both the Superintendent and the Industrial Pretreatment Program of the Woonsocket Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility.

(17)

Septage and sludge. Any trucked or hauled sludge, industrial wastewater, or sludge, screening or residue from the pretreatment of industrial wastes, or cleanings from an OWTS.

Dilution. No user shall 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 this chapter, the Federal Categorical Pretreatment Standards, or in any other pollutant specific limitation developed by the Town or state.

§ 285-7 Pretreatment.

Action of Superintendent or Pretreatment Coordinator.

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 this chapter, and which, in the judgment of the Superintendent or Pretreatment Coordinator, may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works, processes, equipment, receiving water, or which otherwise creates a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the Superintendent may:

(a)

Reject the wastes;

(b)

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

(c)

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

(d)

Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing sewer charges under the provisions of this chapter.

If the Pretreatment Coordinator permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows for any user, the design and installation of the plant and equipment shall be subject to review and approval of the Pretreatment Coordinator, and subject to the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances, laws, and regulations. All users which require pretreatment shall be subject to all applicable requirements of the City of Woonsocket Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Industrial Pretreatment Program.

Maintenance. Where pretreatment or equalization facilities are required for any water or wastes, the facilities shall be installed, operated, and maintained continuously in a satisfactory and effective condition by the owner at the owner's expense.

Control manholes; monitoring of discharge. When required by the Superintendent or Pretreatment Coordinator, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of the wastes. Such manholes, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the Superintendent or Pretreatment Coordinator. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at the owner's expense, and shall be maintained by the owner so as to be safe and accessible at all times. All industries discharging to a public sewer shall perform such monitoring of their discharge as the Pretreatment Coordinator may require, including installation, use and maintenance of monitoring equipment, keeping records and reporting the results of such monitoring to the Pretreatment Coordinator. Such records shall be made available to other agencies having jurisdiction over discharges to the receiving water upon request by the Superintendent.

Laboratory analysis of wastes. All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this chapter shall be determined by a State of Rhode Island certified laboratory in accordance with the latest edition of 40 CFR 136, at no cost to the Town. Sampling methods, location, times, durations, and frequencies shall be determined by the Pretreatment Coordinator on an individual basis.

Special agreements. No statement contained in this section shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the Commission and any person whereby industrial wastes of unusual strength or character will be accepted by the Town for treatment, provided that such agreements do not contravene any requirements of existing City of Woonsocket pretreatment, state or federal regulations and are compatible with any user charge system in effect.

Changes in discharge. Any person proposing a new discharge into the system or a substantial change in volume or character of pollutants that are being discharged into the system shall notify the Commission and the City of Woonsocket at least 45 days prior to the proposed new discharge or change in existing discharge.

Powers and authority of inspectors.

The Superintendent, Pretreatment Coordinator or other duly authorized employees of the Town or City of Woonsocket bearing proper credentials and identification shall be permitted to enter all properties for the purposes of inspection, observation, measurement, sampling, and testing in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and for the purpose of inspecting and copying the user's discharge records. The Town or City of Woonsocket shall also have the authority to set up the user's property such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling inspection, compliance monitoring and/or metering operations.

The Superintendent, Pretreatment Coordinator or duly authorized employees of the Town or City of Woonsocket shall observe all safety rules applicable to the premises established by the company and the company shall be held harmless for injury or death to the Town or City of Woonsocket employees and the Town or City of Woonsocket shall indemnify the company against the loss or damage to its property by Town employees and against liability claims and demand for personal injury or property damage asserted against the company and growing out of the gauging and sampling operation, except as such may be caused by negligence or failure of the company to maintain safe conditions.