For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
ASTM.
The American Society for Testing and Materials.
BOD (denoting biochemical oxygen demand).
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter by Standard Methods procedure in five (5) days at twenty degrees centigrade (20°C) expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l).
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 (5') 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.
COD (denoting chemical oxygen demand).
The quantity of oxygen utilized in the chemical oxidation of organic and inorganic matter under standard laboratory procedure by the dichromate reflux method expressed in milligrams per liter.
Combined sewer.
A sewer receiving both surface runoff and sewage.
Director of public utilities.
The director of public utilities of the town, or his authorized deputy, agent or representative.
Garbage.
Solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation, cooking and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage, and sale of produce.
Health officer.
Any person or his authorized representative so appointed by the city or any New Mexico environment department representative charged with approval or inspection of public or private wastewater facilities.
Industrial liquid wastes.
All waterborne solids, liquids or gaseous wastes resulting from any industrial manufacturing or food processing operation or process, or from the development of any natural resource, or any mixture of these with water or domestic sewage as distinct from normal domestic sewage.
Interference with any wastewater facility.
Any condition or combination of conditions which cause degradation of the operational efficiency of a wastewater facility.
Natural outlet.
Any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body or surface or ground water.
Normal domestic wastewater.
Waterborne wastes normally discharging from the sanitary conveniences of buildings, including apartment houses and hotels, office buildings, factories and institutions, free from storm [and] surface water and industrial wastes. Normal domestic wastewater shall mean normal for the town.
Person.
Any individual, firm, company, political or governmental subdivision, association, society, corporation or group.
pH.
The logarithm, to the base 10, of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.
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 public sewers, with no particle greater than one-half inch (1/2") in any dimension.
Public sewer.
A sewer in which all owners of abutting properties shall have equal rights and is controlled by public authority.
Sanitary sewer.
The public sewer portion of a wastewater facility which transports wastewater and to which storm, surface and ground water are not intentionally admitted.
Settleable solids.
Those solids which settle during a preselected period of time expressed as milliliters per liter of sample.
Sewer.
A pipe or conduit for carrying sewage.
Shall, may.
The word “shall” is mandatory; the word “may” is permissive.
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 fifteen (15) minutes more than five (5) times the average twenty-four (24) hour concentration or flows during normal operation.
Standard Methods.
The laboratory procedures set forth in the latest edition, at the time of analysis, of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, as prepared, approved and published jointly by the American Public Health Association and the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation.
Storm sewer.
A sewer which carries storm and surface water and drainage, but excludes wastewater and polluted industrial wastes.
Suspended solids.
Solids that either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, sewage or other liquids and which are removable by laboratory filtering.
Town.
The Town of Taos, New Mexico.
Trap.
A device for retaining sand, silt, grit, mineral material, petroleum solvent, grease or oil by gravity differential separation from wastewater and of a design and capacity approved by the town.
Unpolluted process water.
Any water or waste containing none of the following: free of emulsified grease or oil; acid or alkali; phenols or other substances imparting taste and odor to receiving water; toxic substances in suspension, colloidal state or solution; and noxious or odorous gases.
Wastewater.
The used water of a community. Such used water may be a combination of the liquid and waterborne wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions.
Wastewater facilities.
The structures, equipment and processes required to collect, transport and treat wastewater liquid and dispose of the effluent.
Wastewater treatment facilities.
An arrangement of devices and structures for treating wastewater and sludge, sometimes used as synonymous with waste treatment plant or wastewater treatment plant.
Watercourse.
A channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.
WEF.
The Water Environment Federation.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by the public utilities director. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged, on approval of the public utilities director, to a storm sewer or natural outlet.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
It is unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the town or in any area under the jurisdiction of the town any sewage or wastewater or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with subsequent provisions of this chapter.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
A. 
Except as hereinafter provided, it is unlawful to construct or maintain any privy, outhouse, privy vault, septic tank, cesspool or other facility intended or used for the disposal of sewage, except septic tanks that are approved by the New Mexico environment department may be constructed when the town is unable to provide services to the customer.
B. 
The use of chemical toilets is forbidden except:
1. 
On construction sites of commercial or residential properties; and
2. 
By permit for special events (e.g., foot races, carnivals, flea markets). Permits can be obtained in the planning and zoning department and the building and grounds department.
3. 
The public utilities department can authorize the use of chemical toilets on a temporary basis in the event of an emergency.
4. 
Chemical toilets shall be properly maintained and are subject to inspection by the town. The town may revoke the permit for any chemical toilet that is determined to be improperly maintained.
C. 
As used in this section, the term “chemical toilet” refers to any portable lavatory unconnected to a sewer or septic tank that uses chemicals to deodorize and break down the waste deposited therein.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
The owner of all houses, buildings or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or other similar purposes situated within the town and abutting on any street, alley or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future be located a public sanitary sewer of the town is required, at his expense, to install suitable toilet facilities therein, and to connect such facilities directly with the proper public sewer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within one hundred eighty (180) days after the life and use of the existing sewer facility has been exhausted and upon official notice from the town; provided, that the town’s public sewer is within one hundred feet (100') of the property line.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
Residential, commercial and industrial properties situated outside the town limits may be connected via building sewers to available sewers on an emergency basis only, and upon approval of the town council, provided an application is submitted to the town and the applicant signs an agreement to abide by the provisions of this chapter.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
A. 
When permitted.
Where a public sanitary sewer is not available under the provisions of this chapter, the building sewer shall be connected to a private sewage disposal system complying with the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Permit.
Before commencement of construction or modification of a private sewage disposal system, the owner shall first obtain a written permit signed by the environment department of the State of New Mexico with a copy submitted to the town’s public utilities director.
C. 
Design requirements.
The type, capacities, location and layout of a private sewage disposal system shall comply with all requirements and recommendations of the environment department of the State of New Mexico.
D. 
Conversion to public sewer on availability.
At such time as a public sewer becomes available to a property served by a private sewage disposal system, a direct connection shall be made to the public sewer in accordance with the guidelines contained in section 13.12.060 of this chapter, and any septic tanks, cesspools, and similar private sewage disposal facilities shall be pumped, abandoned and filled with clean soil, sand or gravel.
E. 
Operation; maintenance.
The owner shall operate and maintain the private sewage disposal facilities in a sanitary manner at all times at no expense to the town.
F. 
Chapter provisions not to limit reasonable requirements of health officer.
No statement contained in this chapter shall be construed to interfere with any additional reasonable requirements that may be imposed by the appropriate health officer.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
A. 
Permits required.
Persons may construct sanitary sewers on and within the town public rights-of way and dedicated public and private easements, and uncover and make connections with or opening into a public sewer or appurtenances, provided that a New Mexico licensed contractor first makes an application to the town which sets forth the design, specifications and cost estimate for the work to be done and receives an appropriate permit.
B. 
Permit classes, applications, fees.
There shall be two (2) classes of building sewer permits: 1) for residential and other services; and 2) for service to establishments producing industrial wastes. In either case, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the town. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the public utilities director. A permit and inspection fee for a residential, other or industrial sewer permit shall be paid to the town at the time the application is filed.
C. 
Costs; indemnification; bond.
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 against any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer including, but not limited to, pavement replacement or repair to the public sewer or appurtenances. As a condition of receiving a permit from the town for installation of the building sewer, the permittee shall provide proof of a current New Mexico utility contractor’s license and a bond or other financial guarantee acceptable to the town for the completion of the improvements, the amount of which shall not be less than the construction estimate for the construction of the building sewer and any pavement replacement.
D. 
Separate building sewers required.
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building; except where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley, court, yard or driveway, the building sewer from the front building may be extended to the rear building and the whole considered as one building sewer.
E. 
Use of old building sewers.
Old building sewers may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the director of public utilities, to meet all requirements of this chapter.
F. 
Design requirements; compliance with codes.
The size, slope, alignment, and materials of construction of a building sewer and the methods to be used in excavating, placing of 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 and State of New Mexico.
G. 
Gravity flow or lift.
Whenever possible, the building sewer shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. 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.
H. 
Connection of storm water conveyances prohibited.
No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains, areaway drains or other sources of surface runoff or ground water to a building sewer or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary sewer.
I. 
Connection procedures generally.
The connection of the building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code or other applicable rules and regulations of the town or the procedures set forth in appropriate specifications of the ASTM and the Water Pollution Control Federation Manual of Practice No. 9. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the public utilities director before installation.
J. 
Final inspection.
The applicant for the building sewer permit shall notify the public utilities director when the building sewer is ready for inspection and connection to the public sewer. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the public utilities director.
K. 
Construction safety, traffic safety and traffic control management during construction.
All sewer construction or repair within the public rights-of-way shall require the licensed contractor who is performing the work to have on-site a competent person with respect to OSHA requirements for trenching and excavations. The licensed contractor shall provide a design for and implement a traffic control plan for the construction duration that complies with the latest approved Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. All signs, barricades and lights shall be clean, reflective and fully operational. Upon notification by the public utilities director, the contractor shall immediately modify, clean or replace any traffic control devices that are determined to be unacceptable for the intended use or inoperable. From time to time, during the construction, the public utilities director may direct changes in the traffic control if it is in the best interests of the health, safety and welfare of the town. The contractor will immediately make any directed changes in traffic control and implement necessary changes in construction methods and means to effect improved traffic control or traffic safety at the construction site. Streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public property disturbed in the course of the work shall be restored by the permittee as directed by the public utilities director.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
A. 
Prohibited discharges.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface water, ground water, roof runoff, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer.
B. 
Prohibited substances.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described liquids or wastes to any public sewers:
1. 
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas.
2. 
Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, to injure or interfere with any wastewater facility, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the wastewater treatment facility, including, but not limited to, cyanides in excess of two milligrams per liter (2 mg/l) as CN in the wastes as discharged to the public sewer.
3. 
Any herbicides and pesticides.
4. 
Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5, or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment and personnel of the wastewater facility.
5. 
Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the wastewater facility such as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch manure, hair and fleshings, entrails and paper dishes, cups, milk containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders.
6. 
Any amount of the following heavy metals:
Antimony
Arsenic
Barium
Beryllium
Bismuth
Boron
Cadmium
Chromium (hexa)
Chromium (tri)
Cobalt
Copper
Iron
Lead
Manganese
Mercury
Molybdenum
Nickel
Rhenium
Selenium
Silver
Strontium
Tellurium
Tin
Uranyl ion
Zinc
7. 
Dilution of toxic materials and heavy metals in lieu of removal is not acceptable.
8. 
Any private septic tankers which collect septic wastes from private septic systems.
C. 
Discharges subject to regulation.
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged the following described substances, materials, waters or wastes if it is determined by the public utilities director that it is likely that such wastes can harm the wastewater facility or equipment, negatively affect the treatment process, cause a pass-through which adversely affects the receiving stream, or can otherwise endanger the public’s health, safety and welfare or constitute a nuisance. In making the determination as to the acceptability of such wastes, the public utilities director will give consideration to such factors as the materials of construction of the public sewers, nature and capacity of the wastewater treatment facility, degree of treatability of wastes in the wastewater treatment facility and other pertinent factors. The substances which must be considered include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. 
Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than one hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit (150°F) (65°C);
2. 
Any water or waste containing fats, grease, wax or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of one hundred milligrams per liter (100 mg/l) or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between thirty-two (32) and one hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit (150°F) (0 and 56°C);
3. 
Any garbage that has not been properly shredded. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder larger than those normally manufactured and sold for residential and noncommercial use will not be installed without specific review and approval by the public utilities director;
4. 
Any waters or wastes containing strong acid, iron pickling wastes or concentrated plating solutions cannot be discharged to the wastewater facility unless completely neutralized and approved by the public utilities director for discharge;
5. 
Any waters or wastes containing reducing substances of an organic or inorganic nature, toxic or nontoxic, which exert an immediate chlorine demand, shall not be discharged into the wastewater facility if discharge of agents will prevent the achievement of an adequate chlorine residual in the effluent of the wastewater treatment facility;
6. 
Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste or odor producing substances, in concentrations exceeding limits established by the public utilities director after treatment of the composite sewage, to meet the requirements of the state, federal or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such discharge to the receiving waters;
7. 
Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentrations as may exceed limits established by applicable state and federal regulations;
8. 
Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of 9.5;
9. 
Materials which exert or cause:
a. 
Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, fuller’s earth, lime slurries and lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chlorine and sodium sulfate);
b. 
Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions);
c. 
Unusual chemical oxygen demand, or biochemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the wastewater treatment facility;
d. 
Slugs or shocks constituting an unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes which will disturb the normal functioning of the wastewater facility;
10. 
Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the wastewater treatment facility employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the effluent cannot meet the requirements of agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.
D. 
Pretreatment requirements.
If any waters or wastes are discharged, or are proposed to be discharged, to the public sewers, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in this section, and in the determination of the director of public utilities may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater treatment facilities, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the public utilities director may:
1. 
Reject the wastes, either disapproving a proposed discharge or prohibiting the continued discharge of waste from an existing user;
2. 
Require the discharger to pretreat its wastewater at its own expense to an acceptable level which will comply with this section; or
3. 
Impose regulation of the quantities and rates of discharge. If the public utilities director permits the pretreatment of equalization of waste flows, the plant and equipment shall be designed by a professional engineer. The design shall be reviewed and approved by the public utilities director and the state and is subject to the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances and laws.
E. 
Testing industrial waste.
Testing an industrial waste will be performed at least twice a year or whenever determined to be necessary by the public utilities director. The person discharging the waste shall be liable for payment of all costs arising from the testing of the industrial waste.
F. 
Grease traps.
1. 
Scope and purpose.
To aid in the prevention of sanitary sewer blockages and adverse impacts to the wastewater treatment facility and receiving stream from discharges and accumulation of fats, oils and grease into the sewer system from industrial or commercial establishments, particularly food preparation and serving facilities.
2. 
Description.
The purpose of a grease trap is to remove fats, oil and grease from sewage prior to discharge to the public sewer. These interceptors serve as small flotation chambers where fat, grease and oil rise to the water surface and are retained, while the clear water underneath is discharged. The use of the word “interceptor” is interchangeable with the word “trap”.
3. 
Applicability.
The following types of facilities will be required to have grease traps: restaurants, food cooking or food preparation businesses using any baking, frying, grilling, sauteing, rotisserie, barbecuing, broiling, boiling, blanching, roasting, toasting or poaching operations, cafeterias, institutional kitchens, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, service stations, car washes, vehicle repair and lubrication businesses and any other facility that handles fats, oils and grease and which discharges wastewater containing grease into the public sewer system. All such establishments are required to have a properly sized, functioning and maintained grease trap.
4. 
New facilities.
Upon the effective date hereof, food service facilities which are newly proposed or constructed, or existing facilities which will be expanded or renovated to include a food service facility, where such facility did not previously exist, or any food service facility which changes ownership or lease which does not have properly sized or operational grease trap, shall be required to install, operate and maintain a grease trap meeting the requirements of this chapter. Grease traps shall be permitted and installed prior to the issuance of certificate of occupancy.
5. 
Existing facilities.
For the purposes of sizing and installation of grease traps, all food service facilities existing within the town prior to the effective date hereof will be permitted to operate and maintain existing grease traps provided its grease traps are in efficient operating condition. After the effective date hereof the town may require an existing food service facility to install, operate and maintain a new grease trap that complies with the requirements of this chapter or to modify or repair any noncompliant plumbing or existing trap within ninety (90) days of written notification by the town when any of the following conditions exist:
a. 
The facility is found to be contributing fats, oils and grease in quantities sufficient to cause line stoppages or necessitate increased maintenance on the public sewer system.
b. 
The facility does not have a grease trap.
c. 
The facility has an undersized, irreparable or defective grease trap.
d. 
Remodeling of the food preparation or kitchen waste plumbing is performed which requires a plumbing permit to be issued by the town.
e. 
The existing facility is sold or leased or undergoes a change of ownership.
f. 
The existing facility does not have plumbing connections to a grease trap in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
6. 
Grease trap requirements.
a. 
Plumbing connections.
Grease traps, generally, shall be designed for exterior installation and shall be located in the food service facility’s lateral sewer line between all fixtures which may introduce grease into the sewer system and the connection to the public sewer. Such fixtures shall include, but not be limited to, sinks, dishwashers, except that only the pre-rinse cycles may be discharged to the grease trap and all other dishwasher wastewater must bypass the grease trap, garbage disposals, automatic hood wash units, floor drains in food preparation and storage areas and any other fixture determined to be a potential source of grease. Wastewater from sanitary facilities and other similar fixtures shall not be introduced into the grease trap under any circumstances. Grease traps shall be designed, located and constructed to facilitate easy access and maintenance by the owner and inspection by the town.
b. 
Interior or under-sink traps.
Interior grease traps shall be prohibited for new or remodeled food service facilities, except where, in the determination of the public utilities director, inadequate space is available for installation of an exterior grease trap. If the public utilities director grants approval for installation of an interior or under-sink grease trap unit, then such approval shall require written agreement of the owner or lessee to inspect, clean and maintain the unit at least weekly and to skim the grease out of such grease trap and place in a holding container of at least fifty-five (55) gallons for pickup by a commercial grease hauler. Grease traps approved for interior installation shall be equipped with a flow control device to limit flow through the unit so as not to exceed the manufacturer’s rated capacity in gallons per minute for the unit. The flow control device and the grease trap shall be vented at least six inches (6") above the flood rim level.
c. 
Grease trap design.
(1) 
Access manholes.
Grease traps will be equipped with an access manhole with a minimum diameter of twenty-four inches (24") and shall be provided over each chamber and sanitary tee. Access manholes shall extend at least to finished grade and be designed and installed to prevent inflow or infiltration.
(2) 
Capacity.
Grease traps shall have sufficient capacity to perform the service for which it is provided. Traps shall be designed for a minimum hydraulic detention time of twenty-four (24) minutes at actual peak flow rate or twelve (12) minutes of calculated peak flow rate as predicted by the Uniform Plumbing Code fixture criteria, between the influent and effluent baffles, with twenty percent (20%) of the total volume of the trap allowed for sludge to settle and accumulate. Both the inlet and outlet of the grease trap shall have adequate baffles to prevent short circuiting of waste through the trap. The minimum passive capacity for any grease trap regardless of projected discharge shall be no less than five hundred (500) gallons.
(3) 
Flow through rate.
Because it is necessary for fats, oils and grease to cool down to solidify, grease traps shall be designed with a horizontal flow through rate not to exceed 0.25 inch per second. The flow through rate is to be calculated for a given tank with its maximum grease storage and sludge storage volume factored into the calculation.
(4) 
Approval of plans.
The owner or permittee of any business required to install a grease trap shall submit a site plan showing the location of the trap, sewer lines and cleanouts, details of the grease trap, lines, manhole and cleanouts, and the formula and calculations used to determine the grease trap capacity.
7. 
Grease traps installed by the users.
The food service or other facility covered by this chapter is responsible for the costs of installing, operating, cleaning and maintaining its grease trap.
8. 
Inspection, servicing and record keeping.
Inspection, servicing and maintenance is essential for the efficient operation of grease traps. Grease traps shall be inspected by the user, serviced and emptied of accumulated waste contents as is required at or before the trap capacity reaches seventy-five percent (75%) of its design capacity. Servicing frequency is site specific and is dependent on the amount of oil and grease and suspended solids generated at each facility and the size of the grease trap. In no case shall the frequency of cleaning be less than once every sixty (60) days, except for interior or under-sink traps which shall be inspected, cleaned and emptied of grease at least weekly. The user of a grease trap shall maintain a log book of all maintenance and cleaning along with evidence, such as billing and manifests with owner’s signature confirming work was done, of grease removal and disposal done in accordance with town, state and federal regulations. The user shall maintain written records of grease trap maintenance and cleaning for a period of three (3) years. All such records will be available on-site for inspection by the town at all times.
9. 
Grease trap pumping and cleaning.
All grease traps shall be cleaned by a properly licensed cleaning and disposal operation. Cleaning shall include the initial complete removal of all contents, including floating materials, wastewater and bottom sludge and scraping solids from the sides, top and baffles and pipes of the trap. No on-site aboveground grease storage containers or on-site storage of grease outside of the approved grease trap shall be allowed under this chapter.
a. 
Recycling of gray water.
The return of gray water back into the grease trap from which the wastes were removed is allowable, provided that grease and solids are not returned to the trap and provided the grease hauler has written permission from the facility to return gray water. The grease hauler shall wait a minimum of twenty (20) minutes to allow the trap waste to separate in the truck tank before attempting to reintroduce the gray water to the interceptor. It shall be the responsibility of each facility to inspect its grease trap during the pumping procedure to ensure that the grease trap is properly cleaned out and that all fittings and fixtures inside the trap are in working order.
b. 
Commercial additives, enzymes, emulsifiers and bacteria.
The introduction of bleach, emulsifiers, enzymes or any other chemical to the grease trap to reduce, thin or break down grease so that it is flushed or washed out into the public sewer is strictly prohibited. The addition of live bacteria available from commercial sources is conditionally permissible, provided the user first obtains written approval from the public utilities director prior to its use. The user shall submit MSDS sheets and any other applicable information concerning the composition, frequency of use and mode of action of the bacterial additive for the director’s consideration.
10. 
Alternative grease removal devices or technologies.
Alternative grease removal devices and technologies such as automatic grease removal systems shall be subject to written approval by the public utilities director prior to receiving a permit and installation. Approval of the device shall be based on demonstrated, proven removal efficiencies and reliability of operation. The town may approve these types of devices depending on manufacturers’ specifications on a case-by-case basis.
11. 
Inspection by town.
Grease traps will be inspected by representatives of the public utilities director or the building inspector as often as necessary to assure compliance with town ordinances, to determine if proper cleaning and maintenance schedules are being adhered to or to perform sampling of facility’s wastewater.
G. 
Maintenance of preliminary treatment and flow equalizing facilities.
Where preliminary treatment or flow equalizing facilities are provided for any industrial liquid wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense.
H. 
Waste meters; manholes.
When required by the public utilities director, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial liquid 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 manhole, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located, constructed in such a manner as to prevent infiltration of ground and surface waters and constructed in accordance with plans approved by the public utilities director. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times.
I. 
Methods of testing; location of test site.
All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods and shall be determined at the control manhole provided or upon suitable samples taken at such manhole. The control manhole shall be located so that sampling of the industrial waste will be performed before discharge into the public sewer system.
J. 
Sampling and analysis methods.
Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect of constituents upon the wastewater treatment works and to determine the existence of hazards to life, limb and property. The particular analyses involved will determine whether a twenty-four (24) hour composite of all outfalls of a premises is appropriate or whether a grab sample or samples should be taken. Normally, but not always, COD, BOD and settleable solids analyses are obtained from twenty-four (24) hour composites of all outfalls whereas pHs are determined from periodic grab samples.
K. 
Access for sampling.
The public utilities director shall be allowed access to the properties of all sewer users to sample, test and measure all wastewater discharges. Failure to allow such access may, at the town’s discretion, be the basis for discontinuance of sewer and/or water service to the property to which access is denied.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
The governing body of the town shall take the necessary steps to establish an equitable system of user fees. The purpose hereof is that such individual user shall pay an equitable portion of the town’s cost of owning the wastewater facilities plus an equitable portion of the total operation and maintenance costs.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)
A. 
Penalties; continuing violations.
Every person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both, for each violation. Each day this chapter is violated shall constitute a separate offense. The conviction and punishment of any person for a violation shall not excuse or exempt such person from the payment of any fee due or unpaid at the time of such conviction and nothing herein shall prevent a criminal prosecution of any violation of the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Remedies cumulative; liens.
All remedies prescribed or liens created hereunder or under the provisions of the law for collection and enforcement of the fees shall be cumulative and the use of one or more remedies by the town shall not bar the use of any other remedy for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter created by the law. The fees authorized by this chapter shall be a lien in favor of the town upon the real property served and the personal property of the person used in connection with the sewer use which gave rise to the fee and such lien shall be imposed, collected, enforced and paid as provided by the law. No property of any persons shall be exempt from levy and sale on execution issued for the collection of a judgment for any fee imposed by this chapter.
C. 
Disconnection of service.
For repeated violations of this chapter, the town may disconnect the violator’s water and/or sewer service and refuse to provide water and/or sewer service to the violator until assurances satisfactory to the town are provided by the violator that such violations shall cease.
D. 
Business license revocation.
Gross violations of this chapter may constitute the revocation of any business license, which is associated with the discharge privileges.
(Ordinance 03-15 adopted 2003)