Owners of a building or buildings situated upon any street, easement or way through which a public sewer has been constructed shall construct and maintain building sewers or private sewers through their premises as may be necessary to conduct the sewage from the building or buildings to enter the public sewers. Any person included within the provisions of this section who refuses to make a permit application to the department of public works for the construction of such building sewers or private sewers and connecting the same to the public sewer, or neglects to make such permit application within the space of fourteen days after written notice from the department of public works to do so, shall pay the penalty provided for in this chapter.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 1))
Whenever any building sewer or private sewer becomes clogged, broken, obstructed, out of order or detrimental to the use of a public sewer, or unfit for sewage purposes, the owner, agent, occupant or person having charge of any such building sewer or private sewer shall, when directed by written notice from the department of public works, remove, reconstruct, alter, cleanse or repair the building sewer or private sewer, as the conditions thereof require. In case of neglect or refusal to comply with such notice within five days after the same is given, the department of public works may cause the building sewer or private sewer to be removed, reconstructed, repaired, altered or cleansed, as it may deem expedient, at the expense of the owner, agent, occupant or other person so notified, who shall also be liable to pay the penalty provided for in these rules and regulations.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 2))
A. 
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any drainage, unpolluted water, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage including from sump pumps, uncontaminated cooling waters, live steam or unpolluted industrial process waters, directly or indirectly into the public sewer.
B. 
All owners of buildings where roof water, groundwater or surface water is being disposed of contrary to the provisions of this section shall be notified by the department of public works and/or another appropriate city department to cease the prohibited discharge. The city may take any and all enforcement measures specified in this chapter. The department of public works may also notify the inspector of plumbing, who shall cause the fixtures through which the water is being admitted to be sealed. If for any reason it becomes necessary to break the seal, it shall only be done as authorized by the department of public works. The work shall be done by a licensed plumber who shall notify the department of public works (in writing) of his or her doings. The inspector shall, as soon as possible thereafter, cause the fixtures to be resealed, the expense of sealing to be borne by the owner.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 3); C.O. 13-046, §§ 2, 3, 2/11/2013)
A. 
Drainage and all other unpolluted waters shall be discharged to such watercourses or storm drains that are specifically designated for unpolluted waters. Permission to enter city-maintained watercourses or storm drains must be obtained from the superintendent of public works and health inspector.
B. 
Industrial cooling water, unpolluted process waters and live steam may be discharged, in conformance with federal and state regulations, upon approval of the superintendent of public works and health inspector, to storm drains, watercourses or natural outlets.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 4); C.O. 13-046, § 4, 2/11/2013)
Every user discharging industrial wastes to the public sewerage system or directly into the Metropolitan Sewerage System shall obtain a joint permit from the department of public works and from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System. Industrial users proposing new discharges shall obtain such permits prior to constructing a building sewer. The department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System may change the conditions of permit from time to time as circumstances, including regulations enacted or promulgated by the state or federal governments or their agencies, may require. The department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System may stipulate special conditions and terms upon which the permit will be issued. No user may increase the daily volume, strength or rate of the user's permitted discharge beyond fifteen percent without first securing an amendment to his or her permit.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5 (part)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
Every industrial user shall be required to obtain a permit and shall, within ninety calendar days of the promulgation of the regulations codified in this chapter, complete and file at their own expense a permit application form with the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System. Known industrial users who have not filed a permit application will be notified by the department of public works or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System to apply for a permit. All industrial users are advised to apply for a permit prior to such notification. Permit application forms may be obtained from the department of public works at the City Hall and shall be filed within thirty calendar days of notification to both the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5(a)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
The department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System shall evaluate the adequacy of data furnished in the application form. If insufficient data has been furnished, the department of public works and/or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System will notify the industrial user to provide additional data within a specified time. After acceptance of data, and satisfactory completion of any investigations deemed pertinent, the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System will issue the permit. The department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System may stipulate special conditions and terms upon which the permit may be issued.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5(b)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
Industrial waste permits may contain the following conditions:
A. 
Limits on rate, time and characteristics of discharge or requirements for flow regulation and equalization;
B. 
Installation of inspection, flow measurement and sampling facilities, including access to such facilities;
C. 
Specifications for monitoring programs which may include flow measurement, sampling, chemical and biological tests, recording of data, and reporting schedule;
D. 
Pretreatment requirements and schedules for implementation, including schedules for reporting progress toward meeting these requirements;
E. 
Submission of discharge reports;
F. 
Special service charges or fees;
G. 
Other conditions as deemed appropriate by the department of public works and/or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System to ensure compliance with this chapter and with applicable requirements of state or federal law.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5(c)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
An industrial waste permit shall not be reassigned or transferred.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5(d))
If an individual user discharges amounts or rates of pollutants in violation of this chapter, the department of public works or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System may revoke the existing permit in accordance with Section 13.08.655. If an industrial user shows that changes in the industrial process have improved the characteristics and/or volume of its discharge, the permit may be modified upon application by the industrial user to the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System.
(83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5(e)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
The conditions of all permits shall be enforced by the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5(f)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
When required by the permit, each industrial permittee shall submit a duly signed discharge report to the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System containing all information requested by the department of public works and/or Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System in a form acceptable to the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System. The department and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System will evaluate the data furnished. If insufficient data has been furnished, additional information shall be furnished as required.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5(g)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
The department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System may use the information provided in the permit applications, permits and discharge reports as the basis for determining user charges.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 5(h)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
No user or person shall discharge or shall cause or allow to be discharged into a public sewer any substances, water or wastes that the department of public works or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System has identified as likely, either singly or by interaction with other substances:
A. 
To harm either the sewerage system or the wastewater treatment process;
B. 
To be otherwise incompatible with the treatment process;
C. 
To cause a violation of federal and state discharge permits issued to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System;
D. 
To adversely affect receiving waters;
E. 
To endanger life, limb or public property; or
F. 
To constitute a public nuisance.
(83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 6 (part)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
Specifically prohibited from public sewers are the following:
A. 
Unpolluted waters: groundwater, stormwater and surface water, roof runoff, tidewater, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, and uncontaminated industrial process water;
B. 
Flammables: gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, crude oil, lubricating oils and flammable or explosive liquids, solids or gases, or any other oils or greases of hydrocarbon or petroleum origin;
C. 
High or low pH: waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than 9.5, or having any corrosive or injurious properties capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, sewerage systems and personnel;
D. 
Solids or viscous substances: solids or viscous substances in quantities or of such size as to be capable of causing obstruction to the flow in sewers, or other interference with the proper operation of the sewerage systems, such as but not limited to ashes, cinders, straw, hair, rags, feathers, paunch manure, entrails, paper products, sand, mud, metal, glass, wood, plastics, rubber, latex and lime slurries;
E. 
Liquids having high temperatures: liquids or vapors having a temperature higher than one hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit or sixty-five degrees Celsius;
F. 
Viscous materials: waters or wastes containing fats, wax, grease or oils of vegetable or animal origin in excess of one hundred mg/l or containing other substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit or zero degrees Celsius and one hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit or sixty-five degrees Celsius. Waters or wastes containing such substances, excluding normal household waste, shall exclude all visible floating oils, fats and greases. The use of chemical or physical means (such as temperature variation, emulsifying agents, mechanical mixers) to bypass or release fats, oils and greases into the municipal sewerage system is prohibited. If the discharge concentration for any fats, oils or greases is in excess of one hundred mg/l after treatment, the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System may increase the discharge concentration limit on a case-by-case basis, when the user demonstrates to the department of public works' or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System's satisfaction that the discharge is not contributing to public nuisance conditions;
G. 
Garbage: garbage that has not been properly shredded;
H. 
Toxic metals: waters or wastes containing strong acid, steel pickling wastes, concentrated plating solutions, whether neutralized or not, or any amounts of toxic or objectionable metals in excess of the concentrations attainable by acceptable control technology including, but not limited to, the following:
antimony
arsenic
barium
beryllium
boron
cadmium
chromium
copper
iron
lead
manganese
mercury
nickel
selenium
silver
tin
zinc
In general, wastes containing the above metals shall be treated to reduce their concentrations to the minimum levels attainable by chemical precipitation processes or other equally effective methods. In no case, however, shall allowable metal concentrations be higher than those concentrations allowed by applicable state or federal law;
I. 
Toxic nonmetals: waters or wastes containing amounts of objectionable nonmetals in excess of concentrations attainable by acceptable control technology including, but not limited to:
ammonia
cyanides
herbicides
hexavalents
pesticides
phenols
phosphates
sulfates
sodium chlorate
chlorides
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's)
sulfides
In no case, however, shall allowable nonmetal concentrations be higher than those concentrations allowed by applicable state or federal law;
J. 
Radioactive wastes: radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentrations as may exceed limits established by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System in compliance with state or federal regulations;
K. 
Materials which exert or cause:
1. 
Excessive 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 chloride, sodium sulfate and ferrous iron compounds) or any other sludges or deposited solids resulting from an industrial or pretreatment process,
2. 
Excessive discoloration or turbidity (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions),
3. 
Excessive biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) or chlorine requirements,
4. 
Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting "slugs" as defined in this chapter;
L. 
State and federal requirements: waters or wastes containing substances, as determined by the Metropolitan District Commission Sewerage Division, which are not amenable to treatment only to such degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge of effluent to the receiving waters;
M. 
Dilution: the attainment of specific levels for discharge to municipal sewers by dilution in the absence of treatment is prohibited.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 6); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in Sections 13.08.515 and 13.08.520, a special permit between the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System and the city and the user may be issued whereby a waste of unusual character or strength may be accepted on an interim basis when, in the opinion of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System and the department of public works, unusual or extraordinary circumstances compel special terms and/or conditions of temporary duration. Such permit or amendment will be issued only when, in the opinion of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System and the department of public works, it would not cause any interference with or disruption in the treatment works, would not violate the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit or commonwealth water quality standards, and would not force additional controls on other discharges to achieve compliance with effluent limitations.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 7); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
If any waters or wastes are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers, which waters or wastes contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in Sections 13.08.515 and 13.08.520, and which, in the judgment of the department of public works, may have a deleterious effect upon the sewage works or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, or which do not meet the limits established by state and federal regulations, the department of public works, with the recommendations of the city engineer and health inspector, may:
A. 
Recommend that no permit be issued;
B. 
Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 8 (part)))
A. 
If the department of public works permits the pretreatment or equalization of wastewater flows, a facility required to pretreat wastewater to a level acceptable to the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System shall be provided and maintained at the user's expense. Prior to construction of the pretreatment facility, the user shall forward to the department of public works, in triplicate, a description together with detailed plans and calculations showing the proposed facility and operating procedures.
B. 
Any subsequent changes in an approved facility or method of operation shall be reported to the department of public works, and shall be approved by the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System before modification of the facility.
C. 
Any user to whom federal or state pretreatment standards are applicable shall be in compliance with such standards within the time required by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System;
D. 
The superintendent of public works, the city engineer, the health inspector, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System or the authorized representative thereof, may inspect the pretreatment facility at all reasonable times to ascertain whether this chapter is being met.
E. 
Such facilities shall be subject to periodic inspection by the superintendent of public works, the city engineer, the health inspector and Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System personnel or the authorized representatives thereof.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 8 (part)); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
Garages and other establishments where gasoline is used or where wastes containing grease in excessive amounts or any flammable wastes, sand or other harmful ingredients can be discharged and are connected with public sewers, directly or indirectly, shall be provided with a suitable trap or separator. The trap or separator shall be located before any connection to other building sewers, private sewer or public sewers. All traps or separators shall be in accordance with all state and local plumbing codes and shall be of a type and capacity approved by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System and shall be located so as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Gas traps shall be constructed and maintained at the user's expense.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 9); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
A. 
When required by the department of public works or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System, the owner or user of any property served by a building sewer or other private sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control or measuring device together with manholes, chambers, meters and other appurtenances in the building sewer or private sewer to facilitate observation, sampling and measurement of the wastes. Such manholes, chambers and meters, when required, shall be located in a safe and accessible place, and shall be constructed by the owner or user in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System with provisions made to ensure that the process wastewater at this location is exclusive of sanitary waste contamination. The manholes, chambers and meters shall be installed by the owner at his or her expense, and shall be maintained and kept in good operating condition by the owner so as to be safe and accessible at all times. The records from the meters and measuring devices shall be furnished to the department of public works and/or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System upon request.
B. 
The superintendent of public works, the city engineer, the health inspector and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System or the authorized representative thereof, may inspect the sampling facility at reasonable times to ascertain whether this chapter is being met.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 10); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
All measurements, tests and analyses of the characteristics of water and wastes to which reference is made in this chapter shall be determined in accordance with the latest editions of Standard Methods, and shall be determined at the control manhole or chamber provided, or by use of suitable samples taken at the control manhole or chamber. In the event that no special manhole has been provided, the control point shall be determined by the department of public works with approval from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System. Sampling shall normally be performed by the user and shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods; all industries discharging directly or indirectly into a public sewer shall perform such monitoring of their discharges as the department of public works or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System may reasonably require, including installation, use and maintenance of monitoring equipment, keeping records and reporting the results of such monitoring to the department of public works. Such records shall be made available, upon request, to the department of public works or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System.
(83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 11); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
Each industrial user having a permit shall submit a duly signed semiannual discharge report to the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System. The discharge report shall be in a form approved by the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System and may be required to include, but not be limited to, the process, volume, rates of flow, production quantities, hours of operation, personnel, substances and concentrations in the wastewater discharge, progress toward compliance with pretreatment requirements, and other information related to the generation and characteristics of the wastes. The report may also be required to include the chemical constituents and quantity of liquid or gaseous materials stored on site even though they may not normally be discharged into the public sewers. The department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System will evaluate the data furnished; if insufficient data have been furnished, additional information may be required.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 12); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
The department of public works or the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System may inspect, take measurements, and test the facilities of any user to ascertain whether state and federal regulations are being met. Persons or occupants of premises where wastewater is generated or discharged shall allow the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System ready access at all reasonable times to all parts of the premises for inspection, measurements or sampling. The department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System shall be deemed to be performing a governmental function for the benefit of the general public and neither the department of public works nor the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System shall be liable for any loss or damage as a result of the performance of such governmental functions. Where a user has security measures in force which would require proper identification and clearance before entry into the premises, the user shall make necessary arrangements with their security guards so that upon presentation of suitable identification the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System will be permitted to enter without delay for the purposes of carrying out their specific responsibilities.
(83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 13); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
All information and data on a user obtained from reports, questionnaires, permit applications, permits and monitoring programs and from inspections shall be made available, upon request, to other governmental agencies and to the public without restriction unless the user specifically requests and is able to demonstrate, in writing, to the satisfaction of the department of public works, that the release or communication of such information would divulge methods or processes entitled to protection as trade secrets or would violate any applicable provisions of law.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 14))
Each user shall provide protection from any discharges, including accidental discharges, in violation of state and federal regulations.
A. 
Users shall notify the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System immediately upon discharging wastes in violation of the city, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System, state and/or federal regulations, in order for countermeasures to be taken by the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System to minimize damage to the sewerage system and its receiving waters.
B. 
This notification shall be followed within fifteen days of the date of occurrence by a detailed written statement to the department of public works and the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority District, Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Sewerage System describing the causes of the accidental discharge and the measures being taken to prevent future occurrences. Such notification will not relieve users of liability for any expense, loss or damage to the public or to the Metropolitan Sewerage System, or for any fines imposed by the regulating agencies.
C. 
Users shall inform their employees of the existence of these accidental discharge regulations and at least one copy shall be permanently posted on the user's bulletin board. A notice shall be furnished and permanently posted advising employees whom to call in case of accidental discharges.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. III § 15); C.O. 86-23 § 8 (part))
No unauthorized person shall maliciously, wilfully or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface or tamper with any structure, appurtenance or equipment which is a part of the public sewerage system or the Metropolitan Sewerage System, inclusive of pretreatment facilities, monitoring and sampling facilities, building sewers and private sewers. Any person violating this section shall be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
(C.O. 83-52 § 60 (Art. IV § 1))