[Adopted 12-10-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-16]
This article prohibits illicit connections to the municipal separate storm sewer system(s) operated by the Village of Ridgefield Park to protect the environment, public health, safety, and welfare, and prescribes penalties for failure to comply.
For the purpose of this article, the following terms, phrases, words, and their derivations shall have the meanings stated herein unless their use in the text of this article clearly demonstrates a different meaning. When consistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
DOMESTIC SEWAGE
Waste and wastewater from humans or household operations that is discharged to or otherwise enters a treatment works.
ILLICIT CONNECTION
A. 
Any physical or nonphysical connection that discharges the following to a municipal separate storm sewer system (unless that discharge is authorized under a NJPDES permit other than the NJPDES permit for discharges from that system):
(1) 
Domestic sewage;
(2) 
Noncontact cooling water, process wastewater, or other industrial waste (other than stormwater); or
(3) 
Any category of nonstormwater discharges that a permittee for the MS4 identifies as a source or significant contributor of pollutants pursuant to 40 CFR 122.26(d)(2)(iv)B)(1) or 122.34(b)(3)(iii).
B. 
Nonphysical connections may include, but are not limited to, leaks, flows, or overflows into the municipal separate storm sewer system.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE
Non domestic waste, including, but not limited to, those pollutants regulated under Section 307(a), (b), or (c) of the Federal Clean Water Act.[1]
MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4)
A conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains) that is owned or operated by the Village of Ridgefield Park or other public body, and is designed and used for collecting and conveying stormwater. MS4s do not include combined sewer systems, which are sewer systems that are designed to carry sanitary sewage at all times and to collect and transport stormwater from streets and other sources.
NJPDES PERMIT
A permit issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to implement the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) rules at N.J.A.C. 7:14A.
NONCONTACT COOLING WATER
Water used to reduce temperature for the purpose of cooling. Such waters do not come into direct contact with any raw material, intermediate product (other than heat) or finished product. Noncontact cooling water may, however, contain algaecides, or biocides to control fouling of equipment such as heat exchangers, and/or corrosion inhibitors.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
PROCESS WASTEWATER
Any water which, during manufacturing or processing, comes into direct contact with or results from the production or use of any raw material, intermediate product, finished product, by-product, or waste product. Process wastewater includes, but is not limited to, leachate and cooling water other than noncontact cooling water.
STORMWATER
Water resulting from precipitation (including rain and snow) that runs off the land's surface, is transmitted to the subsurface, is captured by separate storm sewers or other sewerage or drainage facilities or is conveyed by snow removal equipment.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 33 U.S.C. § 1317(a), (b), or (c).
No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged through an illicit connection to the municipal separate storm sewer system operated by the Village of Ridgefield Park any domestic sewage, noncontact cooling water, process wastewater, or other industrial waste (other than stormwater).