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Queen Annes County, MD
 
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (5) Index
Public Documents
Minutes (2621)
A. 
Unpolluted waters. A person may not discharge or cause to be discharged any unpolluted waters, such as stormwater, groundwater, roof runoff, subsurface drainage or cooling water, to any sewer.
B. 
Limited exception: stormwater. Stormwater runoff from limited areas may be discharged to the sanitary sewer with the permission of the Chief.
A. 
In general. Stormwater, other than that exempted under § 24-146B of this Part 5, and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as combined sewers or storm sewers or to a natural outlet approved by the Chief and other regulatory agencies.
B. 
Unpolluted industrial cooling water. Unpolluted industrial cooling water or process waters may be discharged, on approval of the Chief, to a storm sewer, combined sewer, or natural outlet.
A person may not discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public sewers:
A. 
Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid, or gas;
B. 
Any waters 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 waste treatment process, constitute a hazard to humans or animals, create a public nuisance, or create any hazard in the receiving waters of the wastewater treatment plant;
C. 
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 works; or
D. 
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 facilities, such as, but not limited to, ashes, bones, 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.
A. 
In general. The substances, materials, waters, or waste described in this section shall be limited to discharges to public systems in concentrations or quantities that will not harm either the sewers, wastewater treatment process or equipment, will not have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or will not otherwise endanger lives, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance.
B. 
Additional limitations.
(1) 
The Chief may set limitations lower than the limitations established in this section if, in the Chief's opinion more severe limitations are necessary to meet the above objectives.
(2) 
In forming an opinion as to the acceptability, the Chief will give consideration to such factors as the quantity of subject waste in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, the wastewater treatment process employed, capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, degree of treatability of the waste in the wastewater treatment plant, and other pertinent factors.
C. 
Restrictions. The limitations or restrictions on materials or characteristics of waste or wastewaters discharged to the sanitary sewer which shall not be violated without approval of the Chief are as follows:
(1) 
Wastewater having a temperature higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius);
(2) 
Wastewater containing more than 25 milligrams per liter of petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oils, or product of mineral oil origin;
(3) 
Wastewater from industrial plants containing more than 100 milligrams per liter of flotable oils, fat, or grease;
(4) 
Garbage that has not been properly shredded (Garbage grinders may be connected to sanitary sewers from homes, hotels, institutions, restaurants, hospitals, catering establishments, or similar places where garbage originates from the preparation of food in kitchens for the purpose of consumption on the premises or when served by caterers);
(5) 
Waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances to such degree that any such material received in the composite wastewater at the wastewater treatment works exceeds the limits established by the Chief for such materials;
(6) 
Waters or wastes containing odor-producing substances exceeding limits which may be established by the Chief;
(7) 
Radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by the Chief in compliance with applicable state or federal regulations;
(8) 
Quantities of flow, concentrations, or both which constitute a slug;
(9) 
Waters or wastes containing substances which are not amenable to treatment or reduction by the wastewater treatment processes employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the wastewater treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters; and
(10) 
Water or wastes which, by interaction with other water or wastes in the public sewer system, release obnoxious gases, form suspended solids which interfere with the collection system, or create a condition deleterious to structures and treatment processes.
A. 
In general. If any waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the public sewers that contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in § 24-149 of this Part 5, and which, in the judgment of the Chief, may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater facilities, processes, equipment, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the Chief may:
(1) 
Reject the wastes;
(2) 
Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers;
(3) 
Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge; or
(4) 
Require payment to cover added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under the provisions of § 24-155 of this Part 5.
B. 
Decision criteria.
(1) 
When considering the above alternatives, the Chief shall give consideration to the economic impact of each alternative on the discharger.
(2) 
If the Chief permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the design and installation of the plants and equipment shall be subject to the review and approval of the Chief.
A. 
In general.
(1) 
Grease, oil, and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the Chief, the interceptors are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing flotable grease in excessive amounts, as specified in § 24-149C(3) of this Part 5, or any flammable wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients.
(2) 
Interceptors are not required for private living quarters or dwelling units.
B. 
Type; maintenance.
(1) 
All interceptors shall be of a type and capacity approved by the Chief, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection.
(2) 
In the maintaining of interceptors, the owner shall be responsible for the proper removal and disposal by appropriate means of the captured material and shall maintain records of the dates and means of disposal which are subject to review by the Chief.
(3) 
Any removal and hauling of the collected materials not performed by the owner's personnel must be performed by currently licensed waste disposal firms.
Where pretreatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided or required for any waters or wastes, the facilities shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at the owner's expense.
When required by the Chief, the owner of any property serviced by a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable structure, together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances, in the building sewer to facilitate observation, sampling, and measurement of the wastes. The structure, when required, shall be accessibly and safely located and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the Chief. The structure 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.
A. 
In general. The Chief may require a user of sewer services to provide information needed to determine compliance with this Part 5.
B. 
Data requirements. Information required may include:
(1) 
Wastewaters discharge peak rate and over a specified time period;
(2) 
Chemical analysis of wastewaters;
(3) 
Information on raw materials, processes, and products affecting wastewater volume and quality;
(4) 
Quantity and disposition of specific liquid, sludge, oil, solvent, or other materials important to sewer use control;
(5) 
A plot plan of sewers on the user's property showing sewer and pretreatment facility location;
(6) 
Details of wastewater pretreatment facilities; and
(7) 
Details of systems to prevent and control the losses of materials through spills to the public sewer.
A. 
In general. All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this Part 5 shall be determined in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, published by the American Public Health Association.
B. 
Sampling procedures. Sampling methods, location, times, durations, and frequencies are to be determined on an individual basis subject to approval by the Chief.
No statement contained in this Article XXVI of this Part 5 shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the County and any industrial concern whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the County for treatment.