City Code (cont.)

Table of Contents

Chapters 63--65  RESERVED

Chapter 66  UTILITIES*

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*Charter references: Public ownership and operation of utilities, ch. 11.

Cross references: Buildings and building regulations, ch. 18; treatment of utilities during moving of building, § 18-38; treatment of utilities during wrecking of building, § 18-70; plumbing, § 18-131 et seq.; water softener and water filtering equipment installers, § 22-536 et seq.; sewer and water main service lateral installation, § 50-6; utilities and drainage in subdivisions, § 54-135.

State law references: Authority to build and maintain waterworks systems and sewage disposal plants, M.S.A. § 444.075.

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ARTICLE I.  IN GENERAL

Sec. 66-1.  Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Company, grantee, and franchisee means any public utility system to which a franchise has been granted by the city.

Consumer and customer means any user of a utility.

Municipal utility means any city-owned utility system, including but not by way of limitation water and sewer service.

Service means providing a particular utility to a customer or consumer.

Utility means all utility services, whether the services are city-owned facilities or furnished by public utility companies.

(Code 1980, § 3.01)

Cross references: Definitions generally, § 1-2.

Sec. 66-2.  Contractual contents of chapter.

Provisions of this chapter relating to municipal utilities shall constitute portions of the contract between the city and all consumers of municipal utility services, and every such consumer shall be deemed to assent to the contract. All future contracts between franchisees and consumers of utility services, other than municipal, shall be in strict accord with this chapter.

(Code 1980, § 3.03)

Sec. 66-3.  Ownership of municipal utilities.

Ownership of all municipal utilities, plants, lines, mains, extensions and appurtenances thereto shall be and remain in the city, and no person shall own any part or portion thereof. However, private facilities and appurtenances constructed on private property are not intended to be included in municipal ownership.

(Code 1980, § 3.20, subd. 4)

Sec. 66-4.  Right of entry.

The city has the right to enter in and upon private property, including buildings and dwelling houses, in or upon which is installed a municipal utility or connection therewith, at all times reasonable under the circumstances, for the purpose of reading utility meters, for the purpose of inspection and repair of meters or a utility system or any part thereof and for the purpose of connecting and disconnecting service.

(Code 1980, § 3.20, subd. 5)

Sec. 66-5.  Rates and charges for municipal utilities.

(a)        Fixing by resolution. All rates and charges for municipal utilities, including but not by way of limitation rates for service, permit fees, connection and meter reading fees, disconnection fees, reconnection fees including penalties for nonpayment if any, shall be fixed, determined and amended by the council and adopted by resolution. Such resolution, containing the effective date thereof, shall be kept on file and open to inspection in the office of the city clerk and shall be uniformly enforced.

(b)        Actual consumption rates.

(1)        The rate for sewer and water charged a person 65 years of age or more who is totally and permanently disabled with a total annual income, including the income of a spouse if married, below a level to be established by separate resolution of the council, shall be based on the actual consumption of water, including sewer services, if the usage is less than 1,000 cubic feet per quarter provided an affidavit described in this subsection is filed.

(2)        Such person may obtain the rate by filing at the city office an affidavit on a form furnished by the city at such place prescribed by the city manager, stating the total income received, including earned and nonearned income; social security; pension; and any other benefits received for the preceding calendar year. The reduced rate shall then be charged for each billing period commencing 30 days or more after the filing of the affidavit for the fiscal year commencing July 1 of each year. Affidavit for the continuation of the reduced rate must be filed before June 1 of each year.

(3)        The surviving spouse of a deceased individual who files an affidavit under this subsection and who has been declared an eligible recipient prior to his death shall be entitled to continue receiving the benefit of this section if under age 65.

(4)        Also eligible for this benefit are totally disabled persons meeting income provisions of this section; the term "disabled" being as defined by the social security act in force at the time the question is raised.

(Code 1980, § 3.02)

Sec. 66-6.  Billing, payment and delinquency.

All municipal utilities shall be billed monthly or as set by council resolution, and a utilities statement shall be mailed to each consumer. All utilities charges shall be delinquent if they are unpaid at the close of business on the 30th day following such billing. If the 30th day shall fall on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the time shall be extended to the close of business on the next succeeding day on which business is normally transacted. A penalty of five percent thereof shall be added to and become part of all delinquent utility bills. If service is suspended due to delinquency, it shall not be restored at that location until a reconnection charge has been paid for each utility reconnected, in addition to amounts owed for service and penalties.

(Code 1980, § 3.20, subd. 1)

Sec. 66-7.  Application, connection and sale of service.

Application for municipal utility services shall be made upon forms supplied by the city and strictly in accordance therewith. No connection shall be made until consent has been received from the city to make the connection. All municipal utilities shall be sold and delivered to consumers under the then-applicable rate applied to the amount of such utilities taken as metered or ascertained in connection with such rates.

(Code 1980, § 3.20, subd. 2)

Sec. 66-8.  Discontinuance of service.

(a)        All municipal utilities may be shut off or discontinued whenever it is found that:

(1)        The owner or occupant of the premises served or any person working on any connection with the municipal utility systems has violated any requirement of this Code relative thereto or any connection therewith;

(2)        Any charge for a municipal utility service or any other financial obligation imposed on the present owner or occupant of the premises served is unpaid after due notice and opportunity for hearing as set forth in subsection (b) of this section; or

(3)        There is fraud or misrepresentation by the owner or occupant in connection with any application for service or delivery or charges therefor.

(b)        Shutoff for nonpayment.

(1)        In any case where satisfactory arrangements for payment have not been made, the city may, after the following procedural requirements have been complied with, discontinue service to the delinquent customer by shutting off the water at the stop box. When water service to any premises has been discontinued, service shall not be restored except upon the payment of all delinquent amounts due plus a fee for disconnection and reconnection.

(2)        Water shall not be shut off under subsection (b)(1) of this section until notice and an opportunity for a hearing have first been given the occupant for the premises involved. The notice shall be mailed to the address of the occupant and shall state that if payment is not made before a date stated in the notice but not less than seven days after the date on which the notice is given, the water supply to the premises will be shut off. The notice shall clearly inform the customer of the available opportunities to present to the city his objections to the bill, and shall identify the telephone number, address and officer or employee who will handle the customer's complaint and who has the authority to review the facts and files, to correct any errors in the billing and to arrange for credit terms. The notice shall also state that the occupant may before such date demand a hearing on the matter, in which case the supply will not be cut off until after the hearing is held. If the customer requires a hearing before the date specified, a hearing shall be held on the matter by the city manager or his designee at least one week after the date on which the request is made. If as a result of the hearing, the city manager or his designee finds that the amount claimed to be owing is actually due and unpaid and that there is no legal reason why the water supply of the delinquent customer may not be shut off in accordance with this section, the city may shut off the supply.

(Code 1980, § 3.20, subd. 3)

Sec. 66-9.  Meter accuracy.

All water service shall be supplied through a meter which shall accurately measure the amount of water supplied to any consumer. The consumer shall supply a safe and proper place for the installation of such meter. Meters shall be tested for accuracy by the city upon the request of any consumer who believes his meter to be inaccurate.

(Code 1980, § 3.20, subd. 6)

Sec. 66-10.  Unlawful acts and collection of damages.

(a)        It is unlawful for any person to willfully or carelessly break, injure, mar, deface, disturb or in any way interfere with any buildings, attachments, machinery, apparatus, paving over, equipment, fixture or appurtenance of any municipal utility or municipal utility system or commit any act tending to obstruct or impair the use of any municipal utility. Anyone intentionally causing such damage shall pay the reasonable value thereof to the city, including labor for renewal and installation of any equipment, and shall be, in effect, an insurer of any equipment in his possession or with which he comes in contact.

(b)        It is unlawful for any person to make any connection with, to make any opening into, to use or to alter in any way any municipal utility system without first having applied for and received written permission from the city.

(c)        It is unlawful for any person to turn on or connect a utility when the utility has been turned off or disconnected by the city for nonpayment of a bill or for any other reason.

(d)        It is unlawful for any person to "jumper" or by any means or device fully or partially circumvent a municipal utility meter or to knowingly use or consume unmetered utilities or use the services of any utility system, the use of which the proper billing authorities have no knowledge.

(Code 1980, § 3.20, subd. 7)

Sec. 66-11.  Lien for municipal utility charges.

(a)        Payment for service and charges provided for municipal utilities shall be the primary responsibility of the owner of the premises served and shall be billed to him unless otherwise authorized in writing by the tenant and owner and consented to by the city. The city may collect the charges in a civil action or, in the alternative and at the option of the city, as otherwise provided in this section.

(b)        Each such charge is made a lien upon the premises served. All such charges which are, on September 30 of each year, more than 30 days past due may be certified by the city clerk to the county auditor between October 1 and 10 of each year, and the city clerk in so certifying such charges to the county Auditor shall specify the amount thereof, the description of the premises served and the name of the owner thereof. The amount so certified shall be extended by the auditor on the tax rolls against such premises in the same manner as other taxes and collected by the county treasurer and paid to the city along with other taxes.

(Code 1980, § 3.20, subd. 8)

Sec. 66-12.  Connection or tapping prohibited if assessments or charges delinquent.

No permit shall be granted to tap or connect with sewer or water mains when any assessment or connection charge for such sewer or water main against the property to be connected is in default or delinquent. If such assessment or connection charges are payable in installments, no permit shall be granted unless all installments then due and payable have been paid.

(Code 1980, § 3.21)

Secs. 66-13--66-40.  Reserved.

ARTICLE II.  WATER SERVICE

Sec. 66-41.  Plumbing code compliance.

All piping, connections and appurtenances for water service shall be installed and performed strictly in accordance with the state plumbing code. Failure to install or maintain the piping, connections and appurtenances in accordance therewith or failure to have or permit required inspections shall, upon discovery by the city, be an additional ground for termination of water service to any consumer.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 22)

Sec. 66-42.  Criteria for providing service.

Water service shall be furnished only after proper application has been made and connection fees paid in full.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 23)

Sec. 66-43.  Applications.

All applications for the introduction of water into any premises or for the extension of any water pipe shall be made by the owner or by some person duly authorized in writing by the owner. The application shall state all the purposes for which water is required and the number and size of the taps and water meters.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 6)

Sec. 66-44.  Permit.

The applicant for water service shall agree to be bound by such rules governing the use of water as may be in force. Upon payment to the city of the cost of making the tap and putting in the corporation cock and the cost of a meter for a new service, the building inspector shall issue a permit directing the utilities superintendent, upon receipt of the permit properly filled out and accompanied by a street opening permit from the city engineer, to tap the water main and let a duly authorized person make the desired connection to the corporation cock. When work is not started within 30 days after the issuance of any permit called for in this section, such permit shall become void and shall be returned for cancellation. Street opening permits shall be taken out on the same day that the connecting permit is issued. A connecting permit shall be required even though no tap is necessary when the service is already stubbed into the boulevard or property.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 7)

Sec. 66-45.  Meters.

(a)        All water meters are to be set and removed by utilities department personnel only. Plumbers shall provide piping and a valve on each side of the meter for a proper setting in accordance with utilities department regulations and shall notify the utilities department that the installation is ready for meter setting. No plumber shall supply or set a jumper or piece of pipe for the purpose of supplying water across a meter setting. A plumber may put in a jumper for purposes of pipe testing only, which shall be removed as soon as the test is completed. No such jumper shall be left in place for testing purposes during any period that he or his employees are not on the job.

(b)        On a new service or an increase or decrease in size of a service, a meter charge shall be made to cover the cost of the meter and handling. The meter when placed in service shall be the property of the utilities department, and the utilities department shall be responsible for maintenance and repair of the meter. However, any installed meter allowed to freeze or through which steam or hot water has run and it has been damaged thereby or any meter that is tampered with, physically damaged or mistreated in an installed service shall be repaired or replaced by the utilities department and charged to the property served. Such repair or replacement may be added to the water bill and, if delinquent, shall be collected in the same manner as delinquent water bills. The utilities department shall pay the cost of replacement of a water meter when such meter in service becomes uneconomical to repair due to normal wear and use.

(c)        The utilities superintendent shall have the right to require an owner to purchase a larger meter if the use through the meter is so great as to cause undue meter wear and is beyond the normal water capacity. When a larger meter is necessary on an existing service, the utilities superintendent may allow an equivalent credit for the old meter based on the cost of that size meter at the time of change and on straight line depreciation over a 20-year life expectancy.

(d)        All meters through which city water is supplied shall be installed by a plumber or qualified person in a frost-free location, inside of the building in which such water is used and in such place as to be satisfactory to the utilities superintendent. Meters shall be in such location and condition as to be accessible for reading or repair at all reasonable times. Meters otherwise placed shall be subject to change or removal upon order of the utilities superintendent.

(e)        Consumers or building owners wanting to reduce the size of the original water meter for the purpose of cutting down the standby water and sewer user charges shall pay a meter charge to cover the cost of the meter and handling. The property owner shall also be responsible for having a plumber make changes to the meter setting to accommodate the smaller meter. The utilities superintendent may allow credit for the original meter based on the cost of that size meter at the time of change. The credit shall be based on a straight line depreciation using a life expectancy of 20 years.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subds. 10, 12)

Sec. 66-46.  Auxiliary meters.

The utilities superintendent may allow the installation of submeters or auxiliary meters to meter water being discharged to storm drainage facilities or to meter water to various tenants or uses within a building. Such meters shall be owned, maintained, repaired and replaced if necessary by the property owner. Only one billing will be made on a master meter, and the owner will be responsible for splitting any bills based on auxiliary meters. The city assumes no responsibility for the reading of auxiliary meters. A charge in an amount adopted by resolution of the council shall be added to each quarterly bill for reading an auxiliary meter for water use and computing a split in a water or sewer bill. Within a multiuse building, a master meter is not required, provided a manifold and individual meters are placed for each family, unit or use; in which case, the normal water and sewer rate shall apply to each family, unit or use, and individual billing shall be made to the owner for each unit or use. The provisions regarding original meter, maintenance and replacement shall apply the same as for an individual service. Each condominium and townhouse unit shall have a separate water service line for each water meter.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 11)

Sec. 66-47.  Deficiency of water and shutting off water.

The city is not liable for any deficiency or failure in the supply of water to customers, whether occasioned by shutting the water off for the purpose of making repairs or connections or by any other cause whatever. In case of fire or alarm of fire, water may be shut off to ensure a supply for firefighting. In making repairs or construction of new works, water may be shut off at any time and kept off as long as may be necessary to complete repairs or make temporary extensions in construction of new works.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 1)

Sec. 66-48.  Repair of leaks.

It is the responsibility of the consumer or owner to maintain the water service pipe from the curb stop into the house or other building. If any consumer or owner fails to repair any leak occurring in his service pipe within 24 hours after oral or written notice has been given to the owner or occupant of the premises, the water may be shut off and will not be turned on until a reconnection charge has been paid and the water service has been repaired. When the waste of water is great or when damage is likely to result from the leak, the water shall be turned off if the repair is not begun immediately.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 2)

Sec. 66-49.  Abandoned services penalties.

All service installations connected to the water system that have been abandoned or, for any reason, have become useless for further service shall be disconnected at the main. The owner of the premises, served by this service, shall pay the cost of the excavation and disconnect. The city shall perform the actual disconnection, and all pipe and appurtenances removed from the street right-of-way shall become the property of the city. When new buildings are erected on the site of old ones and it is desired to increase the size of the water service, a new permit shall be taken out and the regular tapping charge shall be made as if this were a new service. It is unlawful for any person to cause or allow any service pipe to be hammered or squeezed together at the ends to stop the flow of water or to save expense in improperly removing such pipe from the main. Also, such improper disposition thereof shall be corrected by the city, and the cost incurred shall be borne by the person causing or allowing such work to be performed.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 3)

Sec. 66-50.  Service pipes.

Every water service pipe must be laid in such manner as to prevent rupture by settlement. The service pipe shall be placed not less than seven feet below the surface and in all cases so arranged as to prevent rupture and stoppage by freezing. Frozen service pipes between the curb stop and the building shall be the responsibility of the owner. Service pipes must extend from the curb stops to the inside of the building or if not taken into a building then to the hydrant or other fixtures which they are intended to supply. A valve, the same size as the service pipe, shall be placed close to the inside wall of the building, ahead of the meter and well-protected from freezing. Joints on copper tubing shall be flared or approved compression connections and kept to a minimum. Not more than one joint shall be used for a service up to 70 feet in length. All joints shall be left uncovered until inspected. Minimum size connection with the water mains shall be three-fourths inch in diameter.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 4)

Sec. 66-51.  Cross connections prohibited.

Cross connections between the city water system and other systems or equipment containing water or other substances of unknown or questionable safety are prohibited, except when and where, as approved by the city engineer and utilities superintendent, suitable protective devices such as break tanks, reduced pressure zone backflow preventers or their equal are installed, tested and maintained to ensure proper operation on a continuing basis. Such protective devices may be required on any water service when, in the opinion of the city engineer and utilities superintendent, a condition exists that could result in the backsiphoning into the water system of any water or other substance of unknown or questionable safety. When cross connections are found to exist, the city will notify the owner to disconnect the connection, and if not done immediately, the city water supply shall be turned off forthwith and it shall remain off until the cross connection is removed and the fittings sealed so as to prevent reconnection after service is restored. Before any new connection to the city system is permitted, the utilities department shall ascertain that no cross connection will exist when the new connection is made.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 5)

Sec. 66-52.  Turn-on or turnoff.

It is unlawful for any person other than an authorized employee of the utilities department to turn on or shut off water at the stop box from the supply to the building except that a licensed plumber may turn on or shut off water at the stop box when making repairs to a service line. No person other than utilities department employees shall initiate service to any building, and all new service lines shall be shut off when completed with water turn-on or service to be started only by the utilities department. The initial cost of the water service line from the supply to any building is the responsibility of the person desiring the service installed. After installation the utilities department will maintain, repair and replace as necessary the line within public right-of-way to the stop box, the shutoff or curb stops and the stop box. The utilities department will, without charge, locate boxes and adjust them to any change in grade.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 8)

Sec. 66-53.  Responsibility of owner for multiple tenants.

When water service pipes are intended to supply two or more occupants, families or tenants in any building, store or apartment house, the application shall be made by the owner or person controlling such and who shall pay the water rent for all such occupants, families or tenants.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 9)

Sec. 66-54.  Water supplied to other persons.

It is unlawful for the occupant or owner of any premises to which water is supplied to allow or permit water to be supplied to other persons or families or permit water to be taken. Any consumer violating this section shall be charged double the usual rate for each person or family so furnished with water, and if the extra charge is not paid upon demand the water will be cut off from his premises.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 13)

Sec. 66-55.  Temporary uses.

A person desiring to use city water from the system for temporary purposes shall make application to the utilities superintendent who may grant a permit for such purpose. The person making application shall pay the expense of any necessary hookup, metering device and personnel costs in addition to the cost of the water used. The person granted the permit shall guard against the use of water by himself or others for any purpose other than that stated in the permit, and failure to do so shall result in revocation of the permit.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 14)

Sec. 66-56.  Tapping of mains.

The city will tap the mains and auxiliary mains after the excavation therefor shall have been made and shall put in the corporation cock at cost plus the normal overhead charge as established.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 15)

Sec. 66-57.  Sale to nonresidents.

The city may sell water to persons outside of the limits of the city, as fixed and determined by the Charter.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 16)

Sec. 66-58.  Service pipes.

Along streets where water mains are laid, service pipes will not be allowed to run from one lot to another, but must be taken from the mains in front of the premises or some point in the street adjacent to the premises.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 17)

Sec. 66-59.  Restricted hours for sprinkling.

Whenever the city shall determine that a shortage of water threatens the city, it may limit the frequency and hours during which water may be used from the city water system for lawn and garden sprinkling, irrigation, car washing, air conditioning and other uses. It is unlawful for any water consumer to cause or permit water to be used in violation of such determination after public announcement thereof has been made through the news media specifically indicating the restrictions thereof.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 18)

Sec. 66-60.  Private fire suppression systems.

An owner of a structure with a self-contained fire protection system may apply for and obtain permission to connect street water mains with hydrants, large pipes and hose couplings, for use in case of fire only, at his own installation expense.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 19)

Sec. 66-61.  Opening hydrants.

It is unlawful for any person, other than a member of the fire department or other person duly authorized by the city, in pursuance of lawful purpose, to open any fire hydrant or attempt to draw water from the hydrant or in any manner interfere therewith. It is also unlawful for any person so authorized to deliver or suffer to be delivered to any other person any hydrant key or wrench, except for the purposes strictly pertaining to its lawful use.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 20)

Sec. 66-62.  Unmetered service.

Unmetered water service may be provided for construction, flooding skating rinks and any other purpose. Such service shall be at a duly adopted rate. Where it is difficult or impossible to accurately measure the amount of water taken, unmetered service may be provided and the unmetered rate applied; provided, however, that by acceptance thereof the consumer agrees to have the city estimate the water used. In so estimating the city shall consider the use to which the water is put and the length of time of unmetered service.

(Code 1980, § 3.40, subd. 21)

Secs. 66-63--66-90.  Reserved.

ARTICLE III.  SEWER SERVICE

Sec. 66-91.  Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Act means The Clean Water Act (33 USC 1251 et seq., as amended).

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) means:

(1)        The quantity of oxygen used in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter in a specified time, at a specified temperature, and under specified conditions.

(2)        A standard test used in assessing wastewater strength.

Building sewer means the extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal, sometimes called the house connection or service connection.

Capital costs means all costs and expenses incurred in planning, designing, financing and constructing wastewater collection, conveyance and treatment works.

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) means a measure of the oxygen equivalent of that portion of organic matter that is susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant, using EPA approved laboratory procedures.

Combined sewer means a sewer intended to serve as a sanitary sewer and a storm sewer or as an industrial sewer and a storm sewer.

Commercial users means all users of the system classified as industrial users in the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, 1972, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, as amended and supplemented under divisions A, B, D, E, and I, but who are excluded from such definition for the purposes of this article because they discharge primarily segregated domestic wastes or wastes from sanitary conveniences, except that the classification shall not include such exempted users who are otherwise classified in this article as domestic users, governmental users or institutional users.

Construction means any one or more of the following: preliminary planning to determine the feasibility of treatment works, engineering, architectural, legal, fiscal, or economic investigations or studies; surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures, or other necessary actions; erection, building, acquisition, alteration, remodeling, improvement or extension of treatment works; or the inspection or supervision of any of such items.

Contract user means any user who has a special contract or agreement with the city which allows discharge of wastes into the city's sewer system.

Debt retirement costs means the combined principal and interest payments necessary to pay bonded indebtedness.

Director means the city director of public works or the person's duly authorized representative.

Domestic user means an establishment of which its related occupants, if any, are usually considered a domestic service and whose discharge consists solely of sanitary needs.

Domestic wastewater means wastewater derived principally from dwellings due to domestic activities. It may or may not contain groundwater, surface water or stormwater.

Flow means the quantity of sewage expressed in gallons or cubic feet per 24 hours.

Garbage means discarded material resulting from the handling, processing, storage, preparation, serving and consumption of food.

General municipal user means any user discharging sewage to the general municipal flow other than industrial users, municipalities and other contract users. This category of user includes as subcategories: domestic users, commercial users, institutional users, and governmental users which are not contract users.

Governmental user means an establishment whose function is the administration or execution of governmental programs as well as the offices of executives, legislative bodies and agencies which provide general support services for government.

Grantee means any municipality which has been awarded a grant for construction of a treatment works; in this instance, the city.

Industrial user means a person who discharges to the city's wastewater disposal system liquid wastes resulting from the processes employed in industrial, manufacturing, trade or business establishments or from the development of any natural resource.

Industrial wastes means the liquid wastes from industrial processes, as distinct from domestic or sanitary wastes. Any waste that is transported by a liquid waste hauler and disposed into public sewers is industrial wastes. Any leachate or contaminated groundwater disposed into public sewers is industrial waste.

Infiltration means the water entering a sewer system, including sewer service connections, from the ground, through such means as but not limited to defective pipes, pipe joints, connections or manhole walls. Infiltration does not include and is distinguished from inflow.

Infiltration/inflow means the total quantity of water from both infiltration and inflow without distinguishing the source.

Inflow means the water discharged into a sewer system, including service connections from such sources as but not limited to roof leaders; cellar, yard and area drains; foundation drains; cooling water discharges; drains from springs and swampy areas; manhole covers; cross connections from storm sewers and combined sewers; catch basins; stormwaters; surface runoff; street washwaters; or drainage. Inflow does not include and is distinguished from infiltration.

Institutional user means an establishment engaged in activities of a noneconomic nature, frequently being the performance of services for the general public (health, education, social) and not classified as a governmental or commercial user in this article.

Interceptor sewer means a sewer for which the primary purpose is to transport or convey wastewaters from collector sewers to a treatment facility.

Interference means the inhibition or disruption of the city's wastewater disposal system processes or operations which causes or significantly contributes to a violation of any requirement of the city's NPDES or state disposal system (SDS) permit. The term includes prevention of sewage sludge use or disposal by the city in accordance with published regulations providing guidelines under section 405 of the act (33 USC 1251 et seq.) or any regulations developed pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, or more stringent state criteria applicable to the method of disposal or use employed by the city.

Leachate means wastewater resulting from the percolation of rainwater and internal liquids through the deposited material in a solid waste disposal facility.

Liquid waste hauler means any person who transports waste for the purpose of discharge into public sewers.

Load means quantities of sewage characteristics such as BOD, TSS and other constituents as expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/l) or pounds per 24 hours (lbs./24 hours).

Load charge means a treatment charge assessed by the city to liquid waste haulers based on waste volume and strength.

Monitoring means the measurement, sometimes continuous, of water quality.

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit or NPDES permit means the system for issuing, conditioning and denying permits for the discharge of pollutants from point sources into the navigable waters, the contiguous zone, and the oceans by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to sections 402 and 405 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendment 1972.

Natural outlet means any outlet into a watercourse, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface water or groundwater.

Noncontact cooling water means water used for cooling purposes that does not contact raw materials, work pieces or a finished product. Noncontact cooling water discharged to public sewers is industrial waste.

Operation and maintenance costs (O & M costs) means the expenses related to the costs of the operation, maintenance, replacement and administration of the total treatment works or system.

pH means the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.

Pass through means a discharge of sewered pollutants that flows from the city's treatment plant into the receiving stream in quantities or concentrations that, alone or in conjunction with a discharge from other sources, is a cause of a violation of any requirement of the plant's NPDES/SDS permit, including an increase in the magnitude or duration of a violation.

Pretreatment means the application of physical, chemical and biological processes to reduce the amount of pollutants in or alter the nature of the pollutant properties in a wastewater prior to discharging such wastewater into the publicly owned wastewater treatment system.

Pretreatment solids means any materials that are formed, concentrated or removed by pretreatment performed by any person.

Process water means any water used in the manufacturing, preparation or production of goods, materials or food. Process water is an industrial waste.

Public sewer means any sewer owned or operated by a unit or agency of government.

Replacement means expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the treatment works to maintain the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed. The term "operation and maintenance" includes replacement.

Sanitary sewer means a sewer intended to carry only sanitary or sanitary and industrial wastewaters from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions.

Sanitary wastes means the liquid and water-carried wastes discharged from sanitary plumbing facilities.

Severe property damage means substantial physical damage to property, damage to the treatment facilities which causes them to become inoperable or substantial and permanent loss of natural resources which can reasonably be expected to occur in the absence of a bypass. Severe property damage does not mean economic loss caused by delays in production.

Sewage or wastewater means the water-carried waste products from residences, public buildings, institutions, industrial establishments or other buildings, including the excrementitious or other discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals, together with such groundwater infiltration and stormwater and surface water as may be present.

Sewage collection system means each and all of the common lateral sewers within a publicly owned treatment system which are primarily installed to receive wastewaters directly from facilities which convey wastewater from individual structures or from private property and which includes service connection Y-fittings designed for connection with those facilities. The facilities which convey wastewater from individual structures, from private property to the public lateral sewer or its equivalent are specifically excluded from the definition, with the exception of pumping units and pressurized lines, for individual structures or groups of structures when such units are cost effective and are owned and maintained by the grantee.

Sewer means a pipe or conduit for carrying sewage, industrial waste or other waste liquids.

Sewer system means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations, force mains and all other devices and appliances appurtenant thereto used for collecting or conducting sewage, industrial wastes or other wastes to a point of ultimate disposal.

Significant industrial user means:

(1)        All industrial users subject to the national categorical standards found in section 66-97.

(2)        Any other industrial user that:

a.         Discharges an average of 25,000 gallons per day or more of process wastewater to the city's wastewater treatment system, excluding sanitary, noncontact cooling and boiler blowdown wastewater;

b.         Contributes a process waste stream which makes up five percent or more of the average dry weather hydraulic or organic capacity of the treatment facility; or

c.         Is designated by the city as having a reasonable potential for adversely affecting the city's wastewater treatment system or violating the city's pretreatment standards.

(3)        Upon finding that an industrial user meeting the criteria in subsection (2) of this definition has no reasonable potential for affecting the treatment plant's operation or violating any pretreatment standard, the city may, at any time on its own initiative or in response to a petition received from an industry, determine that such industry is not a significant industrial user.

Slug means any discharge of water, wastewater 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 24-hour concentration of flows during the normal operation.

Storm sewer (storm drain) means a sewer which carries stormwater and surface water and drainage, but excludes sewage and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling or process water.

Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) means the sum of free-ammonia and organic nitrogen compounds which are converted to ammonium sulfate under the conditions of laboratory digestion and determined in accordance with the latest edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.

Total suspended solids (TSS) means the residue material from a wastewater sample after filtration, using EPA-approved laboratory procedures.

Treatment works means any devices and systems for the storage, treatment, recycling, and reclamation of municipal sewage, domestic sewage or liquid industrial wastes used to implement section 201 of the act or necessary to recycle or reuse water at the most economical cost over the useful life of the works. These include intercepting sewers, outfall sewers, sewage collection systems, individual systems, pumping power and other equipment and their appurtenances; extensions, improvement, remodeling, additions and alterations thereof; elements essential to provide a reliable recycled supply such as standby treatment units and clear well facilities; and any works, including site acquisition of the land, that will be an integral part of the treatment process or used for ultimate disposal of residues resulting from such treatment, including land for composting sludge, temporary storage of such compost and land used for the storage of treated wastewater in land treatment systems before land application; or any other method or system for preventing, abating, reducing, storing, treating, separating or disposing of municipal waste or industrial waste, including waste in combined stormwater and sanitary sewer systems.

Useful life means the estimated period during which a treatment works will be operated.

User means any person discharging sewage into the disposal system.

User charge means a charge levied on users of a treatment works or that portion of the ad valorem taxes paid by a user for the user's proportionate share of the cost of operation and maintenance, including replacement, of such works.

(Code 1980, § 3.60, subd. 1)

Cross references: Definitions generally, § 1-2.

Sec. 66-92.  Enforcement

(a)        Slugs or accidental discharges. Under this article, enforcement procedures of violations for slugs or accidental discharges shall be as follows:

(1)        The city manager may suspend the wastewater treatment service of a user and a wastewater discharge permit, after informal notice of the discharge, when such suspension is necessary, in the opinion of the city manager, in order to stop an actual or threatened discharge which presents or may present an imminent or substantial endangerment to the health or welfare of persons, to the environment or to the wastewater disposal system, or which would cause a violation of the treatment plant's NPDES or state disposal system (SDS) permit.

(2)        Any user notified of a suspension of the wastewater treatment service or wastewater discharge permit must immediately stop the discharge. If the user fails to comply voluntarily with the suspension order, the city manager will take such steps as deemed necessary, including immediate severance of the sewer connection, to prevent or minimize damage to the wastewater disposal system or endangerment to any individuals. The city manager will reinstate after the elimination of the noncomplying discharge. A detailed written statement submitted by the user describing the causes of the slug or accidental discharge and the measures taken to prevent any future occurrence will be submitted to the city manager within 15 days of the date of occurrence.

(b)        Revocation of permit. In accordance with the procedures of this section, the city manager may revoke the permit of any user which fails to factually report the wastewater constituents and characteristics of discharge; which fails to report significant changes in wastewater constituents or characteristics; which refuses reasonable access to the user's premises for the purpose of inspection or monitoring; or which is in violation of conditions of its permit, regulations of this Code or applicable state and federal regulations.

(c)        Notification of violation. Whenever the city manager finds that any person has violated or is violating this Code, the wastewater discharge permit or any prohibition, limitation or requirement contained in this article, the city manager may serve upon such a person a written notice stating the nature of the violation and directing that corrective action be taken within 30 days or that the user show cause before the city council why wastewater treatment service of the user should not be revoked. The notice will be served upon the user personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, not less than 30 days before the hearing.

(d)        Show cause hearings.

(1)        Time. The hearing provided in this section may be held at a regular scheduled meeting of the city council or at a special meeting called for that purpose.

(2)        Recording. Any hearing held pursuant to this section will be recorded, and a transcript will be made available to any member of the public or any party to the hearing upon payment of the usual charges.

(3)        Procedure. The city council may issue notices requesting the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the protection of evidence relevant to the matter involved in such hearings, and may continue the hearing from time to time as may be necessary to allow for the production of evidence or witnesses.

(4)        Issuance of orders. After review of the evidence presented at a hearing, the city council may issue an order to the user directing that sewer service be discontinued and directing the city staff to disconnect such service if the order is not complied with in a stated time. The city council may, in its discretion, allow the user such time as it deems reasonable to correct any violation found.

(5)        Rehearing. Any party aggrieved by a decision or an order issued pursuant to this section may file a written petition with the city clerk requesting a rehearing by the city council. The petition must specify in detail every ground or basis on which objection is made, together with the factual basis therefor, and the relief sought. The petition must be served within 15 days of service of the decision or order of the council and must set forth the name and address of the aggrieved party's attorney or spokesman. The filing of a petition in accordance with this subsection will stay all proceedings unless the city manager certifies, in writing, within 72 hours after the filing of a petition, a certificate stating that a delay would cause peril to life or property or specifying other good reasons. Upon consideration of the petition and the matters set forth therein, the city council may grant the relief requested in whole or in part, may order the hearing reopened for further evidence or it may deny the petition and reinstate the order or decision.

(6)        Appeal. A final decision or order of the city council may be appealed to the district court within 30 days of service thereof on a party.

(e)        Annual publication. A list of the users that were significantly violating applicable pretreatment requirements or national categorical pretreatment standards during the 12 previous months will be annually published by the city in a local newspaper. The notification will also summarize any enforcement actions taken against the users during the same 12 months. For the purposes of this subsection, significant violations would be those violations which remain uncorrected 45 days after notification of noncompliance, which are part of a pattern of noncompliance over a 12-month period, which involve a failure to accurately report compliance or which resulted in the city exercising its emergency authority as outlined in subsection (a) of this section.

(Code 1980, § 3.60, subd. 6)

Sec. 66-93.  Violations and penalties.

(a)        Generally. Every person who violates a section of this article, when that person performs an act prohibited or declared unlawful, upon conviction, will be punished as for a misdemeanor in accordance with section 1-13, except as otherwise stated in this article.

(b)        Criminal penalties.

(1)        Any person who wilfully or negligently violates any provision of this article on condition of any permit issued by the city, including discharging waste in violation of any city order, prohibition, discharge limitation or pretreatment standard, or any person who continues such violation beyond the time limit provided for in the city manager's written notice of violation will be fined not less than $50.00 or more than $1,000.00 for each offense. Each day on which a violation will occur or continue will be deemed a separate and distinct offense. In addition to the penalties provided in this subsection, the city may recover reasonable attorneys' fees, court costs, court reporters' fees, and other expenses of litigation by an appropriate action against the person found to have violated this article or the orders, rules, regulations and permits issued under this article.

(2)        Any person who knowingly makes any false statement or representation in any record, report, plan or other document filed with the city or who falsifies, tampers with or renders inaccurate any monitoring device or method required under this article or any permit issued by the city under this article will be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(c)        Cost of damage. Any user violating any of the provisions of this article or who has a discharge which causes a deposit, obstruction, damage or other impairment to the city's wastewater disposal system will become liable to the city for any expense, loss or damage caused by the violation or discharge. The city manager may add to the user's charges and fees the costs assessed for any cleaning, repair or replacement work caused by the violation or discharge. Any refusal to pay the assessed costs will constitute a violation of this article.

(Code 1980, §§ 3.60, subd. 7, 3.99)

Sec. 66-94.  Confidential information.

(a)        Information and data on a user obtained from applications, permits, monitoring programs and inspections is subject to release to the public and other government agencies as permitted under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. That information which constitutes trade secret information as defined by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act will remain nonpublic data with regards to data not on individuals and private data with regards to data on individuals as prescribed by the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.

(b)        When requested by the person furnishing a report and until such time as the information is determined not to be confidential, the portions of a report which might disclose trade secrets processes will not be made available for inspection by the public but will be made available upon written request to governmental agencies for uses related to this article, the NPDES permit, state disposal system permit (SDS) and/or the pretreatment programs; provided, however, that such portions of a report will be available for use by the state or any state agency in judicial review or enforcement proceedings involving the person furnishing the report. Wastewater constituents and characteristics will not be recognized as confidential information. Information accepted by the city manager as confidential will not be transmitted to any governmental agency or to the general public by the city manager until and unless a ten-day notification is given to the user.

(Code 1980, § 3.60, subd. 4(C))

Sec. 66-95.  Use of public sewers

(a)        It is unlawful to discharge to any natural outlet within the city limits or city jurisdiction any sewage or other polluted waters, except where suitable treatment has been provided in accordance with this article.

(b)        It is unlawful to either construct, maintain, use or permit to be used any cesspool, privy or privy vault on any part of any lot or parcel of land in the city abutting both on a public sanitary sewer and a water main with which water and sewer connections may be made, if the privy, privy vault or cesspool shall be within 500 feet of the public sanitary sewer and also within 500 feet of the water mains.

(c)        No person will construct or erect any privy, privy vault or cesspool upon or in any premises in the city abutting upon any public highways or public grounds in which a water main and a sanitary sewer have been laid, with which water and sewer connections may be made, if the privy, privy vault or cesspool is within 500 feet of both the water main and the sanitary sewer.

(d)        No person will maintain, use or permit to be used as such any cesspool, privy, privy vault in or on any premises either owned or controlled by him in the city, if such premises are so located that water and sewer connections may be made with a water main and a sanitary sewer in any abutting public highway or public grounds and if the privy, privy vault or cesspool is within 500 feet of both the water main and the sanitary sewer.

(e)        Whenever any privy, privy vault or cesspool is either erected, constructed or used contrary to the provisions of this article on any premises in the city, the water supply from the city waterworks thereto shall be promptly stopped and will remain cut off until the city manager is satisfied that such violation of this article has ceased and until the expense of turning off and turning on the water has been paid, together with whatever fine for violation of this article may be assessed.

(f)         The city manager will have power, whenever there is both a public sewer and a water main in the public highways or grounds upon which any premises in the city abuts, to cause the owner or occupant of such parcel of land to connect the premises with the public sewer of a sufficient sanitary sewer or stormwater sewer or both whenever, in his opinion, such may be necessary for the preservation of the public health. The city manager will serve upon such owner or occupant ten days' notice in writing specifying the time when such sewer connection must be made and completed. If the owner or occupant neglects to complete the connection within the time specified, in addition to the penalties imposed for a violation of this article, the council may cause it to be done and will either recover the whole amount of the expense thereof by an action against the owner, in the name of the city, before any court having jurisdiction thereof, or assess the amount against the premises.

(g)        Where preliminary treatment facilities are required or provided for any wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in effective operation by the sewage user at the user's expense. Failure to do so may void the right of the sewer system user, and the city reserves the right to discontinue service.

(h)        The sewer utility may, as a condition of service, require a control manhole built on the building sewer at the owner's expense to facilitate observation, sampling, inspection and measurement of wastes. Such manhole when required must be accessible, safely located and built in accordance with city standards for sewer manholes. The necessity of a control manhole will be based on sewage volume, whether it is a processing waste or an industrial waste and whether the waste requires control within the operation to meet acceptable conditions for discharge to the sewer system.

(i)         Nothing within this article will be interpreted to require the service of sewage wastes at published sewer rates when such wastes may impair the system or cause a higher-than normal expense in operation of the sewer system, nor will this article be interpreted to prohibit the handling of deleterious wastes, requirements for pretreatment or sewer service rates higher than published rates on an agreement basis. Such agreements may be approved by the council after considering the problems in handling, the effect on the sewer system, and the cost of handling the waste. No special agreements may be issued to allow an industrial user to discharge pollutants which would violate federal or state regulations or would cause the city's wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) to violate its NPDES permit limits.

(j)         The director of public works and other duly authorized city employees bearing proper identification shall at reasonable times be permitted to enter upon property served by sanitary sewers for the purpose of inspection, measurement, sampling and testing in connection with operation of the sewer system. The city shall be permitted to inspect and copy records which are required to be maintained by industrial users.

(k)        Contractors employed on city contracts, plumbers and other persons engaged in construction or maintenance activity where there is connection to or danger of damage to the sewer system will exercise particular care to protect the sewer system and will at all times protect, keep foreign materials out, and accomplish construction or connection in a neat and workmanlike manner. Failure to do so shall be a violation of this article and will not stop the city from correcting the damage or removing the foreign material, if necessary on an overtime basis, and collecting the costs therefor. For other than immediate necessary repair or removal, a five-day written notice will be deemed adequate notice to the party to repair damage, correct faulty construction or remove material from the sewer system.

(l)         No roof, groundwater or surface water drains will be connected to the sanitary sewer system of the city. Water used for cooling and condenser purposes which does not exceed 25 parts per million BOD and other industrial or domestic water which does not contain discoloration, harmful chemicals, sediment, solids, noxious odors and does not exceed 25 parts per million BOD may be discharged directly into the city storm sewer system and if metered may be deducted from any sanitary sewer charge within 30 days, any person having a roof or groundwater or surface water drain now connected with the sanitary sewer system will disconnect the same. The opening in the sanitary sewer must be closed in an effective, watertight, workmanlike manner.

(m)      Entrance into sewer manholes or openings for any purpose whatever except by the city manager or other city employees or their agents is strictly prohibited.

(Code 1980, § 3.60, subd. 2)

Sec. 66-96.  Prohibited discharges.

(a)        Under this article, it is unlawful to deposit or discharge any of the following waters, solids, fluids, materials or wastes into the municipal sanitary sewer system:

(1)        Any liquids, solids or gases which because of their nature or quantity are or may be sufficient, either alone or by interaction with other substances, to cause fire or explosion hazard, including but not limited to waste streams with a closed cup flashpoint of less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or be injurious in any other way to the wastewater disposal system 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 system or at any point in the system, be more than five percent nor any single reading over ten percent of the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the meter. Prohibited materials include but are not limited to gasoline, kerosene, naphtha, benzene, toluene, xylene, ethers, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, bromates, carbides, hydrides and sulfides.

(2)        Solid or viscous substances which will or may cause obstruction to the flow in a sewer or other interference with the operation to the flow in a sewer or other interferences with the operation of the wastewater treatment facilities, such as but not limited to grease, 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, gas, tar, asphalt residues, residues from refining or processing of fuel or lubricating oil, mud or glass grindings, or polishing wastes.

(3)        Any garbage, either household or commercial, that has not been shredded so that the garbage particles are smaller than three-eighths inch in their largest dimension. Adequate water flow volume to wash such garbage through the sewers must be provided.

(4)        Any wastes having a pH value of lower than 5.0 or higher than 11.0 or having corrosive properties causing damage to the sewer system or personnel of the sewer utility.

(5)        Any wastewater containing toxic pollutants in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other pollutants, to inhibit or disrupt any wastewater treatment process, to constitute a hazard to humans or animals, or to create a toxic effect in the receiving waters of the wastewater disposal system. A toxic pollutant will include but not be limited to any pollutant identified pursuant to section 307(a) of the act.

(6)        Any noxious or malodorous liquids, gases or solids which, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, are capable of creating a public nuisance or hazard to life or are sufficient to prevent entry into the sewers for their maintenance and repair.

(7)        Any wastewater with objectionable color not removed in the treatment process such as but not limited to dye waste and vegetable tanning solutions.

(8)        Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 80 degrees Celsius. In no case will the temperature of an industrial discharge cause the treatment plant influent to exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

(9)        Any slug load, which will mean any pollutant, including oxygen demanding pollutants (BOD, etc.), released in a discharge of such volume or strength as to cause inhibition or disruption in the wastewater disposal system. In no case will a slug load have a flow rate or contain concentrations or quantities of pollutants that exceed for any time period longer than 15 minutes more than five times the average 24-hour concentrations, quantities or flow of the user during normal operation.

(10)      Noncontact cooling water, any roof water, groundwater or surface water or means of introducing such waters into the sewer system.

(11)      Any wastewater containing fats, wax, grease, or oils of animal or vegetable origin, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 300 mg/l, that will or is likely to solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 0 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius and which will or is likely to cause obstruction to the flow in the sewers or other interference to the collection, pumping or wastewater treatment systems, and any wastewater containing oil and grease concentrations of mineral origin of greater than 100 mg/l, whether emulsified or not.

(12)      Wastewater containing inert suspended solids such as but not limited to fullers earth, lime slurries, and lime residues or of dissolved solids such as but not limited to sodium chloride and sodium sulfate in such quantities that they would cause disruption with the wastewater disposal system.

(13)      Any waters or wastes containing an acid or poisonous substance in sufficient quantity to injure or interfere with treatment process or cause a hazard to humans, animals or aquatic life in the receiving waters of the sewer system.

(14)      Any water or wastes containing strong acid, iron pickling wastes or concentrated plating solutions, whether neutralized or not.

(15)      Any water or wastes containing phenols or other taste- or odor-producing substances which constitute a nuisance or hazard to the structures, equipment or personnel of the sewer works or which interfere with the treatment required to meet the requirements of the state and federal government and any other public agency with proper authority to regulate the discharge from the sewage treatment plant.

(16)      Radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration that they are in noncompliance with regulations issued by the appropriate authority having control over their use or which have caused or may cause damage or hazards to the treatment works or personnel operating it.

(17)      Petroleum oil, nonbiodegradable cutting oil or products of mineral oil origin in amounts that will cause interference or pass through.

(18)      Pollutants which result in the presence of toxic gases, vapors or fumes within the treatment plant in a quantity that may cause acute worker health or safety problems.

(19)      Any waste generated outside the city limits, unless prior approval has been obtained from the city manager.

(20)      Whole, ground or shredded glassware, needles and other sharps, plastic and textile objects from hospitals, physician and dentist offices, clinics, veterinary facilities, other health care facilities, mortuaries, blood banks, laboratories of any kind and food preparation facilities.

(21)      Any material containing foam or foam-producing substances in sufficient quantities to cause a public nuisance, operational problems in public sewers or cause interference or pass through.

(22)      Any pretreatment solids from an industrial pretreatment system.

(23)      Wastes, other than domestic wastes, that are infectious except as provided for in an acceptable infectious waste management plan submitted to state department of health or state pollution control agency pursuant to M.S.A. §§ 116.75--116.83.

(24)      Any hazardous waste, as defined by M.S.A. § 116.06, subd. 13 and Minnesota Rules Chapter 7045, unless prior approval has been obtained from the chief administrator and such discharge does not constitute a violation of local, state or federal law.

(25)      Septage, leachate or contaminated groundwater unless authorized by the city manager.

(b)        In addition to the prohibitions in this section, no user will discharge into any public sewer any discharge which causes interference, as defined, with the wastewater disposal system.

(Code 1980, § 3.60, subd. 3(A))

Sec. 66-97.  Limitations on wastewater discharges.

(a)        National categorical standards. Under this article, national categorical pretreatment standards as promulgated pursuant to paragraph 307 of the act shall be met by all affected users subject to such standards in any instance where they are more stringent than the limitations established in this article.

(b)        City's right of revision. The city reserves the right to establish by this Code more stringent limitations or requirements on discharges to the wastewater disposal system if deemed necessary to comply with all existing standards.

(c)        Dilution. No user may 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 the limitations contained in this article, contained in the national categorical pretreatment standards or contained in any state requirements.

(d)        Local limits. No user will discharge to any public sewer any discharge containing concentrations in excess of the following:

TABLE INSET:

Parameter

Monthly Average
mg/l

Maximum for
Any One Day
mg/l

Arsenic

0.10

0.30

Cadmium (Cd)

0.05

0.15

Chromium total (Cr)

1.71

2.77

Copper (Cu)

2.07

3.38

Cyanide total (Cn)

0.10

0.30

Lead (Pb)

0.10

0.30

Mercury

0.0002

0.001

Nickel (Ni)

2.38

3.98

Silver

0.05

0.15

Zinc (Zn)

1.48

2.61

 

(e)        Trap installation. Grease, oil and sand traps will be provided for the proper discharge of waste containing excessive amounts of grease, oil or sand. All trap installations must be regularly cleaned and maintained for adequate performance.

(Code 1980, § 3.60, subd. 3(B))

Sec. 66-98.  Wastewater discharge permits.

(a)        Required. Industries proposing to connect or to commence a new discharge to the wastewater disposal system may be required to obtain a wastewater discharge permit before connecting to or discharging into the wastewater disposal system if the discharge would result in the industry being classified as a significant industrial user. All existing significant industrial users or industrial users subject to national categorical pretreatment standards under section 307(b) and (c) of the act connected to or discharging into the wastewater disposal system may be required to obtain a wastewater discharge permit as determined by the city manager.

(b)        Application. Users required to obtain a wastewater discharge permit will complete and file with the city manager an application in the form prescribed by the city manager, accompanied by the applicable fee. In support of the application, the user will submit, in units and terms appropriate for evaluation, the following information:

(1)        Name, address, location, if different from the address.

(2)        SIC number according to the Standard Industrial Classification Manual, Bureau of the Budget, 1972, as amended.

(3)        Wastewater constituents and characteristics including but not limited to those governed by sections 66-96, 66-97 and 66-101, as determined by a reliable analytical laboratory, and analysis will be performed in accordance with procedures established by the EPA pursuant to section 304(g) of the act and contained in 40 CFR 136, as amended.

(4)        Time and duration of discharge.

(5)        Average daily and 30-minute peak wastewater flow rates, including daily, monthly and seasonal variations, if any.

(6)        Site plans, floor plans, mechanical and plumbing plans, and details to show all sewers, sewer connections and appurtenances by the size, location and elevation.

(7)        Description of activities, facilities and plant processes on the premises including all materials which are or could be discharged, including sludges, floats, skimmings, etc.

(8)        Where known, the nature and concentration of any pollutants in the discharge which are limited by the city, state or national categorical pretreatment standards, and for an existing discharge a statement regarding whether or not the pretreatment standards are being met on a consistent basis and if not whether additional operation and maintenance or additional pretreatment is required for the user to meet applicable pretreatment standards. If additional operation and maintenance or pretreatment will be required, a proposed schedule by which the changes will be completed must be submitted. The completion date in this schedule will not be later than the compliance date established for the applicable pretreatment standard. The schedule will contain increments of progress in the form of dates for the commencement and completion of major events leading to the construction and operation of additional pretreatment required for the user to meet the applicable pretreatment standard. No increment will exceed nine months in length, and progress reports concerning each increment must be submitted within 14 days following each increment date.

(9)        Each product produced by type, amount, and rate of production.

(10)      Type and amount of raw materials processed (average and maximum per day).

(11)      Number of full- and part-time employees and hours of work.

(12)      Any other information as may be deemed by the city manager to be necessary to evaluate the permit application.

The city manager will evaluate the data furnished by the user and may require additional information. After evaluation and acceptance of the data furnished, the city manager may issue a wastewater discharge permit subject to terms and conditions provided in this section.