Wastewater Service- Rules and Regulations

Article 170 Wastewater Service - Rules and Regulations

Sec. 170.1 Purpose. The purpose of these rules and regulations is to set forth the terms and conditions under which the District will provide wastewater disposal service to customers who connect to the District facilities. The Board shall have the right to interpret these rules and to rule on any point of contention which is not specifically covered herein.

Sec. 170.2 Statement of General Policy – Wastewater service planning and development shall be conducted based upon input from the various community and governmental planning entities and the public, but ultimately in compliance with applicable state law and enforceable local land-use policies. Actual wastewater service will be extended to properties able to obtain from the appropriate general purpose government written authorization demonstrating specific qualification for, and level of wastewater service for the specific property.

All costs associated with wastewater service planning, environmental review, permitting, design, development, construction, ongoing operation, maintenance and replacement will be born by the proponents and beneficiaries of the service.

Financial safeguards shall be implemented to protect the District's general revenues from any potential negative impacts associated with the development, operation and maintenance of the proposed wastewater systems.

Sec. 170.3 Definitions. Unless the context specifically indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used shall be as follows:

"Board" or "Board of Directors" shall mean the governing body of the Valley Center Municipal Water District.

"BOD" (denoting Biochemical Oxygen Demand) shall mean quantity of oxygen utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory to five (5) days at 20 degrees C. expressed in milligrams per liter.

"Building Drain" shall mean that part of the lowest horizontal piping of a drainage system which receives the discharge from soil, waste, and other drainage pipes inside the walls of the building and conveys it to the building wastewater system, beginning five (5) feet outside the inner face of the building wall.

"Building Wastewater" shall mean the extension from the building drain to the public wastewater system or other place of disposal. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain the building wastewater system so no infiltration or inflow occurs.

"Combined Wastewater" shall mean a wastewater receiving both surface runoff and wastewater.

Per Ordinance No. 2006-03 Adopted 4/17/06 [Article 170]

Per Ordinance No. 2006-03 Adopted 4/17/06 [Sec. 170.2]

Sec. 170.3 Definitions (Cont'd.)

"District" shall mean the Valley Center Municipal Water District and its duly authorized representatives.

"EDU" shall mean equivalent dwelling unit; 1 EDU = 250 gallons/day, unless re-rated by District Engineer based on actual flow conditions.

"Garbage" shall mean solid wastes from the domestic and commercial preparation, cooking, and dispensing of food, and from the handling, storage and sale of produce.

"Gravity Wastewater System" shall mean the sanitary wastewater collection and transmission systems designed to collect raw aerobic wastewater. They would normally include 8" minimum sized mains flowing open to atmosphere, including manholes. The District's responsibility for these systems ends at the main.

"Industrial Wastes" shall mean the liquid wastes from industrial manufacturing processes, trade, labs of business as distinct from sanitary wastewater.

"Infiltration & Inflow" shall mean storm or groundwater that enters the wastewater system, either in private or public wastewater systems.

"Interceptor Tank" shall mean the portion of a pressure wastewater system where solid and floating material is trapped and only septic tank effluent is allowed into the sanitary wastewater system.

"Landowner" shall mean landowner or any authorized representative.

"Manager" shall mean the General Manager of Valley Center Municipal Water District, or his authorized deputy, agent or representative.

"Natural Outlet" shall mean any outlet into a water course, pond, ditch, lake or other body of surface or groundwater.

"On Lot Facility" that portion of the pressure wastewater collection system that is located on the property it serves. It usually consists of the interceptor tank(s), pumps, controls, and service line. The on lot facilities are owned by the property owner under agreement by Valley Center Municipal Water District.

"Person" shall mean any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation or group.

Per Ordinance No. 2007-10 Adopted 7/16/2007 [Sec. 170.3]

Sec. 170.3 Definitions (Cont'd.)

"pH" shall mean the logarithm of the reciprocal of the weight of hydrogen ions in grams per liter of solution.

"Pressure Wastewater System" shall mean a sanitary wastewater system that is designed to transport wastewater under pressure. Each connection to this system requires a wastewater pump and is protected from the system by a check valve. A pressure wastewater system may be designed for septic tank effluent or ground wastewater. A pressure wastewater system may not always be pressurized. A pressure wastewater system includes interceptor tanks, pumps, electrical controls and service lines as well as collection and transmission mains.

"Properly Shredded Garbage" shall mean the wastes from the preparation, cooking and dispensing of food that have been shredded to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in public wastewater system, with no particle greater than one-half (1/2) inch in any direction.

"Public Wastewater System" shall mean a wastewater system that is controlled by the Valley Center Municipal Water District.

"Sanitary Wastewater System" shall mean a wastewater system which carries wastewater, and to which storm, surface, and ground waters are not intentionally admitted, and can also be referred to as a “Sanitary Sewer”.

"Shall" is mandatory; "may" is permissive.

"Sludge" shall mean any discharge of wastewater or industrial waste which in concentration of any given constituent or in quantity of flow exceeds for any period of duration longer than fifteen (15) minutes more than five (5) times the average twenty-four (24) hour concentration or flows during normal operation.

"STEP Wastewater System" shall mean a pressure wastewater system using a District approved interceptor tank and pump system, a Septic Tank Effluent Pump, to transmit a solid free effluent through pressure and/or gravity lines.

"Storm Drain" shall mean a wastewater system which carries storm and surface waters and drainage, but excludes wastewater and industrial wastes, other than unpolluted cooling water.

Sec. 170.3 Definitions (Cont'd.)

"Suspended Solids" shall mean solids that either float on the surface of, or are in suspension in water, wastewater, or other liquids, which are removable by laboratory filtering.

"Transmission Main" shall mean a wastewater pipeline for the purpose of transporting treated, partially treated or raw wastewater from a wastewater service area to the treatment facilities. No wastewater service is available to properties or easements fronting on a designated transmission main.

"Treatment Facilities" shall mean a District owned, operated and maintained wastewater treatment system.

"Wastewater" shall mean a combination of the water-carried wastes from residences, business buildings, institutions, and industrial establishments, which can also be referred to as “sewage”.

"Wastewater Treatment Plant" shall mean any arrangement of devices and structures used for treating wastewater.

"Wastewater Facilities” shall mean all facilities for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of wastewater.

"Wastewater System" shall mean a pipe or conduit for carrying wastewater.

Sec. 170.4 Use of Public Wastewater Systems Required. Use of public wastewater systems is required in accordance with public health department requirements.

Sec. 170.5 Construction of Collection Facilities. In general, wastewater collection mains shall be paid for by property owners and/or developers (applicant) who require them as a condition of development. All wastewater collection facilities to be owned, operated and maintained by VCMWD shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the District’s Wastewater Facility Design Manual, applicable District standard specifications, and Article 190 of this Code.

Sec. 170.6 Construction of Treatment Facilities. In general, treatment facilities shall be paid for by property owners and/or developers who require them as a condition of development. All wastewater treatment facilities to be owned, operated and maintained by VCMWD shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the District's Wastewater Facility Design Manual, applicable District standard specifications and Article 190 of this Code.

Per Ordinance No. 98-07 Adopted 7/20/98 [Sec. 170.5]

Per Ordinance No. 98-07 Adopted 7/20/98 [Sec. 170.6]

Sec. 170.7 Building Wastewater System and Connection.

(a) No unauthorized person shall uncover, make any connections with or opening into, use, alter, or disturb any public wastewater system or appurtenances thereof without first obtaining a written permit from the District.

(b) There shall be two (2) classes of building wastewater system permits:

l. For residential and commercial service, and

2. For service to establishments producing industrial wastes.

In either case, the owner or his agent shall make application on a special form furnished by the District. The permit application shall be supplemented by any plans, specifications or other information considered pertinent in the judgment of the District. An inspection fee for an industrial building wastewater permit shall be paid to the District at the time the application is filed.

(c) All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building wastewater system shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the District from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building wastewater system.

(d) Old building wastewater systems may be used in connection with new buildings only when they are found, on examination and test by the District, to meet all requirements of this ordinance.

(e) Whenever possible, the building wastewater system shall be brought to the building at an elevation below the basement floor. In all buildings in which any building drain is too low to permit gravity flow to the public wastewater system, wastewater carried by such building drain shall be lifted by an approved means and discharged to the building wastewater system at the applicant's expense.

(f) No person shall make connection of roof downspouts, exterior foundation drains or other sources of surface runoff or groundwater to a building wastewater system or building drain which in turn is connected directly or indirectly to a public sanitary wastewater system.

(g) The connection of the building wastewater system into the public wastewater system shall conform to the requirements of the building and plumbing code and other applicable rules and regulations of the District. All such connections shall be made gastight and watertight. Any deviation from the prescribed procedures and materials must be approved by the District before installation.

Sec. 170.7 Building Wastewater System and Connection (Cont’d)

(h) The applicant for the building wastewater system permit shall notify the District when the building wastewater system is ready for inspection and connection to the public wastewater system. The connection shall be made under the supervision of the District.

Sec. 170.8 Use of the Public Wastewater Systems

(a) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff, swimming pool drainage, subsurface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any public wastewater system.

(b) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any public wastewater system.

1. Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid or gas, or any other material defined as hazardous or toxic waste.

2. Any waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids, or gases in sufficient quantity, either singly or by interaction with other wastes to injure or interfere with any wastewater 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, including but not limited to cyanides in excess of two (2) mg/l as CN in the wastes as discharged to the public wastewater system.

3. 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 operating the public wastewater system.

4. Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in or other interference with the proper operation of the wastewater systems, such as, but not limited to, ashes, cinders, sand, mud, straw, shavings, metal, glass, rags, feathers, tar, plastics, wood, unground garbage, whole blood, paunch, manure, hair and fleshings, entrails and paper dishes, cups, milk containers, etc., either whole or ground by garbage grinders and paper towels.

Sec. 170.8 Use of the Public Wastewater Systems (Cont’d.)

(c) No person shall discharge or cause to be discharged the following described substances, materials, waters or wastes if it appears likely in the opinion of the District that such wastes can harm either the wastewater system, wastewater treatment process, or equipment, have an adverse effect on the receiving stream, or can otherwise endanger life, limb, public property, or constitute a nuisance. In forming his opinion as to the acceptability of these wastes, the District will give consideration to such factors as the quantities of subject wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the wastewater system, materials of construction of the wastewater systems, nature of the wastewater treatment process, capacity of the wastewater treatment plant, degree of treatability of wastes in the wastewater treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. The substances prohibited are:

1. Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than one hundred fifty (150) degrees F sixty-five (65) degrees C.

2. Any water or waste containing fats, wax, grease, or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of one hundred (100) mg/l or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between thirty-two (32) and one hundred fifty (150) degrees F.

3. Any solid waste that has not been properly shredded. The installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three-fourths (3/4) horsepower or greater shall be subject to the review and approval of the District.

4. Any waters or wastes containing strong acid iron pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solutions whether neutralized or not.

5. Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances; or wastes exerting an excessive chlorine requirement, such degree that any such material received in the composite wastewater stream at the wastewater treatment facility exceeds the limits established by the District for such materials.

6. Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste or odor producing substances, in such concentrations exceeding limits which may be established by the District as necessary, after treatment of the composite wastewater stream, to meet the requirements of the State, Federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such discharge to the receiving waters.

Sec. 170.8 Use of the Public Wastewater Systems (Cont'd.)

7. Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such halflife or concentration as may exceed limits established by the District in compliance with applicable State or Federal regulations.

8. Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of (9.5).

9. Materials which exert or cause:

A. Unusual concentrations of inert suspended solids (such as, but not limited to, Fullers, earth, lime slurries, and lime residues) or of dissolved solids (such as, but not limited to, sodium chloride and sodium sulfate).

B. Excessive discoloration (such as, but not limited to, dye wastes and vegetable tanning solutions).

C. Unusual BOD, chemical oxygen demand, or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the public wastewater system.

D. Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes.

10. 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.

Any brines, or brine discharges from water softening units in industries, commercial establishments and private dwellings.

(d) If any waters or wastes are discharged, or are proposed to be discharged to the public wastewater systems which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in this Article, and which in the judgment of the District may have a deleterious effect upon the wastewater

Sec. 170.8 Use of the Public Wastewater Systems (Cont'd.)

system, processes, equipment or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, the District may:

1. Reject the wastes.

2. Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public wastewater system.

3. Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge.

4. Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or wastewater charges under the provisions of this article.

If the District 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 District, and subject to the requirements of all applicable codes, ordinances, and laws.

(e) Fats, oils, grease and sand interceptors shall be provided when, in the opinion of the District, they are necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients; except that such interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units. All interceptions shall be of a type and capacity approved by the District, and shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection on an annual basis, or more frequently as warranted by specific site conditions.

(f) Where preliminary treatment or flow-equalizing facilities are provided for any waters or wastes, they shall be maintained continuously in satisfactory and effective operation by the owner at his expense.

(g) When required by the District, the owner of any property served by a building wastewater system carrying industrial wastes shall install a suitable control manhole together with such necessary meters and other appurtenances in the building wastewater system to facilitate observations, sampling and measurement of the wastes. Such manhole, when required, shall be accessible and safely located, and shall be constructed in accordance with plans approved by the District. The manhole shall be installed by the owner at his expense, and shall be maintained by him so as to be safe and accessible at all times.

Sec. 170.8 Use of the Public Wastewater Systems (Cont'd.)

(h) All measurements, tests, and analyses of the characteristics of waters and wastes to which reference is made in this ordinance 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, and shall be determined and the control manhole, provided, or upon suitable samples taken at said control manhole. In the event that no special manhole has been required, the control manhole shall be considered to be the nearest downstream manhole in the public wastewater system to the point at which the building wastewater system is connected. Sampling shall be carried out by customarily accepted methods to reflect the effect of constituents upon the public wastewater system and to determine the existence of hazards to life, limb and property. The particular analyses involved will determine whether a twenty-four (24) hour composite of all outfalls of a premise is appropriate or whether a grab sample or samples should be taken. Normally, but not always, BOD and suspended solids and analyses are obtained from 24-hour composites of all outfalls whereas pH's are determined from periodic grab samples.

(i) No statement contained in this article shall be construed as preventing any special agreement or arrangement between the District and any industrial concerned whereby an industrial waste of unusual strength or character may be accepted by the District for treatment, subject to payment thereof, by the industrial concern.

Sec. 170.9 Protection from Damage. No person shall maliciously, willfully, or negligently break, damage, destroy, uncover, deface, or tamper with any structure, appurtenance, or equipment which is part of the public wastewater system.

Sec. 170.10 Penalties. Any person found to be violating any provisions of this ordinance shall be served by the District with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations, or be subject to all applicable penalties.

Sec. 170.11 Project Facility Availability (PFA) and Commitment (PFC) Letters. Upon receipt of Wastewater (Sewer) Project Facility Availability or Wastewater (Sewer) Project Facility Commitment form, the processing fee and applicable deposits as listed in Section 171.10, the District will complete the appropriate information as required for the project.

Per Ordinance No. 97-06 Adopted 12/15/97 {Sec. 170.11]