City Ordinance Sewer

CHAPTER 95

SEWER SERVICE SYSTEM

95.01 Purpose                                                                                                                   95.09 Rates

95.02 Definitions                                                                                                                95.10 Utility Sewer Connection

95.03 Requirements                                                                                                          95.11 Unauthorized Disposal

95.04 Establishment of Funds                                                                                           95.12 Hazardous Infiltration

95.05 Maintenance of Funds                                                                                             95.13 Tapping of Mains

95.06 Basis of Use Determination                                                                                     95.14 Unlawful Drainage

95.07 Surcharges                                                                                                              95.15 Customer's Service Line

95.08 Additional Charges                                                                                                  95.16 Sewer Main Extensions

 

95.01  PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to establish the procedures and regulations to be followed in the calculation, establishment and collection of charges from customers so that the Municipal Utilities can pay for the operation and maintenance, as herein defined, of the wastewater treatment system and for the sewer bond debt retirement for the financing the sewer system improvements constructed under EPA Project No. CSI 92201-02.

95.02  DEFINITIONS. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the meanings of terms used in this chapter are as follows:

  1. "EPA" means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
  2. "Normal domestic wastewater" means wastewater that has a BOD  concentration of not more than 280 mg/l and a suspended solids concentration of not more than 400 mg/l.
  3. "Operation and maintenance" means all expenditures during the useful life of the wastewater treatment works for materials, labor, utilities and other items which are necessary for the management and maintenance of said treatment facilities to achieve the capacity and performance for which such works were designed and constructed.
  4. "Replacement" means expenditures for obtaining and installing equipment, accessories or appurtenances which are necessary during the useful life of the wastewater treatment works to maintain the capacity and performance for which such facilities were designed and constructed. The term "operation and maintenance" includes replacement.
  5. "Residential customer" means any customer whose lot, parcel of real estate or building is used for domestic dwelling purposes only.
  6. "Useful life" means the estimated period during which the wastewater treatment works will be operated.
  7. "User charge" means that portion of the total wastewater service charge which is levied in a proportional and adequate manner for the cost of operation, maintenance and replacement of the wastewater treatment works.
  8. "Wastewater" means the spent water of a community. From the standpoint of the source it may be a combination of the liquid and water-carried wastes from residences, commercial buildings, industrial plants and institutions, together with any groundwater, surface water and storm water infiltration that may be present. Wastewater is also commonly known as "sanitary sewage."
  9. "Wastewater Treatment Works" means the devices and systems used for the storage, treatment, recycling and reclamation of municipal wastewater, domestic wastewater or liquid industrial wastes. These include the collecting lateral, trunk, interceptor and out-fall sewer systems, individual systems, pumping, power and other equipment and 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; or any other method or system for preventing, abating, reducing. storing, treatment, separating or disposing of municipal waste or indusfrial waste, including waste in combined storm water and sanitary sewer systems.
  10. "Water meter" means a water volume measuring and recording device, furnished and/or installed by the Municipal Utilities or furnished and/or installed by a user and approved by the Municipal Utilities.

95.03  REQUIREMENTS. The user charge system shall generate adequate annual revenues to pay costs of: (i) annual operation and maintenance including replacement; and (ii) costs associated with the sewer bond debt retirement for financing the wastewater treatment works which the City Council may, by resolution, designate to be paid by the user charge system. That portion of the total user charge which is designated for operation and maintenance, including, replacement of the treatment works, shall be established by this chapter.

95.04  ESTABLISIHMENT OF FUNDS. That portion of the total user charge collected which is designated for operation and maintenance including replacement purposes as established in Section 95.07 shall be deposited in two separate non-lapsing funds, as follows:

  1. A fund designated as the "Wastewater Treatment Works Operation and Maintenance Fund" for the specific purpose of defraying operation and maintenance costs, excluding replacement, of the wastewater treatment works.
  2. A fund designated as the "Wastewater Capital Improvement Fund" for the specific purpose of ensuring the replacement needs over the useful life of the wastewater treatment works, and distribution system.

While sewer revenue bonds of the City are outstanding, the provision of the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds shall, in the event of conflict, prevail on the provisions of 95.05.

95.05  MAINTENANCE OF FUNDS. Calendar year-end balances in the wastewater treatment works operation and maintenance fund and the wastewater treatment works replacement fund shall be carried over to the same fund in the subsequent year, and shall be used for no other purposes than those designated for these funds. If moneys are transferred from other funds of the Municipal Utilities to meet temporary shortages in the wastewater works operation and maintenance fund and/or wastewater Capital Improvement Fund, such transferred moneys shall be returned to their respective accounts upon appropriate adjustment of the user charge rates for operation, maintenance and replacement. The user charge rates shall be adjusted such that the transferred moneys will be returned to their respective accounts within the calendar year in which the moneys were borrowed.

95.06  BASIS OF USE DETERMINATION. The use ofthe wastewater treatment works shall be determined on the following basis:

  1. Each user shall pay for the services provided by the Municipal Utilities based on use of the wastewater treatment works as determined by water meters acceptable to the Municipal Utilities.
  2. If a wastewater customer has a consumptive use of water; or in some other manner uses water which is not returned to the wastewater collection system, the user charge for that customer may be based on a separate water meter (non-wastewater meter) installed and maintained at the expense of the customer and in a manner acceptable to the Municipal Utilities.
  3. In case of privately owned or un-metered water supplies, all or any part of which is discharged into the public sanitary sewer system, the quantity of water discharged into said sewer system shall be determined, to the satisfaction of the Council, at the expense of the owner of such private or un-metered water supplies, and the sewer user charge shall be applied to an equal quantity and characteristic of waste as though originating through use of City water, the same as if metered and billed accordingly. If the quantity of water used is estimated to be in excess of 1,000 gallons per day for any one billing period, the Council may require that such water supply be metered at the expense of the owner of the same.

95.07  SURCHARGES. For those customers who contribute wastewater of strength greater than normal domestic sewage, a surcharge will be collected in addition to the sewer user charge.

95.08  ADDITIONAL CHARGES. Any user which discharges any toxic pollutants which cause an increase in the cost of managing the effluent or the sludge from the wastewater treatment works, or any user which discharges any substance which singly or by interaction with other substances causes identifiable increases in the cost of operation, maintenance or replacement of the wastewater treatment works, shall pay for such increased costs. The charge to each such user shall be determined by the Council.
95.09  RATES. Rates for sewer service and terms and conditions for billing and payment are set out in Chapter 90. The user charge rates established in such chapter apply to all users, regardless of their location to the wastewater treatment works.

95.10  UTILITY SEWER CONNECTION. All entities, structures, dwellings, mobile homes, or businesses which require sewage disposal, or which generate sewage, where the lot or property abuts an existing sewer main, are required to make connection to said sewer main in the manner approved by the Municipal Utilities. It is unlawful for any other form of sewer disposal system to be used within the corporate limits of the City where mains are provided as described in this section. An available sewer main refers to a sewer main that abuts or passes through a lot or property on which a structure needing sewage disposal facilities is located and where such a municipal sewer main will serve the ground floor level of such structure without the need of mechanical pumping and lifting.

95.11  UNAUTHORIZED DISPOSAL. The City may declare any private sewage disposal facility to be a nuisance which does not comply with Section 95.10, and abate the same, or impose reasonable conditions or restrictions as a condition for the continued use of and operation of such a facility.

95.12  HAZARDOUS INFILTRATION. It is unlawful to dump any harmful substance, controlled substance (including component parts of confrolled substances), any pesticide, herbicide, or any other chemical or poison into the sewer collection system. It is unlawful to open any manhole and dump raw sewage or influent water into the sewer collection system other than jetting and maintenance activities on the part of the Municipal Utilities. Violation of this section shall constitute a simple misdemeanor and may be punishable as such within the scope of the Code of Iowa.

95.13  TAPPING OF MAINS. Qualified persons, Municipal Utilities employees, or other qualified persons under the direction of the Municipal Utilities shall be permitted to tap sewer mains. It is unlawful for any person to tamper with or in any way damage a utility main. Tapping of sewer mains shall be in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Municipal Utilities. No fee is required by the Municipal Utilities for tapping a sewer main.

95.14  UNLAWFUL DRAINAGE. It is unlawful for any person to cause rainwater, foundation drain water, roof run-off water, or any other form of non-sewage infiltration to enter the sewage collection system.

95.15  CUSTODdER'S SERVICE LINE. It is the responsibility of the customer/property owner to maintain the sewer service line from the sewer main to the premises, including appurtenances used in main tapping, and the main tapping Y. Each customer/propetty owner should utilize one service main tap per premises. The practice of shared party sewer tap lines, and Y-connections shall not be permitted. No service line shall be constructed in such a slope, distance, or in a manner outside of standard sewer line construction practices. Abandonment of a customer's line shall be accomplished at the expense of the customer/owner, and shall be capped off to the main in a method approved by the Municipal Utilities.

95.16  SEWER MAN EXTENSIONS. All extensions of sewer mains shall first be engineered by an engineer licensed in the State of Iowa. After the completion of the engineer's plan, said plan will be submitted to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for approval and permitting prior to any construction. The Municipal Utilities may inspect sewer construction practices within the system, and determine quality of the construction. The Municipal Utilities may refuse to accept the work when workmanship is sub-standard or nonfunctional. The Council shall have the authority to make available sewer main service to property not being serviced, and shall have the power to determine what part of the cost of such extension is to be borne by the property owner, developer, or by City funding. The Council shall have the final determination of the method of financing any major allocation between revenue bonds, public bonds, or municipal bond obligations — one, all, or combination thereof.


CHAPTER 96

USE OF SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEM

96.01 Definitions                                                                                                                96.07 Restricted Discharges; Powers

96.02 Authorization                                                                                                            96.08 Special Facilities

96.03 Storm Water                                                                                                            96.09 Control Manholes

96.04 Surface Waters Exception                                                                                       96.10 Testing of Wastes

96.05 Prohibited Discharges                                                                                              96.11 Grease Traps and Interceptors

96.06 Restricted Discharges                                                                                             96.12 Liability Imposed

 

96.01 DEFINITIONS. The following terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them below:

  1. "Best management practices" (BMPs) means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the pollution of waters of the State of Iowa. For purposes of this chapter, best management practices includes procedures and practices that reduce the discharge of fats, oil, and grease (FOG) to the building drain and to the POTW.
  2. "Fats, oil and grease" means organic polar compounds derived from animal and/or plant sources that contain multiple carbon chain triglyceride molecules. These substances are detectable and measurable using analytical test procedures established in 40 CFR 136, as may be amended from time to time. All are sometimes referred to herein as "grease" or "greases" or "FOG."
  3. "Food service establishment" means a commercial facility engaged in preparing and/or serving food for consumption by the public, such as a restaurant, commercial kitchen, caterer, hotel, motel, school, hospital, prison, correctional facility, and care institution.
  4. "Grease discharge permit" (GDP) means a permit issued by the City authorizing the discharge of grease, greases, FOG, or grease-laden wastewater to the POTW from a food service establishment.
  5. "Grease interceptor" means a tank that serves one or more fixtures and is remotely located. Such grease interceptors include (but are not limited to) tanks that capture wastewater from dishwashers, floor drains, pot an pan sinks and trenches. For purposes of this chapter, a grease interceptor is an outside, underground, multicompartment tank that reduces the amount of FOG in wastewater prior to discharging into the POTW.
  6. "Grease trap" means a device designed to retain crease from one to a maximum of four fixtures. A grease trap is not appropriate for use on heated water (e.g., dishwasher) or in-line to a waste disposal unit (e.g., garbage disposal and grinders). For purposes of this chapter, a grease trap is a small, indoor device.
  7. "LMU" means Lamoni Municipal Utilities as governed by the City of Lamoni.
  8. "Minimum design capability" means the design features of a grease interceptor or grease trap and its ability or volume required to effectively intercept and retain FOG from grease-laden wastewaters discharged to the POTW.
  9. "Non-cooking establishments" means those establishments primarily engaged in the preparation of precooked foodstuffs that do not include any form of cooking. These include cold dairy and frozen foodstuffs preparation and serving establishments. Bed and breakfast businesses are not considered food service establishments.
  10. "POTW" means the publicly owned treatment works in the City, which includes the collection and drainage system, the pumping stations, and the wastewater treatment plant.
  11. "Fixture" means sinks, dishwashers, garbage grinders, floor drains, trenches, or other equipment discharging wastewater to a grease interceptor or to a grease trap.
  12. "User" means any person or entity, including those located outside the jurisdictional limits of the City, who contributes, causes, or permits the contribution or discharge of wastewater into the POTW, including a person or entity who contributes wastewater from mobile sources, such as those who discharge hauled wastewater.
  13. "Sanitary sewer" means a separate underground piping system specifically designed to transport sewage for treatment at the POTW.
  14. "Storm sewer" means a collection of ditches, curbs, gutters, underground pipes, and manholes built to carry away excess water in times of heavy rain or melting snow.

96.02  AUTHORIZATION. Where indicated by this chapter as "LMU," the General Manager of Utilities is authorized to act on behalf of the Lamoni Municipal Utilities.

96.03  STORM WATER. No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged any storm water, surface water, groundwater, roof run-off, sub-surface drainage, uncontaminated cooling water, or unpolluted industrial process waters to any sanitary sewer. Storm water and all other unpolluted drainage shall be discharged to such sewers as are specifically designated as storm sewers, or to a natural outlet approved by LMU. Industrial cooling water or unpolluted process waters may be discharged on approval of LMU, to a storm sewer or natural outlet.

96.04  SURFACE WATERS EXCEPTION. Special permits for discharging surface waters to a public sanitary sewer may be issued by the Council upon recommendation of LMU where such discharge is deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of flushing, but any permit so issued shall be subject to revocation at any time when deemed to be the best interests of the POTW.

96.05  PROHIBITED DISCHARGES. No user shall discharge or cause to be discharged any of the following described waters or wastes to any sanitary or storm sewers:

  1. Flammable or Explosive Material. Any gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil, or other flammable or explosive liquid, solid, or gas.
  2. Toxic or Poisonous Materials. 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 sewage 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 milligrams per liter as cyanide in the wastes as discharged to the sanitary or storm sewer.
  3. Corrosive Wastes. Any waters or wastes having a pH lower than 5.5 or having any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment, and personnel of the POTW.
  4. Solid or Viscous Substances. Solid or viscous substances in quantities or of such size capable of causing obstruction to the flow in POTW, or other interference with the proper operation of the POTW, 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, either whole or ground by garbage grinders.
  5. Excessive B.O.D., Solids or Flow.

A.  Any waters or wastes: (i) having a five-day biochemical oxygen demand greater than 280 parts per million by weight; or (ii) containing more than 400 parts per million by weight of suspended solids; or (iii) having an average daily flow greater than two percent of the average sewage flow of the City, shall be subject to the review of LMU.

B.  Where necessary in the opinion of LMU, the owner shall provide, at the owner's expense, such preliminary treatment as may be necessary to: (i) reduce the biochemical oxygen demand to 280 parts per million by weight; or (ii) reduce the suspended solids to 400 parts per million by weight; or (iii) confrol the quantities and rates of discharge of such waters or wastes to the sole satisfaction of LMU. Plans, specifications, and any other pertinent  information relating to proposed preliminary treatment facilities shall be submitted for the approval of LMU and no construction of such facilities shall be commenced until said approvals are obtained in writing.

96.06  RESTRICTED DISCHARGES. 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 LMU that such wastes can harm the POTW, sewage 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 an opinion as to the acceptability of these wastes, LMU will give consideration to such factors as the quantities of subject wastes in relation to flows and velocities in the sewers, materials of construction of the sewers, nature of the sewage treatment process, capacity of the sewage treatment plant, degree of treatability of wastes in the sewage treatment plant, and other pertinent factors. The substances restricted are:

  1. High Temperature. Any liquid or vapor having a temperature higher than 150 degrees F (65 degrees C).
  2. Fat, Oil, Grease. Any water or waste containing fats, wax, grease or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 milligrams per liter.
  3. Viscous Substances. Water or wastes containing substances that may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32 degrees F and 150 degrees F (0 degrees to 65 degrees C).
  4. Garbage. Any garbage that has not been properly shredded to such a degree that all particles will be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in the POTW, with no particle greater than one-half inch in any dimension.
  5. Acids. Any waters or wastes containing strong acid iron pickling wastes, or concentrated plating solution, whether neufralized or not.
  6. Toxic or Objectionable Wastes. Any waters or wastes containing iron, chromium, copper, zinc, and similar objectionable or toxic substances; or wastes exerting an excessive chlorine requirement, to such degree that any such material received in the composite sewage at the sewage treatment works exceeds the limits established by LMU for such materials.
  7. Odor or Taste. Any waters or wastes containing phenols or other taste or odor producing substances, in such concentrations exceeding limits that may be established by LMU as necessary, after treatment of the composite sewage, to meet the requirements of State, federal, or other public agencies of jurisdiction for such discharge to the receiving waters.
  8. Radioactive Wastes. Any radioactive wastes or isotopes of such half-life or concentration as may exceed limits established by LMU in compliance with applicable State or federal regulations.
  9. Excess Alkalinity. Any waters or wastes having a pH in excess of 9.5.
  10. Unusual Wastes. Materials that 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 B.O.D., chemical oxygen demand or chlorine requirements in such quantities as to constitute a significant load on the POTW.

D.  Unusual volume of flow or concentration of wastes constituting "slugs."

11.  Noxious or Malodorous Gases. Any noxious or malodorous gas or other substance that, either singly or by interaction with other wastes, is capable of creating a public nuisance or hazard to life or of preventing entry into sewers for their maintenance and repair.

12.  Damaging Substances. Any waters, wastes, materials, or substances that react with water or wastes in the sewer system to release noxious gases, develop color of undesirable intensity, form suspended solids in objectionable concentration, or create any other condition deleterious to structures and treatment processes.

13.  Untreatable Wastes. Waters or wastes containing substances that are not amenable to freatment or reduction by the sewage treatment processes employed, or are amenable to treatment only to such degree that the sewage treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharge to the receiving waters.

96.07  RESTRICTED DISCHARGES; POWERS. Ifany waters or wastes are discharged or are proposed to be discharged to the POTW, which waters contain the substances or possess the characteristics enumerated in Section 97.05 or 97.06 and which in the judgment of LMU may have a deleterious effect upon the POTW, processes, equipment, or receiving waters, or which otherwise create a hazard to life or constitute a public nuisance, LMU may:

  1. Rejection. Reject the wastes by requiring disconnection from the public sewage system.
  2. Pretreatment. Require pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers.
  3. Controls Imposed. Require control over the quantities and rates of discharge.
  4. Special Charges. Require payment to cover the added cost of handling and treating the wastes not covered by existing taxes or sewer charges under the provisions of Chapters 90 and 95 of this Code of Ordinances.

96.08  SPECIAL FACILITIES. If LMU permits the pretreatment or equalization of waste flows, the desig