Athens City Code

1. (1) Application for discharge of commercial or industrial wastewater. All users or prospective users which generate commercial or industrial wastewater shall make application to the superintendent for connection to the AUB's wastewater treatment system. It may be determined through the application that a user needs a discharge permit according to the provisions of federal and state laws and regulations. Applications shall be required from all new dischargers as well as for any existing discharger desiring additional service or where there is a planned change in the industrial or wastewater treatment process. Connection to the city sewer or changes in the industrial process or wastewater treatment process shall not be made until the application is received and approved by the superintendent, and the building sewer is installed in accordance with ACC 18-6. The receipt by the AUB of a prospective customer's application for connection shall not obligate the AUB to render the connection. If the service applied for cannot be supplied in accordance with this chapter and the AUB's rules and regulations and general practice, the connection charge will be refunded in full, and there shall be no liability of the AUB to the applicant for such service.
2. (2) Industrial wastewater discharge permits.
   1. (a) General requirements. All industrial users proposing to connect to or to contribute to the WWF shall apply for service and apply for a discharge permit before connecting to or contributing to the WWF. All existing industrial users connected to or contributing to the WWF may be required to apply for a permit within 180 days after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived.
   2. (b) Applications. Applications for wastewater discharge permits shall be required as follows:
      1. (i) Users required by the superintendent to obtain a wastewater discharge permit shall complete and file with the pretreatment coordinator an application on a prescribed form accompanied by the appropriate fee.
      2. (ii) The application shall be in the prescribed form of the AUB and shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: name, address, and SIC/NAICS number of applicant; wastewater volume; wastewater constituents and characteristic, including, but not limited to, those mentioned in ACC 18-36 and ACC 18-65, discharge variations (daily, monthly, seasonal and 30-minute peaks), a description of all chemicals handled on the premises, each product produced by type, amount, process and rate of production, type and amount of raw materials, number and type of employees, hours of operation, site plans, floor plans, mechanical and plumbing plans and details showing all sewers and appurtenances by size, location and elevation; a description of existing and proposed pretreatment and/or equalization facilities; and any other information deemed necessary by the pretreatment coordinator.
      3. (iii) Any user who elects or is required to construct new or additional facilities for pretreatment shall, as part of the application for a wastewater discharge permit, submit plans, specifications and other pertinent information relative to the proposed construction to the pretreatment coordinator for approval. A wastewater discharge permit shall not be issued until such plans and specifications are approved. Approval of such plans and specifications shall in no way relieve the user from the responsibility of modifying the facility as necessary to produce an effluent acceptable to the city under the provisions of this chapter.
      4. (iv) If additional pretreatment and/or operations and maintenance will be required to meet the pretreatment standards, the application shall include the shortest schedule by which the user will provide such additional pretreatment. The completion date in this schedule shall not be later than the compliance date established for the applicable pretreatment standard. For the purpose of this subsection, the term "pretreatment standard" shall include either a national pretreatment standard or a pretreatment standard imposed by this chapter.
      5. (v) The AUB will evaluate the data furnished by the user and may require additional information. After evaluation and acceptance of the data furnished, the AUB may issue a wastewater discharge permit subject to the terms and conditions provided herein.
      6. (vi) The receipt by the AUB of a prospective customer's application for a wastewater discharge permit shall not obligate the AUB to render the wastewater collection and treatment service. If the service applied for cannot be supplied in accordance with this chapter or the AUB's policies and procedures and general practice, the application shall be rejected and there shall be no liability of the AUB to the applicant of such service.
      7. (vii) The pretreatment coordinator will act only on applications containing all the information required in this section. Persons who have filed incomplete applications will be notified by the pretreatment coordinator that the application is deficient and the nature of such deficiency and will be required to correct the deficiency. If the deficiency is not corrected within such extended period as allowed by the local administrative officer, the local administrative officer shall deny the application and notify the applicant in writing of such action.
      8. (viii) Applications shall be signed by the duly authorized representative.
   3. (c) Permit conditions. Wastewater discharge permits shall be expressly subject to all provisions of this chapter and all other applicable regulations, user charges and fees established by the AUB.
      1. (i) Permits shall contain the following:
         1. A. The statement of duration;
         2. B. Provisions of transfer;
         3. C. Effluent limits, including best management practices, based on applicable pretreatment standards in this chapter, state rules, categorical pretreatment standards, local, state, and federal laws;
         4. D. Self-monitoring, sampling, reporting, notification, and recordkeeping requirements. These requirements shall include an identification of pollutants (or best management practice) to be monitored, sampling location, sampling frequency, and sample type based on federal, state, and local law;
         5. E. A statement of applicable civil and criminal penalties for violations of pretreatment standards and the requirements of any applicable compliance schedule. Such schedules shall not extend the compliance date beyond the applicable federal deadlines;
         6. F. Requirements to control slug discharges, if determined by the WWF to be necessary;
         7. G. Requirements to notify the WWF immediately if changes in the user's processes affect the potential for a slug discharge.
      2. (ii) Additionally, permits may contain the following:
         1. A. The unit charge or schedule of user charges, surcharges, and fees for the wastewater to be discharged to the WWF;
         2. B. Requirements for installation and maintenance of inspection and sampling facilities;
         3. C. Compliance schedules;
         4. D. Requirements for submission of technical reports or discharge reports;
         5. E. Requirements for maintaining and retaining plant records relating to wastewater discharge as specified by the AUB and affording the AUB access thereto;
         6. F. Requirements for notification of the AUB 60 days prior to implementing any substantial change in the volume or character of the wastewater constituents being introduced into the wastewater treatment system and of any changes in industrial processes that would affect wastewater quality or quantity;
         7. G. Prohibition of bypassing pretreatment or pretreatment equipment;
         8. H. Effluent mass loading restrictions;
         9. I. Other conditions as deemed appropriate by the AUB to ensure compliance with this chapter.
   4. (d) Permit modification. The terms and conditions of the permit may be subject to modification by the pretreatment coordinator during the term of the permit as limitations or requirements are modified or other just cause exists. The user shall be informed of any proposed changes in the permit at least 60 days prior to the effective date of the change, except in the case where federal deadlines are shorter, in which case the federal rule must be followed. Any changes or new conditions in the permit shall include a reasonable time schedule for compliance.
   5. (e) Permit duration. Permits shall be issued for a specified time period not to exceed five years. A permit may be issued for a period less than a year or may be stated to expire on a specific date. The user shall apply for permit renewal a minimum of 180 days prior to the expiration of the user's existing permit.
   6. (f) Permit transfer. Wastewater discharge permits are issued to a specific user for a specific operation. A wastewater discharge permit shall not be reassigned or transferred or sold to a new owner, new user, different premises, or a new or changed operation without the written approval of the AUB. Any succeeding owner or user shall also comply with the terms and conditions of the existing permit. The permit holder must provide the new owner with a copy of the current permit.
   7. (g) Revocation of permit. Any permit issued under the provisions of this chapter is subject to be modified, suspended, or revoked in whole or in part during its term for cause, including, but not limited to, the following:
      1. (i) Violation of any terms or conditions of the wastewater discharge permit or other applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation.
      2. (ii) Obtaining a permit by misrepresentation or failure to disclose fully all relevant facts.
      3. (iii) A change in:
         1. A. Any condition that requires either a temporary or permanent reduction or elimination of the permitted discharge;
         2. B. Strength, volume, or timing of discharges;
         3. C. Or addition to process lines generating wastewater.
      4. (iv) Intentional failure of a user to accurately report the discharge constituents and characteristics or to report significant changes in plant operations or wastewater characteristics.
3. (3) Confidential information.
   1. (a) All information and data on a user obtained from reports, questionnaires, permit applications, permits and monitoring programs and from inspection shall be available to the public or any governmental agency without restriction unless the user specifically requests and is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the pretreatment coordinator that the release of such information would divulge information, processes, or methods of production entitled to protection as trade secrets of the users.
   2. (b) When requested by the person furnishing the report, the portions of a report which might disclose trade secrets or secret processes shall not be made available for inspection by the public but shall be made available to governmental agencies for use related to this chapter or the AUB's or user's NPDES permit; provided, however, that such portions of a report shall 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.
   3. (c) Information accepted by the pretreatment coordinator as confidential shall not be transmitted to any governmental agency or to the general public by the pretreatment coordinator until and unless prior and adequate notification is given to the user.

(Code 1995, § 18-302; Ord. No. 972, 11-18-2008)