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Town of Calera
Oklahoma · Est. 1872
Chapter

CHAPTER 53 — Sewer Service

General Provisions

§ 53.01 Definitions

   For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly requires a different meaning.
   APPROVING AUTHORITY. The Public Works Authority or its duly-authorized representative.
   BOD or BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. The quantity of oxygen by weight, expressed in milligrams per liter, utilized in the biochemical oxidation of organic matter under standard laboratory conditions for five days at a temperature of 20°C.
   BUILDING SEWER. The extension from the building drain to the public sewer or other place of disposal, also called a HOUSE LATERAL or HOUSE CONNECTION.
   COD or CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND. The measure of the oxygen-consuming capacity of inorganic and organic matter present in the water or wastewater, expressed in milligrams per liter, as the amount of oxygen consumed from a chemical oxidant in a specific test, but not differentiating between stable and unstable organic matter, and thus not necessarily correlating with biochemical oxygen demand.
   CONTROL MANHOLE. A manhole giving access to a building sewer at some point before the building sewer discharge mixes with other discharges in the public sewer.
   CONTROL POINT. A point of access to a course of discharge before the discharge mixes with other discharges in the public sewer.
   GARBAGE. Animal and vegetable wastes and residue from the preparing, cooking and dispensing of food, and from the handling, processing, storing and selling of food products and produce.
   INDUSTRIAL WASTE. Waste resulting from any process of industry, manufacturing, trade or business from the development of any natural resource, or any mixture of the waste with water or normal wastewater, or distinct from normal wastewater.
   INDUSTRIAL WASTE CHARGE. The charge made on those persons who discharge industrial wastes into the town sewerage system.
   MILLIGRAMS PER LITER or mg/l. The same as parts per million, and is a weight-to-volume ratio; the milligram-per-liter value multiplied by the factor 8.34 shall be equivalent to pounds per million gallons of water.
   NATURAL OUTLET. Any outlet into a watercourse, ditch, lake or other body of surface water or groundwater.
   NORMAL DOMESTIC WASTEWATER. Wastewater, excluding industrial wastewater, discharged by a person into sanitary sewers, and in which the average concentration of total suspended solids is not more than 200 milligrams per liter and the BOD is not more than 200 milligrams per liter.
   OVERLOAD. The imposition of organic or hydraulic loading on a treatment facility in excess of its engineered design capacity.
   PERSON. A corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association or any other legal entity.
   pH. The logarithm, base ten, of the reciprocal of the hydrogen ion concentration.
   PUBLIC SEWER. Pipes or conduits carrying wastewater or unpolluted drainage of which owners of abutting properties shall have the use, subject to control by the town.
   SANITARY SEWER. A public sewer which conveys domestic wastewater, industrial wastes or a combination of both, and into which stormwater, surface water, groundwater and other unpolluted wastes are not intentionally passed.
   SLUG. Any discharge of water, wastewater or industrial wastes 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 or flow during normal operation.
   STANDARD METHODS. The examination and analytical procedures set forth in the latest edition, at the time of analysis, of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater as prepared, approved and published jointly by the American Public Health Association, the American Water Works Association and the Water Pollution Control Federation.
   STORM SEWER. A public sewer which carries stormwater, surface water and drainage, and into which domestic wastewater or industrial wastes are not intentionally passed.
   STORMWATER. Rainfall or any other forms of precipitation.
   SUPERINTENDENT. The Water and Wastewater Superintendent of the town or his or her duly- authorized deputy, agent or representative.
   SUSPENDED SOLIDS. Solids, measured in milligrams per liter, which either float on the surface of or are in suspension in water, wastewater or other liquids, and which are largely removable by a laboratory filtration device.
   TO DISCHARGE. To deposit, conduct, drain, emit, throw, run, allow to seep or otherwise release or dispose of, or to allow, permit or suffer any of these acts or emissions.
   TRAP. A device designed to skim, settle or otherwise remove grease, oil, sand, flammable wastes or other harmful substances.
   UNPOLLUTED WASTEWATER. Water containing:
      (1)   No free or emulsified grease or oil;
      (2)   No acids or alkalies;
      (3)   No phenols or other substances producing taste or odor in the receiving water;
      (4)   No toxic or poisonous substances in suspension, colloidal state or solution;
      (5)   No noxious or otherwise obnoxious or odorous gases;
      (6)   Not more than an insignificant amount, in milligrams per liter, each of suspended solids and BOD, as determined by the State Health Department; and
      (7)   Color not exceeding 50 units as measured by the platinum-cobalt method of determination as specified in Standard Methods.
   WASTE. Rejected, unutilized or superfluous substances in liquid, gaseous or solid form resulting from domestic, agricultural or industrial activities.
   WASTEWATER. A combination of the water-carried waste from residences, business buildings, institutions and industrial establishments together with any groundwater, surface water and stormwater which may be present.
   WASTEWATER FACILITIES. Includes all facilities for collection, pumping, treating and disposing of wastewater and industrial wastes.
   WASTEWATER SERVICE CHARGE. The charge on all users of the public sewer system whose wastes do not exceed in strength the concentration values established as representative of normal wastewater.
   WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. Any town-owned facilities, devices and structures used for receiving, processing and treating wastewater, industrial wastes and sludges from the sanitary sewers.
   WATERCOURSE. A natural or human-made channel in which a flow of water occurs, either continuously or intermittently.
(Prior Code, § 17-301)

§ 53.02 New Sewers, Sewer Lines And Connections

   (A)   New sewer lines. All new sewer lines will be constructed in accordance with the State Health Department’s construction and plumbing codes.
(Prior Code, § 17-323)
   (B)   New sewers and connections. The connection of a building sewer into the public sewer shall conform to the requirements of the town’s building and plumbing codes and to other applicable rules and regulations of the town. All new sanitary sewage works shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the State Department of Health’s regulations. When a public sewer becomes available within 150 feet, the building sewer shall be connected to the sewer within 60 days.
(Prior Code, § 17-303)
Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.03 Compliance With Existing Authority

   (A)   Unless an exception is granted by the approving authority, the public sanitary sewer system shall be used by all persons discharging:
      (1)   Wastewater;
      (2)   Industrial wastes;
      (3)   Polluted liquids; or
      (4)   Unpolluted waters or liquids.
   (B)   Unless authorized by the approving authority, no person may deposit or discharge any waste included in division (A) above on public or private property into or adjacent to any:
      (1)   Natural outlet;
      (2)   Watercourse;
      (3)   Storm sewer; or
      (4)   Other area within the jurisdiction of the town.
   (C)   The approving authority shall verify prior to discharge that wastes authorized to be discharged will receive suitable treatment within the provisions of the laws, regulations, ordinances, rules and orders of federal, state and local governments.
(Prior Code, § 17-309) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.04 Approving Authority Requirements

   (A)   If discharges or proposed discharges to public sewers may deleteriously affect wastewater facilities, processes, equipment or receiving waters, create a hazard to life or health or create a public nuisance, then the approving authority shall require:
      (1)   Pretreatment to an acceptable condition for discharge to the public sewers;
      (2)   Control over the quantities and rates of discharge; and
      (3)   Payment to cover the cost of handling and treating the wastes.
   (B)   The approving authority is entitled to determine whether a discharge or proposed discharge is included under division (A) above.
   (C)   The approving authority shall reject wastes when:
      (1)   It determines that a discharge or proposed discharge is included under division (A) above; and
      (2)   The discharge does not meet the requirements of division (A) above.
(Prior Code, § 17-310)

§ 53.05 Approving Authority Review And Approval

   (A)   If pretreatment or control is required, then the approving authority shall review and approve the design and installation of equipment and processes.
   (B)   The design and installation of equipment and processes must conform to all applicable statutes, codes, ordinances and other laws.
   (C)   Any person responsible for discharges requiring pretreatment, flow equalizing or other facilities shall provide and maintain the facilities in effective operating condition at his or her own expense.
(Prior Code, § 17-311) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.06 Power To Enter Property

   (A)   The approving authority and other duly-authorized employees of the town or of the authority who bear proper credentials and identification are entitled to enter any public or private property at any reasonable time for the purpose of enforcing this chapter.
   (B)   Anyone acting under this authority shall observe the establishment’s rules and regulations concerning safety, internal security and fire protection.
   (C)   The approving authority and other duly-authorized employees of the town or of the authority who bear proper credentials and identification are entitled to enter all private properties through which the town holds a negotiated easement for the purposes of:
      (1)   Inspection, observation, measurement, sampling or repair;
      (2)   Maintenance of any portion of the sewerage system lying within the easements; and
      (3)   Conducting any other authorized activity.
   (D)   All activities shall be conducted in full accordance with the terms of the negotiated easement pertaining to the private property involved.
   (E)   No person acting under the authority of this section may inquire into any processes, including metallurgical, chemical, oil refining, ceramic, paper or other industries, beyond that point having a direct bearing on the kind and source of discharge to the public sewers.
(Prior Code, § 17-317) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.07 Trap Requirements

   (A)   Discharges requiring a trap include:
      (1)   Grease, or waste containing grease in excessive amounts;
      (2)   Oil;
      (3)   Sand;
      (4)   Flammable wastes; and
      (5)   Other harmful ingredients.
   (B)   Any person responsible for discharges requiring a trap shall, at his or her own expense and as required by the approving authority:
      (1)   Provide equipment and facilities of a type and capacity approved by the approving authority;
      (2)   Locate the trap in a manner which provides ready and easy accessibility for cleaning and inspection; and
      (3)   Maintain the trap in effective operating condition.
(Prior Code, § 17-312) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.08 Building Sewer Requirements

   Any person responsible for discharges through a building sewer carrying industrial wastes shall, at his or her own expense and as required by the approving authority:
   (A)   Install an accessible and safely-located control manhole;
   (B)   Install meters and other appurtenances to facilitate observation sampling and measurement of the waste; and
   (C)   Maintain the equipment and facilities.
(Prior Code, § 17-313) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.09 Conducting Sampling And Testing

   (A)   Sampling shall be conducted according to customarily-accepted methods, reflect the effect of constituents upon the sewage works and determine the existence of hazards to health, life, limb and property. The particular analysis involved will determine whether a 24-hour composite sample from all falls of a premises is appropriate or whether a grab sample or samples should be taken.
      (1)   Normally, but not always, BOD and suspended solids analyses will be obtained from 24-hour composites of all outfalls. Where applicable, 16-hour, eight-hour or some other period may be required.
      (2)   Periodic grab samples will be used to determine pH.
   (B)   The examination and analysis of the characteristics of waters and wastes required by this chapter shall be:
      (1)   Conducted in accordance with the Standard Methods; and
      (2)   Determined from a suitable sample taken at the control manhole provided or at another control point authorized by the approving authority.
   (C)   BOD and suspended solids shall be determined from composite sampling, except to detect unauthorized discharges.
   (D)   The town may select an independent firm or laboratory to determine flow, BOD and suspended solids.
   (E)   The town is entitled to select the time of sampling at its sole discretion so long as at least annual samples are taken.
(Prior Code, § 17-314)

§ 53.10 Savings Clause

   A person discharging industrial wastes into public sewers prior to the effective date of this chapter may continue without penalty so long as he or she:
   (A)   Does not increase the quantity or quality of discharge without the permission of the approving authority;
   (B)   Has discharged the industrial waste at least 30 days prior to the effective date of this chapter; and
   (C)   Applies for and is granted a permit not later than 30 days after the effective date of this chapter.
(Prior Code, § 17-315) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.11 Permit Conditions

   (A)   Continuing discharges. The town may grant a permit to discharge to a person meeting all requirements of the savings clause, provided that the person:
      (1)   Submits an application within 90 days after the effective date of this chapter on a form supplied by the approving authority;
      (2)   Secures approval by the approving authority of plans and specifications for pretreatment facilities, when required;
      (3)   Provides a sampling point subject to the provisions of this chapter and the approval of the approving authority; and
      (4)   Has complied with all requirements for agreements or arrangements, including, but not limited to, provisions for:
         (a)   The payment of charges;
         (b)   The installation and operation of pretreatment facilities; and
         (c)   Sampling and analysis to determine quantity and strength.
   (B)   New discharges. A person applying for a new discharge shall:
      (1)   Meet all conditions of division (A) above; and
      (2)   Secure a permit prior to discharging any waste.
(Prior Code, § 17-316)

§ 53.12 Authority To Disconnect Service

   (A)   The town may terminate water and wastewater disposal services and disconnect an industrial customer from the system when:
      (1)   Acids or chemicals which cause damage to sewer lines or the treatment process are released to the sewer, causing rapid deterioration of these structures or interfering with the proper conveyance and treatment of wastewater;
      (2)   A governmental agency informs the town that the effluent from the wastewater treatment plant is no longer of a quality permitted for discharge to a watercourse, and it is found that the customer is delivering wastewater to the town’s system which cannot be sufficiently treated or which requires treatment that is not provided by the town as normal domestic treatment; or
      (3)   The industrial customer:
         (a)   Discharges industrial waste or wastewater which is in violation of the permit issued by the approving authority;
         (b)   Discharges wastewater at an uncontrolled, variable rate in sufficient quantity to cause an imbalance in the wastewater treatment system;
         (c)   Fails to pay the monthly bills for water and sanitary sewer services when due; or
         (d)   Repeats a discharge of prohibited wastes to public sewers.
   (B)   If service is discontinued pursuant to division (A)(2) above, then the town shall:
      (1)   Disconnect the customer;
      (2)   Supply the customer with the governmental agency’s report and provide the customer with all pertinent information; and
      (3)   Continue the disconnection until such time as the industrial customer provides additional pretreatment or other facilities designed to remove the objectionable characteristics from his or her industrial waste or complies with the town’s payment procedures.
(Prior Code, § 17-318) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.13 Notice Upon Violation; Continuing Discharges Prohibited

   (A)   Notice issuance. The town shall serve persons discharging in violation of this chapter with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for satisfactory compliance.
(Prior Code, § 17-319)
   (B)   Continuation prohibited. No person may continue discharging in violation of this chapter beyond the time limit provided in the notice.
(Prior Code, § 17-320)
Penalty, see § 53.99
Discharge Provisions

§ 53.25 Industrial Discharges; Industrial Cost Recovery

   (A)   Discharges prohibited. All industrial discharges are prohibited. If an industrial user should desire to make use of the sewerage system, then an industrial cost recovery system will be initiated in accordance with the regulations at that time to compensate for the use of the system.
(Prior Code, § 17-302)
   (B)   Cost recovery system. An industrial cost recovery system will be developed in accordance with federal requirements if an industry is located in the town.
(Prior Code, § 17-324)
Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.26 Permitted Discharges

   (A)   All discharges shall conform to the requirements of this chapter.
   (B)   All discharges shall be prohibited except for those which meet the criteria for “domestic wastewater.” The BOD concentration shall not exceed 204 milligrams per liter, and suspended solids shall not exceed 240 milligrams per liter.
   (C)   All waste, wastewater and other substances containing phenols, hydrogen, sulfide or other taste- and odor-producing substances shall conform to the concentration limits established by the approving authority. After treatment of the composite wastewater, the concentration limits may not exceed the requirements established by state, federal or other agencies with jurisdiction over discharges to receiving waters.
   (D)   The maximum allowable concentrations of heavy metals stated in terms of milligrams per liter, determined on the basis of individual sampling in accordance with the Standard Methods, are as follows.
Heavy Metal
Concentration
Heavy Metal
Concentration
Arsenic
0.05 mg/l
Barium
5.0 mg/l
Boron
1.0 mg/l
Cadmium
0.02 mg/l
Chromium (total)
5.0 mg/l
Copper
1.0 mg/l
Lead
0.1 mg/l
Manganese
1.0 mg/l
Mercury
0.005 mg/l
Nickel
1.0 mg/l
Selenium
0.02 mg/l
Silver
0.1 mg/l
Zinc
5.0 mg/l
 
   (E)   No other heavy metals or toxic materials may be discharged into public sewers without a permit from the approving authority specifying the conditions of pretreatment, concentration volumes and other applicable provisions.
(Prior Code, § 17-302) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.27 Prohibited Discharges

   (A)   No person may discharge to public sewers any waste which by itself or by interaction with other wastes may:
      (1)   Injure or interfere with wastewater treatment processes or facilities;
      (2)   Constitute a hazard to humans or animals; or
      (3)   Create a hazard in the receiving waters of the wastewater plant effluent.
   (B)   Any new connection from inflow sources into the sanitary sewer portion of the sewer system shall be prohibited.
   (C)   No discharge to public sewers may contain:
      (1)   Cyanide greater than 1.0 milligrams per liter;
      (2)   Fluoride, other than that contained in the public water supply;
      (3)   Chlorides in concentrations greater than 250 milligrams per liter;
      (4)   Gasoline, benzene, naphtha, fuel oil or other flammable or explosive liquids, solids or gases; or
      (5)   Substances causing an excessive chemical oxygen demand (COD).
   (D)   No waste or wastewater discharged to public waters may contain:
      (1)   Strong acid, iron pickling wastes or concentrated plating solutions, whether neutralized or not;
      (2)   Fats, waxes, greases or oils, whether emulsified or not, in excess of 100 milligrams per liter or containing substances which may solidify or become viscous at temperatures between 32°F and 150°F, or 0°C and 65°C;
      (3)   Objectionable or toxic substances exerting an excessive chlorine requirement to such a degree that any such material received in the composite wastewater at the wastewater treatment works exceeds the limits established by the approving authority for such materials; or
      (4)   Obnoxious, toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases in quantities sufficient to violate the provisions of division (A) above.
   (E)   No waste, wastewater or other substance may be discharged into public sewers which has a pH lower than 5.5 or higher than 9.5, or any other corrosive property capable of causing damage or hazard to structures, equipment or personnel at the wastewater facilities.
   (F)   No discharges may contain concentrations of heavy metals greater than the amounts specified in § 53.26(D) of this chapter.
   (G)   Prohibited heavy metals and toxic materials include, but are not limited to:
      (1)   Antimony;
      (2)   Beryllium;
      (3)   Bismuth;
      (4)   Cobalt;
      (5)   Molybdenum;
      (6)   Rhenium;
      (7)   Strontium;
      (8)   Tellurium;
      (9)   Tin;
      (10)   Uranyl ion;
      (11)   Herbicides;
      (12)   Fungicides; and
      (13)   Pesticides.
(Prior Code, § 17-302) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.28 Stormwater And Unpolluted Drainage

   No person may discharge to public sanitary sewers:
   (A)   Unpolluted stormwater, surface water, groundwater, roof runoff or subsurface drainage;
   (B)   Unpolluted cooling water;
   (C)   Unpolluted industrial process waters; or
   (D)   Other unpolluted drainage.
(Prior Code, § 17-305) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.29 Garbage Discharge Restrictions

   (A)   No person may discharge garbage into public sewers unless it is shredded to such a degree that all particles can be carried freely under the flow conditions normally prevailing in the public sewers. Particles greater than one-half inch in any dimension are prohibited.
   (B)   The approving authority is entitled to review and approve the installation and operation of any garbage grinder equipped with a motor of three-fourths horsepower or greater.
(Prior Code, § 17-304) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.30 Temperature Restrictions

   (A)   No person may discharge liquid or vapor having a temperature of 150°F, 65°C, or any substance which causes the temperature of the total wastewater treatment plant influent to increase at a rate of 10°F or more per hour or a combined total increase of plant influent temperature to 100°F.
   (B)   In compliance with state law, the approving authority may designate storm sewers and other watercourses into which unpolluted drainage described in division (A) above may be discharged.
(Prior Code, § 17-306) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.31 Radioactive Waste Discharge Restrictions

   No person may discharge radioactive wastes or isotopes into the public sewers without the permission of the approving authority. The approving authority may establish, in compliance with applicable state and federal regulations, regulations for the discharge of radioactive wastes into public sewers.
(Prior Code, § 17-307) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.32 Discharges Impairing Facilities Prohibited

   (A)   No person may discharge into public sewers any substances capable of causing:
      (1)   Obstruction of the flow in sewers;
      (2)   Interference with the operation of treatment plant processes or facilities; or
      (3)   Excessive loading of the treatment facilities.
   (B)   No person may discharge into public sewers any substances which may:
      (1)   Deposit grease or oil in the sewer lines in such a manner so as to clog or partially clog the sewers;
      (2)   Overload skimming and grease-handling equipment;
      (3)   Pass to receiving waters without being effectively treated by normal wastewater treatment processes due to nonamenability of the substance to bacterial action; or
      (4)   Deleteriously affect the treatment process due to excessive quantities.
   (C)   No person may discharge into public sewers any substance which is:
      (1)   Not amenable to treatment by the processes and facilities employed; or
      (2)   Amenable to treatment only to such a degree that the treatment plant effluent cannot meet the requirements of other agencies having jurisdiction over discharges to receiving waters.
   (D)   Prohibited discharges include, but are not limited to, materials which exert or cause concentrations of:
      (1)   Inert suspended solids greater than 250 milligrams per liter, including, but not limited to:
         (a)   Fuller’s earth;
         (b)   Lime slurries; and
         (c)   Lime residues.
      (2)   Dissolved solids greater than 500 milligrams per liter, including, but not limited to:
         (a)   Sodium chloride; and
         (b)   Sodium sulfate.
      (3)   Excessive discoloration, including, but not limited to:
         (a)   Dye wastes; or
         (b)   Vegetable tanning solutions.
      (4)   BOD, COD or chlorine demands in excess of normal plant capacity.
   (E)   The approving authority shall regulate the flow for the concentration of slugs when they may:
      (1)   Impair the treatment process;
      (2)   Cause damage to collection facilities;
      (3)   Incur treatment costs exceeding those for normal wastewater; or
      (4)   Render the waste unfit for stream disposal or industrial use.
   (F)   No person may discharge into public sewers solid or viscous substances which may violate division (A) above if present in sufficient quantity or size, including, but not limited to:
      (1)   Ashes;
      (2)   Cinders;
      (3)   Sand;
      (4)   Mud;
      (5)   Straw;
      (6)   Shavings;
      (7)   Metal;
      (8)   Glass;
      (9)   Rags;
      (10)   Feathers;
      (11)   Tar;
      (12)   Plastics;
      (13)   Wood;
      (14)   Unground garbage;
      (15)   Whole blood;
      (16)   Paunch manure;
      (17)   Hair and fleshings;
      (18)   Entrails;
      (19)   Paper products, either whole or ground by garbage grinders;
      (20)   Slops;
      (21)   Chemical residues;
      (22)   Paint residues; or
      (23)   Bulk solids.
(Prior Code, § 17-308) Penalty, see § 53.99

§ 53.99 Penalty

   (A)   Any person violating any provision of this chapter for which no specific penalty is prescribed shall be subject to § 10.99(A) of this code of ordinances.
   (B)   A person who continues prohibited discharges may be subject to termination of water and sewer services. In addition to proceeding under the authority of division (A) above, the town is entitled to pursue all other legal remedies to which it is entitled, including a fine as provided in § 10.99(A) of this code.
(Prior Code, § 17-321)
   (C)   In addition to the sanctions provided for by this chapter, the town is entitled to exercise sanctions provided for by the other ordinances of the town for failure to pay the bill for water and sanitary sewer service when due.
(Prior Code, § 17-322)