Sec. 15-4. - Sewer connection and wastewater discharge permits.

(a)

General requirements. The following general requirements shall be applicable for all existing and proposed users of the wastewater treatment facility:

(1)

It shall be unlawful for any person to connect, permit the connection of, or authorize the connection of any service line to the wastewater treatment system without obtaining tie-in approval and a wastewater discharge permit from the town prior to making such connection.

(2)

No building permit for the construction or alteration of any building or structure which requires a sewer connection shall be issued, unless the owner of the property on which such building or structure is to be situated has obtained a wastewater discharge permit.

(3)

No permit shall be issued until the applicant has presented proof satisfactory to the superintendent that the applicant has either made application for a building permit or notified the building official's office of the proposed change in use or occupancy in accordance with the town's zoning ordinance.

(4)

The application shall be referred to the superintendent of the water pollution control facility.

(5)

Wastewater discharge permits shall be issued on a first come, first served basis.

(6)

Any service line which was connected without a town wastewater discharge permit, or which was connected as a result of any false statement, misrepresentation or nondisclosure on the application therefor, or which was connected through any means which circumvented the limitations created by this article shall be disconnected from the sanitary sewer system.

(7)

Any user violating any provision of this subsection (a) shall be fined in accordance with section 15-21.

(b)

Classes of permits; applications.

(1)

There shall be three classes of sewer permits:

a.

For significant industrial users.

b.

For domestic, commercial and industrial sources not classified as significant industrial users.

c.

For commercial users or establishments which do not discharge domestic wastes. This includes, but is not limited to, the following establishments: restaurants, food service industries, photographic processors, laundromats and linen services, laboratory services, emergency care walk-in services, mortuaries, and motor vehicle maintenance and/or washing facilities.

(2)

The superintendent may require other users to obtain wastewater discharge permits as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(3)

Obtaining a wastewater discharge permit does not relieve a permittee of its obligation to comply with all federal, state and local pretreatment standards or other requirements.

(c)

Permit applications. Prior to connecting and/or contributing to the wastewater treatment system, all users shall apply for a wastewater contribution permit.

(1)

Significant industrial user.

a.

Users classified as significant industrial users shall be required to obtain an industrial wastewater discharge permit. All industrial users shall be required to obtain, complete and file with the town an industrial wastewater discharge permit application and questionnaire.

b.

Proposed new industrial users shall apply at least 90 days prior to connecting to or contributing to the wastewater treatment system.

c.

An industrial user connected to or contributing to the wastewater treatment system without applying for or possessing an industrial wastewater discharge permit shall be subject to enforcement procedures as deemed appropriate by the town.

d.

The town will evaluate the data furnished by the user and may require additional information. After evaluation and acceptance of the data furnished, the town may issue a wastewater discharge permit subject to terms and conditions produced herein.

(2)

Domestic, commercial, and industrial users not classified as significant industrial users.

a.

Domestic users, commercial users, and industrial users not classified as significant, required to obtain a permit, shall complete and file with the town an application in the form prescribed by the town.

b.

A licensed underground utility contractor or a state-licensed master plumber shall complete and file an application in the name of the owner, obtain the owner's signature thereon, pay the application and inspection fee, and submit a location plan. The location plan shall show the lot lines and dimensions, location of water pipes, gas lines, and buried cable, location of permanent buildings and location of building sewers, storm drains and the water authority meter number and initial reading. The plans must be approved and stamped by a registered professional engineer or registered land surveyor.

(3)

Commercial users or establishments discharging nondomestic wastes. Users discharging nondomestic wastes shall be required to obtain a permit, and shall complete and file with the town a commercial user pretreatment application in the form prescribed by the town. Such users shall install pretreatment apparatus if required by the superintendent. Such apparatus shall include, but not be limited to, grease traps, oil separators, silver reclamation units, lint screens and grit separators.

a.

Grease, oil and solids interceptors. An interceptor (trap) shall be required to receive the drainage from fixtures and equipment discharging excessive amounts of grease, oil or sand. This applies to establishments such as restaurants, clubs, hotel kitchens, bars, factory cafeterias, car washes, and any establishment which, in the opinion of the superintendent, is necessary for the proper handling of liquid wastes containing grease in excessive amounts, or any flammable wastes, sand, or other harmful ingredients. All costs incurred in obtaining, installing and maintaining the interceptor and appurtenances shall be borne by the establishment. Interceptors shall be of a type and capacity as determined by the superintendent. All interceptors shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. Interceptors shall not be required for private living quarters or dwelling units.

b.

All such pretreatment apparatus shall be approved by the superintendent prior to installation. All cost incurred in obtaining, installing and maintaining the pretreatment apparatus and appurtenances shall be borne by the establishment. All pretreatment apparatus shall be located as to be readily and easily accessible for cleaning and inspection. The establishment must clean the pretreatment apparatus a minimum of twice per year or more frequently as determined by the superintendent. Maintenance records must be kept for a minimum of three years, and made available to wastewater treatment personnel. Collected materials shall not be introduced into the wastewater treatment system.

c.

All establishments regulated by this section must obtain and complete a grease and solids interceptor application with the town prior to installation and permit issuance. Such permits shall be renewable on an annual basis.

(4)

Privately owned wastewater treatment facilities. Privately owned and operated pump stations and collection systems connected to the regional wastewater treatment system must adhere to the following:

a.

Owners of privately owned wastewater treatment facilities shall maintain the system in good working order. Proper operation and maintenance shall include, but not be limited to, effective performance based on facility design, adequate operator staffing and training, and adequate laboratory and process controls, including quality assurance procedures as determined to be appropriate by the town and backup or auxiliary facilities or similar systems to ensure compliance or effective performance. Proper operation and maintenance must include emergency procedures and reporting requirements in case of power outages, natural disaster, labor shortage (whether the result of intentional work stoppages or epidemic), equipment failure, acts of terrorism/vandalism or sanitary sewer overflow. Reporting requirements shall include verbal notification to the director and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) as soon as possible, but not exceeding 24 hours of discovery of the event; and a written report must be submitted to the director and RIDEM not more than five business days of the event's ending.

b.

The owner shall submit, for review and approval by the superintendent, an operations and maintenance manual describing standards and procedures by which the wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations and/or collection systems will be staffed, operated and maintained during normal and emergency conditions. Should development of the plan include the practice of engineering, the plan must be prepared and certified by a registered professional engineer (registered in the state).

1.

Owners of existing privately owned pump stations shall submit an operations and maintenance manual and pay all associated fees as presented in appendix B.

2.

For newly constructed privately owned pump stations, the operations and maintenance manual must be submitted prior to the superintendent issuing a sewer permit. The fee shall be submitted at the time of the submittal as presented in appendix B.

3.

The contents of the operations and maintenance manual shall be as outlined in the standard sanitary sewer requirements of the town.

(d)

Fee.

(1)

A permit and inspection fee, per unit, for a domestic or commercial building sewer permit must be paid to the town at the time the application is filed. The fee provides for site inspections and is specified in appendix B.

(2)

The permit and inspection fee for an industrial building sewer permit must be paid to the town at the time of the application. The fee provides for site inspections, and is specified in appendix B.

(3)

The permit application fee for an establishment requiring a grease, oil or solids interceptor (trap), silver recovery system, etc., must be paid to the town at the time of the application. The application fee is specified in appendix B.

(e)

Owner's cost. The owner is to bear the cost and expense of installation and connection. All costs and expenses incident to the installation and connection of the building sewer shall be borne by the owner. The owner shall indemnify the town from any loss or damage that may directly or indirectly be occasioned by the installation of the building sewer.

(f)

Permit conditions. Industrial wastewater discharge permits shall be subject to all provisions of this chapter and all other applicable regulations and fees established by the town. The conditions of wastewater discharge permits shall be uniformly enforced. Permits may contain the following:

(1)

The unit charge or schedule of user charges and fees for the wastewater to be discharged to a community sewer;

(2)

Limits on the average and maximum wastewater constituents and characteristics. Limits shall be derived from federal categorical standards and/or calculated local limit values using EPA-approved methodology;

(3)

Limits on average and maximum rate and time of discharge or requirements for flow regulations and equalization;

(4)

Requirements for installation and maintenance of inspection and sampling facilities;

(5)

Specifications for monitoring programs which may include sampling locations, frequency of sampling, number, types and standards for tests and the reporting schedule;

(6)

Compliance schedules;

(7)

Requirements for submission of technical reports or discharge reports;

(8)

Requirements for maintaining and retaining plant records relating to wastewater discharge as specified by the town, and affording town access thereto;

(9)

Requirements for notification of the town of any new introduction of wastewater constituents or any substantial change in the volume or character of the wastewater constituents being introduced into the wastewater treatment system;

(10)

Requirements for notification of accidental discharges as per section 15-6(f);

(11)

Other conditions as deemed appropriate by the town to ensure compliance with this chapter.

(g)

Permit duration and modification. Permits shall be issued for a specified time period, not to exceed five years. A permit may be issued for a period of less than a year or may be stated to expire on a specific date. The user shall apply for permit renewal a minimum of 90 days prior to the expiration of the user's existing permit. The terms and conditions of a permit may be subject to modification by the town during the term of the permit as limitations or requirements as identified in section 15-3 are modified or other just cause exists. The user shall be informed of any proposed changes in his permit at least 30 days prior to the effective dates of change. Any changes or new conditions in the permit shall include a reasonable time schedule for compliance.

(h)

Permit transfer. Wastewater discharge permits are issued to a specific user for a specific operation. A wastewater discharge permit shall not be reassigned, transferred or sold to a new owner, new user, different premises, or a new or changed operation.

(i)

Fees to be paid before permit issuance. All applicable fees charged by the sewer commission shall be paid in full prior to the issuance of a sewer permit.

(Code 1970, § 15-4; Res. of 4-10-1990; Res. No. 97-06, 1-7-1997; Ord. No. 2001-11, 8-21-2001; Ord. No. 2008-2, 2-5-2008; Ord. No. 2009-7, 6-16-2009)