10.31.050 General provisions | Pullman City Code

10.31.050 General provisions.

(1) An illicit discharge does not include the existence of water or pollutants contained on private property, provided such water or pollutants are not discharged into the MS4 or waters of the state.

(a) It is unlawful for any person to discharge one or more pollutants into any of the MS4 or waters of the state such that the discharge either:

(i) Causes or contributes to a violation of applicable State Water Quality Standards; or

(ii) Causes or contributes to a violation of the City’s NPDES Phase II permit.

(b) Prohibited discharges to the MS4 or waters of the state include, but are not limited to, the following:

(i) Trash or debris;

(ii) Construction materials;

(iii) Petroleum products including, but not limited to, oil, gasoline, grease, fuel oil, heating oil;

(iv) Antifreeze and other automotive products;

(v) Metals;

(vi) Flammable or explosive materials;

(vii) Chemicals not normally found in uncontaminated water;

(viii) Acids, alkalis, or bases;

(ix) Painting products;

(x) Degreasers and/or solvents;

(xi) Drain cleaners;

(xii) Commercial and household cleaning products;

(xiii) Fertilizers or pesticides (including but not limited to herbicides, insecticides, etc.);

(xiv) Steam cleaning wastes;

(xv) Pressure washing wastes;

(xvi) Soaps, detergents, or ammonia;

(xvii) Chlorinated spa or swimming pool water;

(xviii) Domestic or sanitary sewage;

(xix) Animal carcasses;

(xx) Food wastes;

(xxi) Yard wastes;

(xxii) Any hazardous material or waste not listed above;

(xxiii) Non-NPDES permitted wastewater.

(c) The following discharges to the MS4 or waters of the state are not prohibited unless the Administrator determines that the type and/or amount of discharge is causing significant contamination of surface water:

(i) Diverted stream flows (i.e., channeled or piped streams);

(ii) Rising ground waters and springs;

(iii) Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;

(iv) Uncontaminated ground water infiltration (as defined in 40 C.F.R. 35.2005(b)(20));

(v) Uncontaminated pumped ground water;

(vi) Foundation, footing and roof drains;

(vii) Air conditioning condensation;

(viii) Irrigation water from agricultural sources that is commingled with urban stormwater;

(ix) Uncontaminated water from crawl space pumps;

(x) Non-stormwater discharges covered by another NPDES permit or state waste discharge permit;

(xi) Discharges from emergency fire fighting activities, in accordance with S2 – Authorized Discharges.

(d) The following types of discharges to the MS4 or waters of the state shall only be permitted if the stated conditions are met:

(i) Discharges from potable water sources, including water line flushing, fire hydrant system flushing, and pipeline hydrostatic test water; planned discharges shall be de-chlorinated to a concentration of 0.1 ppm or less, pH-adjusted if necessary, and volumetrically and velocity controlled to prevent re-suspension of sediments in the stormwater drainage system;

(ii) Discharges from lawn watering and other irrigation runoff; these discharges shall be minimized through water conservation efforts;

(iii) Dechlorinated spa or swimming pool discharges; these discharges shall be dechlorinated to a concentration of 0.1 ppm or less, pH-adjusted and reoxygenized if necessary, and volumetrically and velocity controlled to prevent re-suspension of sediments in the stormwater drainage system. Discharges shall be thermally controlled to prevent an increase in temperature of the receiving water. Spa or swimming pool cleaning wastewater and filter backwash shall not be discharged to the stormwater drainage system;

(iv) Discharges of street and sidewalk wash water, water used to control dust, and routine external building wash down that does not use detergents; these discharges shall be minimized by the city through public education activities. To avoid washing pollutants into the MS4, permittees shall minimize the amount of street wash and dust control water used;

(v) Other Non-Stormwater Discharges. Other non-stormwater discharges shall be in compliance with the requirements of a pollution prevention plan reviewed by the City which addresses control of such discharges.

(e) Discharge prohibitions shall not apply to any non-stormwater discharge permitted under an NPDES permit, waiver, or waste discharge order issued to the discharger and administered under the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency or Washington State Department of Ecology; provided, that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit, waiver, or order and other applicable laws and regulations; and provided, that written approval has been granted for any discharge to the stormwater drainage system.

(a) The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to the stormwater drainage system is prohibited.

(b) This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under law or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection.

(4) Violation of Health and Sanitation Codes. Violation of Chapters 5.01 (Pullman Nuisance Control Code), 5.40 (Solid Waste Collection and Removal), and 5.45 PCC (Litter Control) is prohibited to the extent that it may cause or contribute to pollution of the MS4 or waters of the state. (Ord. 23-3 §3, 2023; Ord. 09-21 §6, 2009).