15.04.040 Prohibited acts | Bellingham Municipal Code

15.04.040 Prohibited acts.

A. To open, close, or interfere with any fire hydrant, stop valve or stopcock belonging to the city unless authorized to do so by the public works department. The city fire department, or volunteer fire departments holding the appropriate permit, are exempt from this subsection;

B. To disturb or damage any pipe, machinery, or other property of the department of public works;

C. To introduce any unauthorized substance into any city reservoir or any other part of the city’s water distribution system;

D. To disturb, damage, or interfere with any manhole, pipe, pump station, or other appurtenance of the sewer; or to deposit or discharge, or cause to be deposited or discharged, any solid, liquid, or gaseous waste through other than an approved connection to the sewer system;

E. To violate any restrictions on water usage imposed by the department or as otherwise provided by BMC 15.04.060(A) or (D);

F. To waste water or allow it to be wasted. For purposes of this section, to waste water includes, by way of example and not limitation, applying water to a landscape in sufficient quantity to cause significant runoff of that water to impervious areas; to allow significant overspray onto impervious areas such as streets, sidewalks, and driveways; applying water to a landscape in sufficient quantity to cause substantial puddling of that water at the ground surface; allowing imperfect or leaking pipes or other fixtures; or to use toilets without self-closing valves; or to allow any pipes or faucets to run open for more than 12 hours for any reason including to prevent the water service from freezing;

G. To apply water to purposes other than that for which the original application for service was made, unless a new application has been approved in the same manner as an original application;

H. To introduce stormwater, surface drainage, or septic tank wastes into the sanitary sewer system.

I. To discharge the following substances into the city sewer system (provided, that the prohibition of discharge of these substances shall not be construed as prohibiting any special agreement between the city and any person whereby waste of unusual strength or character may be admitted to the city sewer system):

1. Any solids, liquids, or gasses which may by themselves or by interaction with other substances cause fire or explosive hazards or be injurious to persons, property, or the wastewater treatment facility;

2. Any noxious or malodorous solid, liquid, or gas which may by itself or by interaction with other substances be capable of creating a public nuisance or hazard to life or preventing entry into the sewer or treatment works for their maintenance or repair;

3. Any solids, greases, waxes, slurries, or viscous material of such character or in such quantity that may cause an obstruction to the flow in the sewer or otherwise interfere with the proper functioning of treatment works;

4. Any toxic substance, chemical elements, or compounds in quantities sufficient to impair the operation of the treatment works; or that will pass through the treatment works and cause the effluent to exceed Department of Ecology discharge permit limits or cause the receiving water quality standards to be violated;

5. Any liquids having a pH lower than 6.5 or higher than 8.5 or having corrosive properties capable of causing damage, or hazards to the sewer system, persons, equipment, or treatment works;

6. Any radioactive isotopes;

7. Any liquid or vapor having a temperature greater than 140 degrees Fahrenheit;

8. Any garbage that has not been ground or shredded;

9. Any other substance which, in the opinion of the public works director, may be harmful to the structure personnel, processes, or operation of the sewer system. [amended during 2013 codification; Ord. 2006-06-063; Ord. 2001-07-051; Ord. 10093 §§ 5, 6, 1990; Ord. 10056 § 3, 1990; Ord. 9846 § 1, 1988; Ord. 8982 § 4, 1981].