PERMITS

Huntsville Code of Ordinances ch. 21, art. II, div. 5

in effect

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-151 Connection to sewer mains generally.

Sec. 21-151. - Connection to sewer mains generally. It shall be unlawful for any person to connect with or maintain a connection with any sewer main within the corporate limits of the city without first having secured a permit for such connection from the engineering division. (Code 1982, § 20-171)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-152 Industrial permits.

Sec. 21-152. - Industrial permits. (a) Any person owning or operating an industrial plant producing a liquid industrial waste of any quantity or strength or other qualities requiring special consideration, as relevant conditions are defined in this division, or who desires to make connection for the industrial waste-producing facilities of any such establishment, to the sanitary sewer system of the city, shall make application on the supplied forms to the engineering division for a permit authorizing such connection. A sample of the required form is attached. (See subsection (c) of this section.) (b) The engineering division shall not issue a plumbing permit for any industrial plant until the applicant presents a completed and approved industrial sewer connection application. (c) Application for a permit under this section shall be in essentially the following form: APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO DISCHARGE INDUSTRIAL WASTE TO: | Engineering Division City of Huntsville Post Office Box 308 Huntsville, Alabama 25804 | DATE: NAME OF FIRM: _____ ADDRESS: _____ _____ TELEPHONE: _____ Application is hereby made for a permit to discharge industrial waste into the sanitary sewer system of the City of Huntsville, Alabama. It is understood in making this application that should a change in ownership of the firm be made, a new application will be required. If the industrial waste is being pretreated prior to discharge into the sanitary sewer system, the method of treatment is indicated: _____ _____ _____ The City of Huntsville is given permission to enter onto the plant premises and observe any process creating the waste, and to measure and/or secure samples for analysis. The applicant agrees to abide by all the laws of the State of Alabama, and the ordinances of the City of Huntsville, concerning the pretreatment and discharge of such waste now in force, or as they may be from time to time amended. The applicant further agrees to report to the engineering division immediately in writing any change in the process which causes any measurable change in composition of waste discharge and any change in volumetric discharge of more than ten percent in GPD. It is understood that the permit, if issued, will authorize only the discharge of waste listed in this application, and none other, and that a new application will be made and permit requested if the composition of waste discharge and/or volume, or both, listed in this application are exceeded. A complete chemical analysis of the effluent discharged, or to be discharged, is reported below. The BOD content, the quantity of suspended solids, and the total volumetric discharge in gpd is indicated: | ppm Aluminum | _____ Arsenic | _____ Barium | _____ Boron | _____ Cadmium | _____ Chlorides | _____ Chromium (Total) | _____ Chromium (Hexavalent) | _____ Copper | _____ Cyanide | _____ Detergents ABS (Hard) | _____ Detergents LAS (Soft) | _____ Detergents (Biodegradable) | _____ Fluorides | _____ Zinc | _____ Iron | _____ Lead | _____ Lithium | _____ Mercury | _____ Molybdenum Magnesium | _____ Nickel | _____ Phosphate (Total) | _____ Selenium | _____ Silver | _____ Manganese | _____ Tin | _____ Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) | _____ Oil and Grease (Hexane or Petroleum soluble) | _____ Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | _____ MBAS (Nonbiodegradable) | _____ Organic Toxicants | _____ Radioactivity Gross Beta | _____ Ra 226 | _____ Sr 90 | _____ H 3 | _____ pH | _____ BOD Content (ppm by Weight) | _____ Suspended Solids (ppm by Weight) | _____ Industrial Waste Discharge (gpd) (See note below) | _____ The City of Huntsville reserves the right to request a periodic chemical analysis report should conditions so warrant. The applicant further agrees to abide by the terms of the permit when issued. | FIRM: _____ | BY: _____ (Authorized Representative) | _____ (Title) Note: The discharge of industrial waste only will be reported. This may be arrived at by metering or by agreement between a representative of the engineering division and the firm concerned. If the total water supply for the firm is furnished by the City of Huntsville, water used for purposes other than for treatment of industrial waste will not be reported under the industrial waste discharge. If the source of water supply for processing industrial waste is obtained from a source other than from the city water department, this volumetric discharge will be considered as a supplement to water furnished by the city, will be metered, and will be reported in industrial waste discharge. (Code 1982, § 20-172)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-153 Permit where no pretreatment required.

Sec. 21-153. - Permit where no pretreatment required. For those applicants for which no pretreatment is required for the waste to be discharged into the city sewer from the premises desiring service, if the engineering division determines that the capacity of the available existing city mains and treatment plant facilities are sufficient to accommodate the applicant's waste, upon the applicant's providing a proper connection from his plant or premises to the city sewer, the engineering division will issue the applicant a permit to discharge waste connection and permit the applicant to discharge waste from such premises into the city sewer at the rate and in the quantities stated. Upon receipt of such permit, the applicant will thereafter be charged by the city at the rates established by ordinance for the taking and disposing of such waste. (Code 1982, § 20-173)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-154 Chemical analysis required.

Sec. 21-154. - Chemical analysis required. Any person now discharging or desiring to discharge industrial waste into the sanitary sewer system shall submit with his application to the approving authority a complete chemical analysis of the waste being discharged or proposed to be discharged, including concentrations of BOD and suspended solids contained in such discharges. Such person shall also submit pertinent flow data, including rates and duration, and description of his operation. Should the waste from such person's operations be deemed to be inadmissible into the sanitary sewer system because of objectionable character as defined by this division, because of concentrations of elements or substances in excess of the limits established by the approving authority, or because of flow characteristics incompatible with the best use of the receiving sewer, the approving authority will not approve the discharge of such waste into the sanitary sewer system until such person has employed, at his own expense, methods and processes for pretreatment as will render the waste admissible to the sanitary sewer system in accordance with this division. (Code 1982, § 20-174; Ord. No. 81-192, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-155 Approval of discharge.

Sec. 21-155. - Approval of discharge. The approving authority will not specify, suggest or recommend equipment, structures or arrangements comprising the pretreatment processes. Approval of discharge of industrial waste by any person will be given only on the basis of performance of pretreatment processes, if pretreatment should be required. Approval given to any person for discharge of industrial waste, whether pretreated or not, into the sanitary sewer system shall in no way relieve such person of the responsibility for full compliance with this division at all times. (Code 1982, § 20-175; Ord. No. 81-192, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-156 Acid or alkaline range.

Sec. 21-156. - Acid or alkaline range. No wastewater which for any sustained period shows an acid or alkaline reaction outside of the recommended pH range (i.e., less than six or more than nine) shall be placed in the sanitary sewer system. Wastewater outside of these limits may be chemically adjusted, and the process used shall be at the option of the producer. It shall also be the responsibility of the producer to design, operate and maintain the pretreatment plant and demonstrate its effective use to the satisfaction of the engineering division. The continuous operation and maintenance of the plant with consistent results will be the responsibility of the producer, even though the pretreatment plans have been approved by the director. Dilution, in no way, will be accepted as a form of pretreatment except and only then when duly authorized by the engineering division, AWIC and/or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (Code 1982, § 20-176; Ord. No. 81-192, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-157 Connection charge determination.

Sec. 21-157. - Connection charge determination. After issuance of the required permit under this division, the industrial waste disposal connection charge will be made as provided for completion connection charge and billing with water service. (Ord. No. 81-192, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-158 Effect of approvals.

Sec. 21-158. - Effect of approvals. Any approval by the engineering division of a type, kind or capacity of an installation shall not relieve a person of the responsibility of revamping, enlarging or otherwise modifying such installation to accomplish an intended purpose; nor shall any fixed or oral agreement as to limits of constituents or volumes of waters or wastes be considered as final approval for continuing operation. These limits will be subject to constant study and change as considered necessary to serve their intended purpose. (Code 1982, § 20-177)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-159 Property rights.

Sec. 21-159. - Property rights. The issuance of a permit by the engineering division does not convey any property rights in either real or personal property, or any exclusive privileges, nor does it authorize any injury to private property or any invasion of personal rights, nor any infringement of federal, state or local laws or regulations. (Code 1982, § 20-178)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-160 Ownership changes.

Sec. 21-160. - Ownership changes. If a property or plant authorized to make a connection to the city sewer for industrial waste disposal under the provisions of this article is sold, leased or its operation is assumed or taken over by a person other than that named in the permit, a new application or permit will be made by the new owner, lessee or operator. No permit issued under the provisions of this division shall be assignable to any other persons to exercise the privileges and receive the benefits of such permit, and a violation of the provisions of this article shall be grounds for summary cancellation of such permit by the director. (Code 1982, § 20-179)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-161 Due date; amount of fees.

Sec. 21-161. - Due date; amount of fees. (a) Industrial waste permits shall be due on January 1 in three-year intervals and shall be delinquent on the following February 1. (b) Applicants shall pay a fee of $15.00 for the first permit issued and a renewal fee of $15.00. If the permit fee becomes delinquent, there shall be added a penalty of $15.00. If a permit is canceled for cause under the provisions of this division by the engineering division, a fee of $45.00 shall be payable for a subsequent initial permit issued to such applicant on completion by the applicant of forms provided and their approval. (Code 1982, § 20-180; Ord. No. 81-192, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-162 Permit cancellation.

Sec. 21-162. - Permit cancellation. The engineering division is authorized to cancel any permit issued under the provisions of this division and terminate such service at any time that an applicant violates any of the provisions of this article or other ordinances of the city pertaining to wastewater disposal into city sewers by such plant; or should the applicant fail or refuse to pay, when due, charges made by the city for such sewer service; or should the applicant discharge waste at a rate, or in a quantity or strength or other quality in excess of that provided for by the permit or of a quality violating the permit or prohibited by this article or other related city ordinance. Such cancellation shall be subject to review as provided for. (Code 1982, § 20-181)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-163 Conflicts with state and federal laws.

Sec. 21-163. - Conflicts with state and federal laws. (a) Where conflicts exist between city and state or federal regulations, the more stringent requirement shall apply. In all cases where limits have not been specifically determined in this article, the more stringent of state or federal regulations shall apply. (b) Within nine months of the promulgation of a National Categorical Pretreatment Standard, the industrial waste permit of users subject to such standards shall be revised to require compliance with such standard within the timeframe prescribed by the standard, except when the state and/or city pretreatment standards are more stringent than the National Categorical Pretreatment Standard. (Ord. No. 81-192, § 9, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-164 Monthly reports.

Sec. 21-164. - Monthly reports. Any user subject to pretreatment standards and requirements shall submit to the engineering division a monthly report indicating the nature and concentration of all pollutants in the discharge from the regulated wastestream and the average daily flow rate of the discharge. This monthly self-monitoring report shall be signed by an authorized representative of the industrial user. (Ord. No. 81-192, § 10, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-165 Confidential information.

Sec. 21-165. - Confidential information. Information and data on a user obtained from reports, questionnaires, permit applications and monitoring shall be available to the public or governmental agency without restriction unless the user requests and is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the engineering division that the release would divulge processes or methods entitled to protection as trade secrets of the user. (Ord. No. 81-192, § 11, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-166 Treatment credits.

Sec. 21-166. - Treatment credits. Where the POTW achieves consistent removal of pollutants limited by federal pretreatment standards, the city or an industrial user may apply to the AWIC for modification of specific limits in the standards. After sufficient analytical proof of consistent removal is obtained (the cost of which can, at the option of the city, be borne by the industrial user), the city may then modify that pollutant discharge limits if the requirements contained in 40 CFR 403.7 are fulfilled and with prior AWIC approval obtained. (Ord. No. 81-192, § 12, 6-25-1981)

Huntsville Code of Ordinances § 21-167 FDF variances.

Sec. 21-167. - FDF variances. FDF (fundamentally different factors) variances, referred to in section 307(b) of the Clean Water Act of 1977, are allowances in which an industrial user can present information and data to the EPA and the AWIC which verify that the user's particular process is different, fundamentally, from others in his pretreatment category and thus different from those factors which were used to develop the categorical pretreatment standards for that group. These are case-by-case adjustments which can make the standards more or less stringent and approval for such requests is reserved for the EPA. The written submission, however, is handled by the AWIC and should have certain content and be in acceptable form. This information as well as essential qualifications for approval and other aspects of the FDF variance are available from the AWIC upon request. The city reserves the right to comment on FDF variance applications submitted by its industrial users. (Ord. No. 81-192, § 13, 6-25-1981)

Source: City of Huntsville, Alabama, publisher code (Municode) + enacted ordinances (City Council/Legistar)URL: https://library.municode.com/al/huntsville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH21SESEDIOTWADI_ARTIISESEDI_DIV5PEFetched: 11/6/2026