Administrative enforcement actions.
Reno Administrative Code § 12.16.810
in effectSec. 12.16.810. - Administrative enforcement actions.
(a) Notice of violation (NOV). When the city finds that an industrial user has violated, or continues to violate, any provision of this article, a permit, or order issued hereunder, or any other pretreatment standard or requirement, the city may serve upon the industrial user a written notice of violation. Within ten business days of the receipt of such notice, an explanation of the violation and a plan for the satisfactory correction of prevention thereof, to include specific required actions, shall be submitted by the industrial user to the city. Submission of such a plan in no way relieves the industrial user of liability for any violations occurring before or after receipt of the notice of violation. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the city to take any action, including emergency actions or any other enforcement action, without first issuing a notice of violation.
(b) Administrative citation. When the city finds that an industrial user has violated, or continues to violate, any provision of this article, a permit, or order issued hereunder, or any other pretreatment standard or requirement, the city may serve upon the industrial user an administrative citation as allowed for in chapter 1.05. The industrial user receiving such citation shall comply with the requirements and response requirements specified in the citation. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the city to take any action, including emergency actions or any other enforcement action, without first issuing a administrative citation.
(c) Administrative compliance order. When the city finds that an industrial user has violated, or continues to violate, any provision of this article, a permit, or order issued hereunder, or any other pretreatment standard or requirement, the city may issue an order to the industrial user responsible for the discharge directing that the industrial user come into compliance within a specific time. If the industrial user does not come into compliance within the time provided, sewer service may be discontinued unless adequate treatment facilities, devices, or other related appurtenances are installed and properly operated. Compliance orders also may contain other requirements to address the noncompliance, including additional self-monitoring and management practices designed to minimize the amount of pollutants discharged to the POTW. A compliance order may not extend the deadline for compliance established for a pretreatment standard or requirement, nor does a compliance order relieve the industrial user of liability for any violation, including any continuing violation. Issuance of a compliance order shall not be a bar against, or a prerequisite for, taking any other action against the industrial user.
(d) Consent agreement. The city may enter into a consent agreement, assurances of compliance, or other similar documents establishing an agreement with any industrial user responsible for noncompliance. Such documents shall include specific actions to be taken by the industrial user to correct the noncompliance within a time period specified by the document. A consent agreement may include penalties (assessed and stipulated), supplemental environmental projects, or other conditions and requirements as agreed to by the city and the industrial user.
(e) Show cause hearing.
(1) The city may order any industrial user who causes or allows an unauthorized discharge to enter the POTW to show cause before the city why the proposed enforcement action should not be taken. A notice shall be served on the industrial user specifying the time and place of a hearing to be held by the city regarding the violation, the reasons why the proposed action is to be taken, and directing the industrial user to show cause before the city why the proposed enforcement action should not be taken. The notice of the hearing shall be served personally or be sent by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) at least ten calendar days before the hearing. Service may be made on any agent or officer of a corporation. The hearing will generally follow the procedures established at subsection 12.16.660(c).
(f) Cease and desist order.
(1) When the director finds that an industrial user is violating this division, a permit, any order issued hereunder, or any other pretreatment standard or requirement, or that the industrial user's past compliance history indicates that violations are likely to recur, the director may issue an order to the user directing it to cease and desist all such violations and directing the industrial user to:
(i) Immediately comply with all requirements;
(ii) Take such appropriate remedial or preventive action as may be needed to properly address a continuing or threatened violation, including halting operations and/or terminating the discharge.
(2) Issuance of a cease and desist order shall not be a bar against, or a prerequisite for, taking any other action against the industrial user.
(g) Suspension of service.
(1) Endangerment to health or welfare of the community: The city, through other than a formal notice to the affected industrial user, may immediately and effectively halt or prevent any discharge of pollutants into any natural waterway, surface drainage within the city, any area under jurisdiction of the city, the POTW of the city or any wastewater system tributary thereto, by any means available to them, including physical disconnection from the wastewater system, whenever it reasonably appears that such discharge presents an imminent endangerment to the health or welfare of the community.
(2) Endangerment to environment or treatment works: The city, after written notice to the discharger may halt or prevent any discharge of pollutants into any natural waterway, surface drainage within the city, any area under jurisdiction of the city, the POTW, wastewater system tributary thereto, by any means available to them, including physical disconnection from the wastewater system, whenever such discharge presents or may present an endangerment to the environment or threatens to interfere with the operation of the POTW.
(3) Any person notified by the city of a suspension or revocation of the wastewater treatment service and/or a permit shall immediately stop or eliminate the contribution. In the event of a failure of the person to comply voluntarily with the suspension order, the city shall take such steps as deemed necessary including immediate severance of the sewer connection, to prevent or minimize damage to the POTW system or endangerment to individuals or the environment. The city may reinstate the wastewater discharge permit and/or the wastewater treatment service upon proof of the elimination of the non-complying discharge.
(4) A detailed written statement submitted by the industrial user describing the causes of the harmful contribution and the measure taken to prevent any future occurrence shall be provided to the city within ten business days of the date of occurrence. Suspension of service shall not be a bar against, or a prerequisite for, taking any other action against the industrial user.
(Ord. No. 6305, § 1, 8-28-13)
Source: City of Reno, Nevada, Administrative Code, City Charter and Annexation and Land Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nv/reno/codes/administrative_code?nodeId=PT2READCO_TIT12PUWOUT_CH12.16SESE_ARTIIIREWADI_DIV5COEN_S12.16.810ADENACFetched: 11/1/2026