13.20.060 Prohibition of illegal discharges.
A. The release of nonstormwater discharges to the City’s stormwater system is prohibited.
B. The following discharges are exempt from the prohibition set forth in subsection A of this section:
1. Any discharge in compliance with a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued to the discharger and administered by the State of California under the authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency;
2. Discharges from the following activities will not be considered a prohibited discharge to the City’s stormwater system when properly managed:
a. Flushing of potable water from potable water lines and other discharges from potable water sources,
b. Landscape irrigation and lawn watering,
c. Irrigation water,
d. Diverted stream flows,
e. Rising ground waters,
f. Uncontaminated ground water infiltration to storm drains,
g. Uncontaminated pumped ground water,
h. Foundation and footing drains,
i. Water from crawl space pumps,
j. Air conditioning condensation,
k. Springs,
l. Runoff from individual residential car washing,
m. Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands,
n. Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges,
o. Flows from emergency fire fighting, and
p. Other flows necessary for implementing BMPs directed or approved by the program leader;
3. With written concurrence of the Regional Board, the City of Sebastopol may exempt in writing other nonstormwater discharges that are neither a source of pollutants to the storm drain system nor waters of the U.S.
C. Any discharge that would result in, or contribute to, a violation of any NPDES permit for stormwater discharges within the City and any amendment, revision, or reissuance of such permit, either separately considered or when combined with other discharges, is prohibited. Liability for any such discharge shall be the responsibility of the person(s) causing or responsible for the discharge, and such persons shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City, its officers, agents and employees in any administrative or judicial enforcement action relating to such discharge.
D. It is unlawful to establish, use, maintain or continue unauthorized drainage connections to the City’s stormwater system.
E. It is unlawful to establish, use, maintain or continue drainage connections to the City’s stormwater system that are or may be a source of prohibited discharges.
F. It is unlawful to commence or continue any unauthorized and/or prohibited discharges to the City’s stormwater system.
G. No person shall throw, deposit, leave, keep or permit to be thrown, deposited, placed, left or maintained, any refuse, household hazardous wastes or other hazardous wastes, garbage, debris, or other wastes, or other discarded or abandoned objects or articles in or upon any stormwater system or upon any public or private plot of land in the City so that the same might become a pollutant, except in lawfully established waste disposal facilities. (Ord. 1068, 2014)