§ 53.01. DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE. A discharge prohibited by this chapter which occurs by chance and without planning or thought prior to occurrence.

AUTHORIZED ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. Employees or designees of the City of Columbus designated to enforce this chapter.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (BMPs). Schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general good housekeeping practices, pollution prevention and educational practices, maintenance procedures and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to storm water, receiving water, or storm water conveyance systems. BMPs also include treatment practices, operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage.

CLEAN WATER ACT. The federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C 1251 et seq.), and subsequent amendments thereto.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY. Activities subject to the National Pollutant Elimination System (NPDES) construction permits. Currently these include construction projects resulting in land disturbance of one acre or more. Such activities include, but are not limited to, clearing and grubbing, grading, excavation and demolition.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Any material, including any substance, waste, or combination thereof, which because of its quantity, concentration or physical, chemical or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, a substantial present or potential hazard to human health, safety, property, or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of or otherwise managed.

ILLEGAL DISCHARGE. Any direct or indirect non-storm water discharge to the storm drain system, except as exempted in § 53.08.

ILLICIT CONNECTIONS. Any drain or conveyance, whether on the surface or subsurface, which allows an illegal discharge to enter the storm drain system including, but not limited to, any conveyances which allow any non-storm water discharge including sewage, process wastewater and wash water to enter the storm drain system and connections to the storm drain system from indoor drains and sinks, regardless of whether said drain or connection had been previously allowed, permitted or approved by an authorized enforcement agency or any drain or conveyance connected from a commercial or industrial land use to the storm drain system which has not been documented in plans, maps or equivalent records and approved by an authorized enforcement agency.

INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY. Activities subject to NPDES industrial permits as defined 40 CRP, Section 122.26(b)(14).

MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4). The storm water sewer system and appurtenances, including established natural drain-ways and ditches used to transport and handle the flow of storm water.

NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) STORM WATER DISCHARGE PERMIT. A permit issued by EPA [or by a State under authority delegated pursuant to 33USC 1342(B)] that authorizes the discharge of pollutants to waters of the United States, whether the permit is applicable on an individual, group or general area-wide basis.

NON-STORM WATER DISCHARGE. Any discharge to the storm drain system that is not composed entirely of storm water.

PERSON. Any individual, association, organization, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity recognized by law and acting as either the owner or as the owner's agent.

POLLUTANT. Anything which causes or contributes to pollution. POLLUTANTS may include, but are not limited to: soils; paints, varnishes and solvents; oils and other automotive fluids; non-hazardous liquid and solid wastes and yard wastes; refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter or other discarded or abandoned objects, military supplies and inventories, so the same may cause or contribute to pollution; floatables; pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; hazardous substances and wastes; sewage, fecal coliform and pathogens; dissolved and particulate metals; animal wastes; wastes and residues that result from constructing a building or structure; and noxious or offensive matter of any kind. Pollutants lead to the human-made or human-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological or radiological integrity of an aquatic ecosystem.

PREMISES. Any building, lot, parcel of land, or portion of land whether improved or unimproved including adjacent sidewalks and parking areas.

STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM. Publicly-owned facilities by which stormwater is collected and/ or conveyed, including but not limited to any roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, gutters, curbs, inlets, piped storm drains, pumping facilities, retention and detention basins, natural and human-made or altered drainage channels, reservoirs, and other drainage structures.

STORM WATER. Any surface flow, runoff, and drainage consisting entirely of uncontaminated water from any form of natural precipitation, and resulting from such precipitation.

WASTEWATER. Any water or other liquid, other than uncontaminated stormwater, discharged from a facility.

(Ord. 18-21, passed 9-4-18)