14.28.040 Discharge of pollutants.

(A) The discharge of nonstormwater discharges to storm drains is prohibited. All discharges of material other than stormwater must be made in compliance with a national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permit issued for the discharge. A discharger operating under an NPDES permit issued to the discharger and administered by the state of California under authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency must comply with all requirements of the permit and other applicable laws or regulations.

(B) Exception to Discharge of Pollutants. The following discharges are exempt from the prohibition set forth in subsection A of this section:

(1) Discharges regulated under an NPDES permit (other than the Phase II Permit) issued to the discharger and administered by the state of California under authority of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, provided that the discharger is in full compliance with all requirements of the permit and other applicable laws or regulations.

(2) Discharges or flows from fire-fighting activities unless they are identified as significant sources of pollutants to waters of the United States.

(3) Discharges from the following activities, provided any pollutants in the discharges are identified and appropriate control measures to minimize the impacts of such discharges are developed and implemented:

(a) Water line flushing and other discharges from potable water sources;

(b) Diverted stream flows;

(d) Uncontaminated infiltration to storm drains;

(e) Uncontaminated ground water infiltration (as defined at 40 C.F.R. Section 35.2005(20)) to separate storm sewers;

(f) Uncontaminated pumped groundwater;

(g) Foundation and footing drains;

(h) Water from crawl space pumps;

(i) Air conditioning condensation;

(j) Springs;

(k) Individual residential car washing;

(l) Footing drains;

(m) Flows from riparian habitats and wetlands;

(n) Dechlorinated swimming pool discharges; and

(o) Incidental irrigation runoff from landscaped areas provided the conditions in subsection (B)(4) of this section are met.

(4) Incidental irrigation runoff is the unintended amounts of runoff that leave the area of application such as minimal overspray. Water leaving the intended area of application is not incidental if it is due to the design, excessive application, or intentional overflow or application. Irrigation systems must be designed to conserve water and prevent water leaving the area of application. Persons responsible for controlling irrigation systems shall prevent excessive irrigation runoff by:

(a) Detecting and correcting leaks within seventy-two hours of discovering the leak.

(b) Properly designing and aiming sprinkler heads to only irrigate the planned application area.

(d) Where recycled water is used for irrigation, designing and managing holding ponds to such that no discharge occurs unless it is the result of the twenty-five-year, twenty-four-hour storm event. Any releases from holding ponds must be reported to the Regional Water Board and the city within twenty-four hours of the discharge.