(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 19-4-13, the director may immediately suspend a user's discharge, after informal notice to the user, whenever such emergency suspension is necessary to stop an actual or threatened discharge which in the director's opinion appears to present or cause an imminent or substantial danger to the health or welfare of persons or threatens to substantially interfere with the operation of the WPCF, or which presents, or may present, a danger to the environment. Such informal notice shall, where time permits, be in the form of notice of violations cease and desist order. Where, in the director's opinion, the danger posed by the discharge is such that it is infeasible, impractical or dangerous to take the time necessary to issue a cease and desist order, the informal notice to the user may be in the form of a telephone call to the user or to the emergency contact listed in the user's wastewater discharge permit.
(b) Any user notified of an emergency suspension of its discharge shall immediately stop or eliminate its discharge to the WPCF. In the event of a user's failure to immediately comply voluntarily with the suspension order or inability of the director to contact the user, the director may take such steps as the director deems necessary to prevent or minimize damage to the WPCF, the receiving waters or danger to any individuals, including immediate severance of the sewer connection or discontinuing water service. The director may allow the user to recommence its discharge only after the user has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the director that the period of emergency has passed, unless proceedings are initiated by the director to permanently terminate the user's discharge pursuant to Section 19-4-13.
A user that is responsible, in whole or in part, for any discharge requiring an emergency suspension shall submit a detailed written statement, describing the causes of the harmful contribution and the measures taken to prevent any further occurrence, to the director prior to the date of any show cause or termination hearing. Such user shall reimburse the city for all costs which the city may incur as a result of such discharge or the imposition of an emergency suspension.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring a hearing prior to any emergency suspension. (Ord. No. 1271, § 1 (part).)