A. The director may immediately suspend wastewater services, including collection and treatment, after reasonable attempts to provide actual notice to the user, if it appears to the city that such suspension is necessary to stop an actual or threatened discharge which reasonably appears to present or cause an imminent or substantial endangerment to either the environment, normal operation of the POTW, or the health or welfare of any person or the general public.

B. Any user notified of a suspension of its wastewater discharge shall immediately cease all such discharges. In the event of a user’s failure to immediately comply voluntarily with the suspension order, the director shall take such steps as deemed necessary, including immediate severance of the sewer connection, to prevent or minimize damage to the POTW, its receiving stream, or the danger to the public. The director may allow the user to recommence its discharge when the user has demonstrated that the period of endangerment has passed, unless termination proceedings pursuant to this chapter are initiated against the user.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent or attempt to prevent the director and/or city from terminating wastewater collection and treatment services in an emergency situation by barring entry, by physically interfering with city employees or contractors, or by any other means. See MMC 13.10.270(E) for regulation of entry to a DOC facility.

D. A user that is responsible, in whole or in part, for any discharge presenting imminent endangerment shall submit a detailed written statement describing the causes of the harmful contribution and the measures taken to prevent any future occurrence to the director prior to the date of any administrative hearing authorized by this chapter.

E. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring an administrative hearing prior to any emergency suspension under this section. (Ord. 016/2021 § 2; Ord. 011/2004)