Explanation
This ordinance amends Chapter 1145, Sewer Use Regulations, of the Columbus City Codes, which is the City’s sewer use ordinance approved as required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (“Ohio EPA”), to update the Industrial Pretreatment Program Enforcement Response Plan and make several minor clerical revisions throughout the Chapter.
The proposed amendments to the Enforcement Response Plan include an update to the naming convention of the “Industrial Pretreatment Section.” It will now be referred to as the “Industrial Pretreatment Program.” Additionally, the updated Enforcement Response Plan has an increased maximum administrative fine amount for a violation of Chapter 1145 of the Columbus City Codes. Currently, Columbus City Codes Section 1145.100 has a maximum administrative fine amount of $5,000. The revised Enforcement Response Plan has a maximum administrative fine amount of $10,000.
FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact.
Title
To amend various sections of Chapter 1145 of the Columbus City Codes, to update the Industrial Pretreatment Program Enforcement Response Plan and to make clerical revisions throughout the Chapter. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to 40 CFR 403, U.S. EPA requires that each publicly owned treatment works develop a state approved pretreatment program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities, Division of Water Reclamation has an Ohio EPA approved pretreatment program that now needs to be modified; and
WHEREAS, on August 18, 2025, Ohio EPA approved the nonsubstantial modifications to the City’s sewer use ordinance, which is Chapter 1145 of the Columbus City Codes, to update the Enforcement Response Plan in the Division of Water Reclamation’s pretreatment program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend sections of Chapter 1145 of the Columbus City Codes to include these modifications; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend City Code Sections 1145.02.009, 1145.02.084, and 1145.02.100 to modify definitions to delete incorrect content or references; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend City Code Section 1145.12(E) to add language to prohibit the discharge of wastewater generated from sources other than from the permitted location in an effort to protect the publicly owned treatment works by specifically preventing the discharging of hauled wastes from other locations; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend City Code Section 1145.20(B)(1)(a) to correct the reference to “food service operation” to be consistent with proper terminology elsewhere it the Chapter; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend City Code Section 1145.25 to include chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon to list of conventional pollutants to be consistent with City Code Sections 1145.02.033 and 1145.02.104; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend City Code Section 1145.56(D) to correct a typographical error; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend City Code Section 1145.91(A)(2) to correct the language that limited the type of sewer to include the entire sewer system; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend City Code Section 1145.100 to increase the maximum administrative fine amount from $5,000 to $10,000 for a violation of Chapter 1145 of the Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend City Code Sections 1145.26, 1145.31, 1145.32, 1145.51, 1145.63 and 1145.94 to update the naming convention of the “Industrial Pretreatment Section” to be the “Industrial Pretreatment Program”; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to amend the various sections listed above for the public health, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Sections 1145.02, 1145.12, 1145.20, 1145.25, 1145.26, 1145.31, 1145.32, 1145.51, 1145.56, 1145.63, 1145.91, 1145.94, and 1145.100 of the Columbus City Codes are hereby amended as follows:
SEE ATTACHMENT – CHAPTER 1145.
SECTION 2. That the existing Sections 1145.02, 1145.12, 1145.20, 1145.25, 1145.26, 1145.31, 1145.32, 1145.51, 1145.56, 1145.63, 1145.91, 1145.94, and 1145.100 of the Columbus City Codes are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.