§ 37-702. Purpose and policy.

(a)

This article is enacted pursuant to the Orange County Charter and all general and special acts authority of the county, including home rule powers, for the purpose of providing for the necessary regulations for the use of public and private sewers and drains in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens and residents of the county. This article shall apply and be enforced in all areas of the county not within the boundaries of any municipality of the county, and to persons who are, by contract or agreement with the county, users of the county wastewater system.

(b)

This article sets forth uniform requirements for direct and indirect contributors to the county wastewater system and enables the county to comply with all applicable state and federal laws and requirements set forth by the Clean Water Act of 1977, as amended (33 USC § 1251 et seq.), the United States Environmental Protection Agency general pretreatment regulations, Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 403, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ("FDEP") pretreatment requirements, Chapter 62-625, Florida Administrative Code ("F.A.C.").

(c)

The objectives of this article include:

(1)

To prevent the introduction of pollutants into the county wastewater system which will interfere with the operation of the county wide system;

(2)

To prevent the introduction of pollutants into the county wastewater system which will pass through the system, inadequately treated, into receiving surface or ground waters, reuse systems, or the atmosphere or otherwise be incompatible with the countywide system;

(3)

To improve the opportunity to recycle and reclaim wastewaters and residuals from the county wastewater system;

(4)

To protect both the general public as well as county personnel who may be affected by wastewater, reclaimed water and residuals in the course of their use or employment;

(5)

To enable the county to comply with the conditions in its facility permits, including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") permits, Florida Department of Environmental Protection domestic wastewater permits, water management district permits and other federal or State of Florida permits; residuals and effluent, reuse and disposal requirements; and any other applicable federal or State of Florida laws, rules and regulations; and

(6)

To provide for the equitable distribution of the cost of operation, maintenance and improvement of the county wastewater system.

(d)

This article provides for the regulation of direct and indirect contributors to the county wastewater system through the issuance of permits to certain nondomestic users and through enforcement of general requirements for other users; authorizes monitoring and; enforcement activities, requires user reporting; and provides authority and guidelines for setting fees that equitably distribute the costs resulting from the county's industrial waste pretreatment, oil and grease prevention and surcharge programs as established herein.

(e)

Except as otherwise provided herein, the director of utilities for the county shall administer, implement, and enforce the provisions set forth in this article.

(Ord. No. 2002-20, § 1, 12-3-02)