Fines for breaking wastewater rules and how to appeal

A. When the director finds that a user has violated, or continues to violate, any provision of this article, a permit, or order issued hereunder, or any other pretreatment standard or requirement, the director may fine such user not less than $1,000 per day. Such fines shall be assessed on a per violation, per day basis. In the case of monthly or other long-term average discharge limits, fines shall be assessed for each day during the period of violation. The director may add the costs of preparing administrative enforcement actions, such as notices and orders, to the fine. B. Unpaid charges, fines, and penalties shall, after thirty calendar days, be assessed an additional penalty of 5 percent of the unpaid balance, and interest shall accrue thereafter at a rate of 5 percent per month. Any unpaid charges, fines, and penalties shall be recorded as a lien upon the user's property for which the charges, fines and penalties were assessed. C. Users desiring to dispute such fines must file a written request for the director to reconsider the fine along with full payment of the fine amount within thirty days of being notified of the fine. D. Issuance of an administrative fine shall not be a bar against, or a prerequisite for, taking any other action against the user. (Ord. 2760 § 4 (part), 1999)