Oak Ridge North approves new wastewater plan

The City of Oak Ridge North approved its first ever wastewater ordinance April 28 as a part of ongoing efforts to modernize outdated ordinances.

The city has been re-writing out-of-date ordinances to meet modern uses and practices for about the past four years, efforts which include a water ordinance approved in July 2013, and an upcoming grease trap ordinance revision, city manager Vicky Rudy said.

"We are basically bringing some of our ordinances into the modern world so that they fit practice," Rudy said. "When push comes to shove, when something is not codified, you can't really enforce it."

The new mandate approves by council states property owners are prohibited from connecting a septic tank to the city's wastewater system, dispose of wax, grease, oil or plastic in the system, or dispose of chlorinated pool water into the system.

The city will also create a brochure to inform pool owners on proper disposal of chlorinated water, which can harm the environment if disposed of in the wastewater system, Rudy said.

The ordinance applies to every Oak Ridge North residents not residing within the South Montgomery County or Chateau Woods Municipal Utility Districts, Rudy said. However the new plan will not alter wastewater fees, and should not change most practices already in place.