Subtitle 4 – Sampling and Monitoring
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 4-1 (2026)
§ 4-1 In general.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Significant users to report periodic measurements.
The Director of Public Works shall require significant users to provide results of periodic measurements of discharges, including chemical analyses and flow.
(b)Monitoring facility.
The Director may require a monitoring facility to be furnished and operated at user’s expense.
(c)Measuring devices.
All dischargers making periodic measurements shall furnish and install at an appropriate location, a calibrated flume, weir, flow meter, or similar device suitable to measure flow rate and total volume approved by the Director.
(d)Records, etc., instead of flow measurement.
In lieu of wastewater flow measurement, the Director may accept records of water usage, and may adjust the flow volumes by suitable factors to determine peak and average flow rates for the specific industrial wastewater discharge.
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 4-2 (2026)
§ 4-2 Scope and frequency of reports.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Significant industrial users.
(1)
Significant industrial users shall submit a minimum of semi-annual reports (on dates specified by the City) indicating flows and the nature and concentration of pollutants in the discharge.
(2)
The specific standards or the City itself may require these reports to be filed more frequently.
(b)Other users.
Other users may be required to submit reports as directed by the City.
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 4-3 (2026)
§ 4-3 Required sampling and analytical techniques.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
All analyses, including sampling techniques submitted in support of any application, report, or evidence, or required by any permit or order, shall be performed in accordance with 40 CFR Part 136 and amendments thereto.
(b)Alternatives.
Where 40 CFR Part 136 does not contain sampling or analytical techniques for the pollutant in question, or where the administrator (as defined in 40 CFR Part 136) determines that the Part 136 sampling and analytical techniques are inappropriate for the pollutant in question, sampling and analysis shall be performed by using validated analytical methods or any other applicable sampling and analytical procedures, including procedures suggested by the City or other persons approved by the administrator.
(c)Approved labs required.
All procedures must be performed by laboratories approved by the Director.
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 4-4 (2026)
§ 4-4 Violations discovered by self-monitoring.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Report to Director.
Whenever self-monitoring results indicate a violation, the user shall notify the Director within 24 hours of becoming aware of the violation.
(b)Resampling.
(1)
The user shall also repeat the sampling and analysis of the exceeded parameter(s) and submit the results of the repeat analysis to the Director within 30 days after becoming aware of the violation.
(2)
However, the industrial user is not required to resample if:
(i)
the City performs sampling at the industrial user at a frequency of at least once per month; or
(ii)
the City performs sampling at the user between the time when the user performs its initial sampling and the time when the user receives the results of this sampling.
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 4-5 (2026)
§ 4-5 Additional monitoring to be reported.LinkCopy Citation
Any wastewater monitoring conducted more frequently than that required by the Director, using the procedures prescribed in this subtitle, shall be reported to the Director and included with the self-monitoring compliance report.
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 4-6 (2026)
§ 4-6 Construction and placement of sampling and monitoring facilities.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Construction of facilities.
(1)
Whether constructed on public or private property, the sampling and monitoring facilities shall be provided in accordance with the Director of Public Works’ requirements and all applicable local construction standards and specifications.
(2)
Construction shall be completed within 90 days following written notification by the Director, unless a time extension is granted by the Director.
(b)Location of monitoring facility.
The monitoring facility should normally be situated on the user’s premises, but the Director of Public Works may, when such a location would be impractical or cause undue hardship on the user, allow the facility to be constructed in the public street or sidewalk area and located so that it will not be obstructed by landscaping or parked vehicles.
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 4-7 (2026)
§ 4-7 Number of measurements; equipment.LinkCopy Citation
Significant users required by the Director of Public Works to make periodic measurements of industrial wastewater flows and constituents shall annually make the minimum number of such measurements as required in the wastewater discharge permit. When required by the Director, users shall install and maintain in proper order automatic flow-proportional sampling equipment and/or automatic analysis and recording equipment.
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775
Balt., Md., Code art. 25, § 4-8 (2026)
§ 4-8 Right of entry; inspections.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Entry on premises for sampling, etc.
(1)
Persons or occupants of premises where wastewater is generated or discharged shall allow the Director of Public Works and state and federal officials ready access at all times to all of those parts of the premises for purposes of sampling or performance of any other duties.
(2)
The Director shall have the right to set up on the user’s property such devices as are necessary to conduct sampling or metering operations.
(3)
Where a user has security measures in force, the user shall make the necessary arrangements with the security guards so that upon presentation of suitable identification, the Director shall be permitted to enter without unnecessary delay.
(4)
Failure to provide access will result in enforcement actions described in Subtitle 22 of <cite data-path="|25">this article</cite>.
(b)Inspection of procedures and records, etc.
(1)
All sampling, analysis, and flow measurement procedures, equipment, results, and records shall be subject at any time to inspection by the Director of Public Works and by state and federal officials.
(2)
The Director shall have the right to copy industrial user records.
History: Ord. 84-129
History: Ord. 91-775