These are some
of the types

of businesses
affected:

PERSONAL SERVICES

@ Vehicular Maintenance Shops
@ Photo Processing Shops
@ Dry Cleaning Businesses

GENERAL INDUSTRIAL

@ Food Processing Plants

@ Manufacturing Businesses
@ Electronics Manufacturers
@ Pharmaceutical Plants

@ Chemical Plants

@ Printers’ Lithographers

@ Electroplating Companies

Is your business
affected by federal
regulations?

Do you generate industrial process
wastewater, contact cooling water. or
used solvents?
Do you use sinks or floor drains in
industrial process or chemical storage

areas to dispose of wastewater?

Do you dispose of these Wastewaters

3, underground through a septic system,
drainfield, cesspool. dry well. or other
shallow injection well or into a storm
drain or sewer?

If you answered
‘“ yes”
or
‘“ maybe”
to any of these
questions,
read the

“What should you do?”

section in this
brochure.

Whom should you
contact?

* You should contact your trade association or product supplier
who may have industry specific fact sheets describing best
management practices and alternative disposal procedures.

¢ For additional information about wastewater disposal you may

wish to contact your municipal sewerage agency regarding
| wastewat nt facility.

hook-ups to am

¢ Also you may need to contact your state agency with
responsibility for the Underground Injection Control (UIC)
Program or EPA regional office covering your state.

SEPA

SEPA

EPA 570-9-91-UIC5
August 1991

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

Office Of Water (WH-550A)

Does Your
Facility
Generate
industrial
Wastewaters?



Why does the US EPA
regulate

the discharge of industrial
wastewaters?

The Threat To Public Heaith & Environment:

Many businesses generate waste and wastewater during daily
operations.

+ If these wastewaters are disposed into shallow injection
wells, such as septic system drainfields, dry wells, cesspools.
or pits, constituents from these wastewaters pass through
septic systems and discharge to ground water unchanged.

+ If these wastewaters are disposed into storm drains or

sewers, they may endanger surface water such as streams,
Jakes and estuaries.

The Safe Drinking Water Act:

+ EPA and State Underground Injection Control (UIC)
programs are established to protect underground sources
of drinking water from contamination by injection wells.

+ EPA has found that contaminant concentrations in ground
water resulting from industrial discharges may exceed the
maximum contaminant levels (MCL’s) identified in the EPA
primary drinking water standards.

+ EPA prohibits the injection of fluids that will endanger
ground water that is or could be an underground source of
drinking water.

The Clean Water Act:

+ EPA prohibits the discharge of wastewater into storm drains
or sewers under the authority of the Clean Water Act.

The Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA):

+ EPA has recently added 25 new chemicals to the list defining
a toxic waste (March 29, 1990). Industrial wastewaters
contain many of these toxic chemicals.

+ If you discharge RCRA regulated wastes into a septic system
drainfield, dry well. cesspool. pit. or other injection well you
may be operating an unauthorized hazardous waste disposal
unit.

What should you do?

You must stop discharging industrial wastes to your
septic system, drainfields, dry wells, cesspools, pits, or
separate storm drains or sewers.

Stop using the well
immediately

for these wastes!

Facilities that use these types of disposal systems may
be in violation of federal. state or local requirements
and subject to monetary penalties.

SEPTIC TANK
DRAINFIELD

CESSPOOL

Temporarily seal the floor drain or other means of

Initiate a waste minimization and pollution

wastewater entry to the injection well.

If floor drains are necessary to comply with state or
local laws, the discharge point to the injection well
should be blocked or disconnected. You should then
use one of the following plans for alternate disposal:
© Eliminate the wastewater, if possible, through
recycling, improved housekeeping, waste
minimization or other means.
© Route all wastewater to a municipal wastewater
treatment facility if available, and if it will
accept your waste.
© Sf municipal treatment plant is not available, or
it will not accept your waste, route the waste to a
tank or container for proper accumulation and
disposal.
pe Lae

jertete

SEPTIC
TANK
DRY WELL

Storm Sewer
To Surface Water

prevention program.

Even if you cannot eliminate the waste entirely, you
may be able to reduce the volume and toxicity. This may
reduce your costs, liabilities, and the regulatory burden
of hazardous waste management, while preserving the
environment and precious ground-water resources.

For more information or assistance read “Whom
should you contact?” on the back.

THIRD:

Implement clean-up.

In many states you will need to contact the appropriate
EPA, state and local agencies regarding their closure
and permit requirements.

In most instances, you will need te:

* Pressure wash any discharge lines or piping
leading to the septic system. cesspool. or dry
well

* Clean out liquids and solids from all lines
and tanks. dry wells. or pits. Dispose of the
contents by acceptable methods for waste
disposal.

+ Fill the dry well. cesspool. or pit with an
inert material. seal with asphalt or cement, or
as otherwise required by state and local
authorities.