United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4606)
EPA816-F-01-025
July 2001
Source Water Protection
Practices Bulletin
Managing Small Quantity
Chemical Use to Prevent
Contamination of Drinking Water
Many small businesses, government agencies, and academic institutions use chemicals to carry
out their business functions. Although varying greatly in purpose, these small quantity chemical
users share in their ability to potentially contribute to the pollution of drinking water. Many
small businesses understand their day-to-day business operations but may lack familiarity with
procedures for proper use and management of chemicals. This fact sheet provides an overview
of prevention measures and demonstrates how precaution must be taken in all areas regarding
chemical use. Businesses that generate hazardous waste, as it is defined under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, should consult with their State hazardous waste agency
regarding proper handling and disposal.
PLACES WHERE SMALL QUANTITY CHEMICAL USE OCCURS
Small quantity chemical users include dry cleaners, beauty
shops, photo finishers, vehicle repair shops, printers,
laboratories, water supply facilities, academic institutions,
nursing homes, medical facilities, and many others. It is the
daily practices of these businesses that use chemicals and
produce chemical waste. ^^B^BK
Degreasing, cleaning, f mm.
polishing, paint '
preparation, rust
removal, and photo processing are just a fraction of the
activities in which small businesses are engaged.
Improper disposal of chemicals from these users can reach
ground or surface water through a number of pathways. If
substances from these businesses are accidentally or intentionally discharged into sewers,
contamination of ground and surface waters can
occur. Improper disposal into sewers can also
endanger the ability of publicly-owned
treatment works (POTWs) to properly treat
wastewater. Chemicals poured into septic
systems or dry wells can leach into ground
water or contribute to treatment system failure.
Chemical users should always ensure that
haulers they hire to carry their waste off-site are
properly licensed and that they deliver the
waste to appropriate disposal sites.
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WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MANAGE SMALL QUANTITY CHEMICAL USE NEAR
THE SOURCES OF YOUR DRINKING WATER?
Many ordinary businesses use chemicals and produce chemical waste that can be harmful to
humans if ingested. Types of chemicals used by these businesses include solvents, corrosives,
dry cleaning agents, heavy metals and inorganics, inks and paint, lead-acid batteries, plating
chemicals, cyanide, and wood preserving agents. Each set of contaminants has its own
environmental and health hazards. For example, a dry cleaning filtration residue,
perchloroethylene, causes kidney and liver damage in both humans and animals. It is among the
most common contaminants in ground water and a very small amount can contaminate many
thousands of gallons of water. Used cyanide, a common waste product of metal finishing, is
considered an acutely hazardous waste and can be toxic in very small doses. Chemical
manufacturers can supply Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) which list these kinds of
dangers and help to categorize products and their waste.
AVAILABLE PREVENTION MEASURES TO ADDRESS SMALL QUANTITY
CHEMICAL USE
Due to the large number and variety of businesses that use chemicals,
there are a vast number of prevention measures, many of which are
specific to the facility of interest. This fact sheet discusses some
prevention measures that are common to most chemical using facilities.
Before a facility can implement any pollution prevention practice, it
must first assess what kinds of chemicals are used and how they are
used. Monitoring chemical use can help operators decide which option
will be the most beneficial. Businesses should start with easy and
inexpensive practices before considering more costly measures such as equipment and process
modifications. Some of the easiest and least expensive practices can produce the most effective
pollution prevention results.
Please keep in mind that individual prevention measures may or may not be adequate to prevent
contamination of source waters. Most likely, individual measures should be combined in an
overall prevention approach that considers the nature of the potential source of contamination,
the purpose, cost, operational, and maintenance requirements of the measures, the vulnerability
of the source waters, the public's acceptance of the measures, and the community's desired
degree of risk reduction.
Ways to Avoid Excess Chemical Use
Good waste reduction and management strategies can
significantly reduce the threat of hazardous materials to
drinking water sources. Make sure employees carefully follow
the manufacturer's directions when mixing or using chemicals
to prevent producing large quantities of useless material that
must be disposed of as waste. The toxicity of waste can be
reduced by using the least hazardous or least concentrated
products available to accomplish their processes. Such
substitutions include the use of water based paints, or high
solids solvent based paints when water based paints are not
available. Cleaning products and solvents, which can contain
highly toxic or harsh chemicals, can be replaced with less
hazardous counterparts. Printing businesses can use nontoxic
inks that are free of heavy metal pigments.
Responsible purchasing can also drastically decrease the amount of waste for disposal. This
includes ordering materials on an as-needed basis and returning unused portions back to
vendors. A facility may unwittingly create excess harmful materials by mixing hazardous with
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nonhazardous waste. Avoiding this practice can significantly reduce the toxicity of waste
disposed and increase the possibility of recycling materials. Another method of waste reduction
is trading waste with other businesses. Waste exchanges reduce disposal costs and quantities,
reduce the demand for natural resources, and increase the value of waste.
Proper Use and Handling of Chemicals
Reading the label on chemical containers is one of the simplest and most
important prevention measures. The label provides information on proper
use, storage, and disposal and may provide emergency information in the
event the product is accidentally spilled or ingested. In cases where the
chemical is highly dangerous, the label will contain special warnings or
use restrictions.
Employee training is critical in preventing source water pollution by chemical using facilities.
While many preventive measures seem simple and straightforward, if they are not followed or
employees are unaware of them, significant consequences can result. All staff should be trained
to store materials properly and be aware of spill control and response protocols. Employees can
be encouraged to learn and retain proper procedures through periodic drills, pollution
prevention training workshops, and company incentive or reward programs.
Proper Storage and Disposal of Chemicals
Chemical audits are a good starting point. It is important to understand chemical needs for the
facility and compare these to the chemical supply on hand. Where appropriate, excess
chemicals should be removed (and properly disposed), or future purchasing adjusted to reduce
stored inventories. A chemical management plan that includes a list of chemicals used, the
method of disposal such as reclamation or contract hauling, and procedures for assuring that
toxic chemicals are not discharged into source water should be implemented.
Proper on-site storage of hazardous substances helps to prevent accidental leaks and applies
to both storage areas and containers. Designated storage areas should have paved or
impervious surfaces, a protective cover, and secondary containment around all containers to
catch spills. Containers should have clear and visible labels which include purchase date and
all information presented on the distributer's original label. Dating materials allows facilities to
use older materials first. When not in use, storage containers must be sealed to prevent spills
and evaporation. Storage areas and containers should be thoroughly inspected on a weekly basis
and secured against unauthorized entry. Care should be taken that chemical storage and
handling areas do not allow for contamination of storm water flows. EPA has developed
extensive guidance providing BMPs for storm water management in industrial settings.
Hazardous waste should never be discharged into floor drains, storm drains, toilets, sinks,
other improper disposal areas, or other routes leading to public sewers, septic systems, or dry
wells. Chemical waste should be disposed of according to the manufacturer's directions and
State and local requirements. Many local communities sponsor household hazardous waste
events to collect and properly dispose of small quantities of chemicals.
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A useful tool for making disposal decisions is the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). These
sheets provide important information regarding contents of commercial products and enable a
facility to determine whether materials will produce hazardous waste. MSDS data (i.e.,
chemical name, ingredients, possible carcinogens, and other known hazards) are also important
for chemical use, storage and spill control. MSDS documents can be obtained from
manufacturers and should be kept readily accessible.
When hazardous substances are
unintentionally released, the event is
considered a spill and must be treated
appropriately. Spill prevention and control
includes spill response plans which serve as
guidance for employees in the event of a
large spill. A good plan minimizes
environmental impact and reduces liability
for clean-up costs and possible bodily
injuries. It should be kept where it can be ^^^f JMiJf/
easily viewed by employees near mixing ^^^^•__ .^^^^M
and storage areas. Besides detailed ^
instructions for staff, a spill response plan
includes a diagram showing the location of all chemicals, floor drains, exits, fire extinguishers,
and spill response supplies. Spill response supplies (e.g., mop, pail, sponges, absorbent
materials) should also be listed. Someone trained in these procedures must be on site or easily
reachable during hours of operation.
Other practices to control spills include the use of funnels when transferring harmful substances
and drip pans placed under spigots, valves, and pumps to catch accidental leakage. Sloped
floors allow leaks to run into collection areas. Catch basins in loading dock areas, where nearly
one third of all accidental spills occur, can help recapture harmful chemicals. All practices
should be performed in a way that allows the reuse or recycling of the spilled substance.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
These sources contain information on small quantity chemical use pollution prevention
practices. All of the documents listed are available free of charge on the Internet.
Assistance is available to communities wishing to enact ordinances to protect water supplies
from contamination due to small quantity chemical use or to small businesses seeking to
improve their operations with management measures. Local fire departments or departments of
health have the authority to pass ordinances or regulations covering chemical use and safety.
Contact local government authorities in your area to see if there are ordinances in place to
manage small quantity chemical use. Numerous examples of local source water protection-
related ordinances for various potential contaminant sources can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/r5water/ordcom/, http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ordinance/, and
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/ordinance/links.htm. The Small Business Environmental Home
Page (http://www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org/fundstat.html) provides links to financial assistance
programs and other available assistance in all 50 States.
The following resources provide information on selection and design of specific management
measures:
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Resource Protection,
Drinking Water Program. (1996, June). Tips for Protecting Your Drinking Water Supply.
Retrieved February 26, 2001, from the World Wide Web:
http: //www. state .ma.us/dep/brp/dws/file s/donts .htm
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Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (1999, July). Disposal of Industrial Wastewater and
Alternatives. UICP/8-02/July 1999. Retrieved February 21, 2001, from the World Wide Web:
http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/pubs/8-02.pdf
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. (1999, February). Best Management
Practices (BMPs)for Groundwater Protection. WD-WSEB-22-4. Retrieved February 26, 2001,
from the World Wide Web: http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/ws/ws-22-4.htm
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pollution Prevention Unit. (1998,
March). Environmental Compliance and Pollution Prevention Guide for Small Quantity
Generators. Retrieved January 2001, from the World Wide Web:
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ppu/ecppsqg.pdf
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Hazardous Waste Management. (1997,
August). Your Business and Hazardous Materials Management. Retrieved February 21, 2001,
from the World Wide Web: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dhwm/dwatt/brochure.htm
U.S. EPA, Envirosense. (1993, February). Case Study: Preventing Ground Water
Contamination. #1903. Retrieved February 21, 2001, from the World Wide Web:
http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/case/michigan/michcsl5.html
U.S. EPA, New England. (2000, April). What Role Does Your Business Have in Protecting
Drinking Water Sources. EPA-901-F-00-001. Retrieved February 21, 2001, from the World
Wide Web: http://www.epa.gov/regionO 1/eco/drinkwater/sourcewater.pdf
U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste. (1996, April). Understanding the Hazardous Waste Rules.
EPA530-K-95-001. Retrieved May 1, 2001, from the World Wide Web:
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/sqg/handbook/sqg_pdfpdf
U.S. EPA, Office of Wastewater Management. (1992, September). Storm Water Management
for Industrial Activities: Developing Pollution Prevention Plans andBMPs. Retrieved May 1,
2001, from the World Wide Web: http://www.epa.gov/owm/sw/indguide/index.htm
The following sites provide information on preventive measures for small quantity chemical
use'
use
downthedrain.org is a site dedicated to reducing the threat of hazardous materials to our
drinking water supply, http://www.downthedrain.org
The Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resource Management provides several
best management practices fact sheets for various types of facilities.
http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/derm/
The Small Business Environmental Home Page (http://www.smallbiz-enviroweb.org)
helps small business access environmental compliance and pollution prevention
information. Its publication section provides documents and web sites for various small
quantity chemical users.
The U.S. EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance
(http://es.epa.gov/oeca/main/compasst/index.html) provides documents and links related
to small quantity chemical users.
Information on waste exchange can be found on U.S. EPA's Envirosense web site for
Materials/Waste Exchange, http://es.epa.gov/program/iniative/waste/waste.html.
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