Proper waste fluid disposal options
You can protect your drinking water and show your
community and customers that you care about their health
when you follow practices such as:
Run a Dry Shop:
• Install drip pans and trays wherever fluids are
transferred
• Use vacuums and absorbents to clean up spills and
drips to minimize the use of water when cleaning
service areas
• Install physical barriers preventing the waste fluids
from entering the floor drains
• Keep waste fluids separate (some can be recycled for
profit if they are not mixed)
Connect floor drains to a holding tank:
• Schedule regular pump-outs using licensed and certified
haulers
• Ensure your holding tank meets federal, state, and
local regulations
• Monitor for leaks and drips regularly
Education:
• Educate your staff about public health consequences
of improper waste disposal
• Update shop policies on proper waste fluid handling
For more info on proper waste fluid disposal options visit:
http ://www. epa.gov/safewater/uic/class5/types_motorve
hides.html#close
To learn more about the EPA's requirements:
Call the EPA Public Environmental Resource Center
Region 10
1-800-424-4EPA
For more info visit:
The EPA's Underground Injection Control Program
http ://www. epa.gov/safewater/uic/index.html
Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells
http://yosemite.epa.gov/rlO/water.nsf/uic/mvwdw
Self Audit Checklist:
http ://www. epa.gov/safewater/uic/class5/types_motorve
hides.html#how
Wrt >mc
CD N3 (Q 3 3
!§ SS-ff
CD C/) O O Q.
§a la
cog"
~^p
O)
c
CD"
CD
8
O>
o
o
m
3 (D
ffW
TJ
3
-------
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
dedicated to working with Alaskans to ensure community
drinking water is clean and safe for Alaskans today and in
the future. In Alaska this is especially important because
more than half of the population depends on ground water
as their source of drinking water. In rural Alaska over 90%
of the population depends on ground water as their source
of drinking water. EPA works to prevent ground water
pollution and to protect human health by regulating
underground waste fluid disposal.
Why is EPA concerned?
During vehicle repair and maintenance activities fluids
can drip, spill, or otherwise enter the floor drains or sinks
in service areas. If the floor drains and/or sinks are connected
to a septic system, dry well, log crib, drain tank, or any
other type of underground disposal system, waste fluids
may be entering your drinking water. EPA is concerned
that human health may be impacted if even small amounts
of waste fluids get into the drinking water supply.
Injection: Any activity that disposes fluids from above ground
to below ground, with or without added pressure.
Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well: An injection well that
receives, or has ever received, waste fluids from motor vehicles.
Underground fluid injection
is regulated by EPA
Generally speaking, injection is any process that disposes
of fluids underground. Injection wells are used to dispose
of a variety of fluids underground. EPAregulates injection
wells that receive, or have ever received, waste fluids from
motor vehicles. These wells are referred to as Motor
Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells, which are classified by
the type of waste received, not by the shape or construction
of the well. In an effort to protect your drinking water
resources, EPA banned the use of motor vehicle waste
disposal wells in Alaska in 2000.
Examples of fluids that should not
be disposed of in injection wells
Engine oil
Brake Fluid
Gasoline/Diesel/Aviation fuel
Antifreeze
Transmission fluid
Hydraulic fluid
Degreasers
Part cleaning solvents
Power steering fluid
rn si
Drinking
Water
Source
Businesses that commonly handle these
fluids
Auto service stations
Auto body shops
Muffler / Transmission repair shops
New and used car dealerships
Airplane maintenance facilities
Home based vehicle repair businesses
Railroad maintenance facilities
Boat maintenance facilities
How to tell if you may have a
Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well
Answer the following questions as a self check guide:
1. Does your facility
handle motor vehicle
waste fluids?
2. Does your facility
have floor drains or
sinks where these
fluids are handled?
3. Are all of your floor
drains and sinks
connected to a
municipal sewer or a
holding tank where
waste is pumped out
regularly and taken
off-site?
If YES go to
question 2.
If YES go to
question 3.
If YES stop
here. You are
probably not
subject to
underground
injection
requirements *
If NO stop here.
If NO stop here.
If NO you may be
disposing of your
waste fluids into a
motor vehicle waste
disposal well.
* You may still be subject to local, state, and federal regulations
For more information on how to tell if you are operating
a Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well visit:
http://www.epa. gov/safewater/uic/class5/types_motorve
hicles.html#how
What should you do if you are improperly
disposing of shop waste?
If you determine that you are disposing of motor vehicle
waste into an injection well it is possible your waste fluids
are entering your community's drinking water. Due to the
risk to human health your injection well should be
permanently closed in a way that will not cause further
contamination. Contact EPA to further assess your injection
activity and to coordinate pre- and post-closure activities
as needed. For more information on EPA well closure
guidelines visit:
http://www.epa. gov/safewater/uic/class5/types_motorve
hicles.html#req2
------- |