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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Source Water Protection Practices Bulletin
Managing Small Quantity Chemical Use to Prevent
Contamination of Drinking Water
Inside this issue:
Why is it Important
to Manage Small
Quantity Chemical
Use?
Available Prevention
Measures
Additional
Information
FACTS:
• Small Quantity Chemical Use
occurs all around us on a daily
basis.
• Improper disposal of these
chemicals into sewers can
endanger POTWs abilities to
properly treat wastewater.
• Hazardous waste is defined
under RCRA.
• Chemical manufacturers can
supply Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS), which can help
categorize chemicals and their
wastes.
• Some of these chemicals can
harm human health even in small
doses by contaminating large
amounts of drinking water.
• Some of the easiest and least
expensive practices canproduce
the most effective pollution
prevention results.
Many small businesses, government
agencies, and academic institutions
use chemicals to carry out their busi-
ness functions. Although varying
greatly in purpose, these small quan-
tity 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 demon-
strates how precaution must be
taken in all areas regarding chemical
use. Businesses that generate hazard-
ous 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.
Examples of places
where small quantity
chemical use occurs.
1 - Photo finishing.
2 - Household cleaning.
3 - Paint processing.
4 - Academic institutions.
Places Where Small Quantity Chemical Use Occurs
Small quantity chemical
users include dry cleaners,
beauty shops, photo finish-
ers, vehicle repair shops,
printers, laboratories, water
supply facilities, academic
institutions, nursing homes,
medical facilities, and many
others. It is the daily prac-
tices of these businesses that
use chemicals and produce
chemical waste. Degreasing,
cleaning, polishing, paint
preparation, rust removal,
and photo processing are
just a fraction of the activi-
ties in which small busi-
nesses are engaged.
Improper disposal of chemi-
cals from these users can
reach ground or surface wa-
ter through a number of
pathways. If substances
from these businesses are
accidentally or intentionally
discharged into sewers, con-
tamination of ground and
surface waters can occur.
Improper disposal into sew-
ers can also endanger the
ability of publicly-owned
treatment works (POTWs)
to properly treat wastewa-
ter. 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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Page 2
Source Water Protection Practices Bulletin
*,
Perchloroethylene, a
cleaning residue, 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.
Why is it Important to Manage Small Quantity Chemical
Use Near Sources of Drinking Water?
Many ordinary businesses
use chemicals and produce
chemical waste that can be
harmful to humans if in-
gested. Types of chemicals
used by these businesses in-
clude solvents, corrosives,
dry cleaning agents, heavy
metals and inorganics, inks
and paint, lead-acid batter-
ies, plating chemicals, cya-
nide, and wood preserving
agents. Each set of contami-
nants has its own environ-
mental and health hazards.
For example, a dry cleaning
filtration residue, perchloro-
ethylene, causes kidney and
liver damage in both hu-
mans and animals. It is
among the most common
contaminants in ground wa-
ter and a very small amount
can contaminate many thou-
sands of gallons of water.
Used cyanide, a common
waste product of metal fin-
ishing, is considered an
acutely hazardous waste and
can be toxic in very small
doses. Chemical manufactur-
ers can supply Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
which list these kinds of dan-
gers 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 in-
expensive 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 pur-
pose, 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:
5 - Measure carefully
to avoid producing
large quantities of
useless material.
Waste Reduction and Management -
Waste exchanges reduce disposal costs and
quantities, reduce the demand for natural
resources and increase the value of waste.
Good waste reduction and
management strategies can
significantly reduce the threat
of hazardous materials to
drinking water sources. Make
sure employees carefully fol-
low the manufacturer's direc-
tions when mixing or using
chemicals to prevent produc-
ing 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 avail-
able to accomplish their proc-
esses. Such substitutions in-
clude the use of water based
paints, or high solids solvent
based paints when water based
paints are not available.
Cleaning products and sol-
vents, which can contain
highly toxic or harsh chemi-
cals, can be replaced with less
hazardous counterparts. Print-
ing businesses can use non-
toxic inks that are free of
heavy metal pigments.
Responsible Purchasing -
6 - Order materials on
an as-needed basis.
Responsible purchasing
can also drastically
decrease the amount of
waste for disposal. This
includes ordering mat-
erials on an as-needed
basis and returning un-
used portions back to
vendors. A facility may
unwittingly create excess
harmful materials by
mixing hazardous with
nonhazardous waste.
Avoiding this practice
can significantly reduce
the toxicity of waste
disposed and increase the
possibility of recycling ma-
terials. Another method of
waste reduction is trading
waste with other busi-
nesses. Waste exchanges
reduce disposal costs and
quantities, reduce the
demand for natural
resources, and increase the
value of waste.
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Page 3
Proper Use and Handling of Chemicals:
Reading the Labels -
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.
7 - Labels provide information on
proper use, storage and disposal.
8 - All staff should be trained on proper
storage and spill protocols.
Employee Training -
Employee training is critical in prevent-
ing source water pollution by chemical
using facilities. While many preventive
measures seem simple and straightfor-
ward, if they are not followed or em-
ployees are unaware of them, significant
consequences can result. All staff should
be trained to store materials properly
and be aware of spill control and re-
sponse protocols. Employees can be en-
couraged to learn and retain proper pro-
cedures through periodic drills, pollution
prevention training workshops, and
company incentive or reward programs.
Proper Storage and Disposal of Chemicals:
Proper On-Site Storage -
Proper on-site storage of hazard-
ous 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 contami-
nation of storm water flows.
EPA has developed extensive
guidance providing BMPs for
storm water management in
industrial settings.
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9 - Compare the chemical needs of a facility to the supply
on-hand. Excess chemicals should be removed.
10 - Storage areas should have impervious surfaces, a protective cover, and
secondary containment around all containers to catch spills.
Chemical Audits -
Chemical audits are a good
starting point. It is impor-
tant to understand chemical
needs for the facility and
compare these to the chemi-
cal supply on hand. Where
appropriate, excess chemi-
cals should be removed (and
properly disposed), or future
purchasing adjusted to
reduce stored inventories. A
chemical management plan
that includes a list of chemi-
cals used, the method of dis-
posal such as reclamation or
contract hauling, and proce-
dures for assuring that toxic
chemicals are not dis-
charged into source water
should be implemented.
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Source Water Protection Practices Bulletin
Spill Prevention and Control -
When hazardous substances are
unintentionally released, the event
is considered a spill and must be
treated appropriately. Spill preven-
tion and control includes spill re-
sponse plans which serve as guid-
ance for employees in the event of a
large spill. A good plan minimizes
environmental impact and reduces
liability for clean-up costs and pos-
sible bodily injuries. It should be
kept where it can be easily viewed
by employees near mixing and stor-
age areas. Besides detailed instruc-
tions for staff, a spill response plan
includes a diagram showing the lo-
cation 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 in-
clude the use of funnels when trans-
ferring harmful substances and drip
pans placed under spigots, valves,
and pumps to catch accidental leak-
age. Sloped floors allow leaks to run
into collection areas. Catch basins in
loading dock areas, where nearly
one third of all accidental spills oc-
cur, can help recapture harmful
chemicals. All practices should be
performed in a way that allows the
reuse or recycling of the spilled sub-
stance.
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11 - Hazardous waste warnings.
A good plan should be kept
where it can be easily viewed
by employees near mixing 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.
12- Sample response plan.
13 - Chemical waste should be disposed of according to the
manufacturer's directions and State and local requirements.
Proper Disposal Decisions
and the MSDS -
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 dis-
posed of according to the manu-
facturer's directions and State
and local requirements. Many
local communities sponsor house-
hold hazardous waste events to
collect and properly dispose of
small quantities of chemicals.
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, ingredi-
ents, possible carcinogens, and
other known hazards) are also
important for chemical use, stor-
age and spill control. MSDS docu-
ments can be obtained from
manufacturers and should be kept
readily accessible.
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PageS
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 depart-
ments 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. Numer-
ous 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/
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/files/donts.htm
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 Groundwa-
ter 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 Com-
pliance 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 Haz-
ardous 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/niichcsl5.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/region01/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_pdf.pdf
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U.S. EPA, Office of Wastewater Management. (1992, September). Storm Water Management for Industrial Activities: Develop-
ing Pollution Prevention Plans and BMPs. 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:
downthedrain.org is a site dedicated to reducing the threat of hazardous materials to our drinking water supply, http://
www. downthedrain.org
The Miami-Bade 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/niain/conipasst/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.
Image Credits
1 - 5 - Previous Small Quantity Chemical Use Bulletin from 2001.
6 - Shopping bags. Composite image of shopping bags.
7 - Previous Small Quantity Chemical Use Bulletin from 2001.
8 - Flickr Creative Commons: Attribute only search. Serene Computer Lab at Seward Montessori School, uploaded by
"izzymunchted" on September 21, 2007.
9 - Supply and Demand Curve: http://sworlandoblog.com/2008/04/01/orlando-has-the-most-nuniber-of-vacant-homes/
10 - Image taken from the original 2001 Above Ground Storage Tank Bulletin.
11 - Hazardous Materials Sign taken from: http://www.med.cornell.edu/ehs/chem_waste/summary_requirements/index.html
12 - Spill Response Sample Plan taken from: http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/OurComniunity/EnvironmentalEducation/
PollutionPrevention/Pages/PollutionPreventionAtWork.aspx
13 - Previous Small Quantity Chemical Use Bulletin from 2001.
14-http://www.labsafety.com/LAB-SAFETY-SUPPLY-Spill-Response-Drum-Kits_24549916/
Back Cover - Flickr Creative Commons: Attribute only search. Graduated cylinders and beaker filled with chemical compounds,
uploaded by "Horia Varlan" on January 14, 2010.
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14 - Sample of spill response supplies.
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Source Water Protection Practices Bulletin
Managing Small Quantity Chemical Use to Prevent Contamination of Drinking Water
The mission of EPA is to protect human health
and to safeguard the natural environment --
air, water and land -- upon which life depends.
USEPA East (EPA East) [Old ICC Building]
1201 Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water (4606)
EPA ### ### ### ###
www. epa.gov/safewater
August 2010
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