Office of
United States Ground Water and
^1 Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water

CLASS V UIC STUDY FACT SHEET
LAUNDROMAT WELLS
What is a laundromat well?
Laundromat wells are Class V underground injection control (UIC) wells used to inject
fluids from laundromats where no onsite dry cleaning is performed or where no organic
solvents are used for laundering.
What types of fluids are
injected into laundromat wells?
Fluids similar to greywater from household washing machines.
Do injectate constituents
exceed drinking water
standards at the point of
injection?
The limited data that are available from coin-operated washers indicate that none of the
primary drinking water standards or health advisory levels are exceeded by laundromat
washwater. However, the injectate has exceeded the secondary drinking water standards for
pH and total dissolved solids.
What are the characteristics of
the injection zone of a
laundromat well?
Laundromat wells are used in a variety of geological settings.
Are there any contamination
incidents associated with
laundromat wells?
There are no reported contamination incidents associated with laundromat wells.
Are laundromat wells
vulnerable to spills or illicit
discharges?
The unsupervised nature of coin-operated laundromats may make Class V wells at those
facilities susceptible to contamination due to laundering of contaminated articles. For
instance, an individual may wash highly contaminated articles, such as solvent-soaked or oily
rags, that may result in increased contaminant concentrations in the wash water. It is also
reasonable to expect that any sinks or floor drains at the facility, which also may receive
minor spills, would be hooked into the same plumbing system that collects and transfers
wash water to the injection well.
How many laundromat wells
exist in the United States?
There are less than 700 documented laundromat wells in the United States. Although many
states estimate numbers of wells much higher than the numbers documented, most are unsure
of the exact number of wells.
Where are laundromat wells
located within the United
States?
Laundromat wells are documented in 12 states, with AL, WV, NY, MS, and IA providing the
highest estimates (collectively, these five states account for more than 90 percent of the
estimated national inventory).
How are laundromat wells
regulated in states with the
largest number of this type of
well?
Permit by rule: I A, MS, and WV
Individual permit: AL and NY
Where can I obtain additional
information on laundromat
wells?
For general information, contact the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, toll-free 800-426-4791.
The Safe Drinking Water Hotline is open Monday through Friday, excluding federal
holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. For technical inquiries,
contact Amber Moreen, Underground Injection Control Program Office of Ground Water
and Drinking Water (mail code 4606), EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C., 20460.
Phone: 202-260-4891. E-mail: morccn.a mbe r Vv cpa.gov. The complete Class VUIC Study
(EPA/816-R-99-014, September 1999), which includes a volume addressing laundromat
wells (Volume 8), can be found at http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/uic/cl5study.html.

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