Wastewater From Vehicle Maintenance Facilities

1. Wastewater From Vehicle Maintenance Facilities • Vehicle and Floor Washwater • Wastewater contains soaps, grease, oil, possibly solvents, fuel and antifreeze. • Floor Drains • Some drains empty to the city sewer • Some drains empty to the storm sewer • Some drains empty to a ditch or other outdoor location Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-1 (a)

2. Wastewater From Vehicle Maintenance Facilities • City Sewer/Sanitary Sewer • Empties to a municipal wastewater treatment plant • Treated, tested and discharged to a body of water • Storm Drain • Empties to a ditch, nearby stream or other body of water >>>>>>>Untreated !!! Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-1 (b)

3. Wastewater From Vehicle Maintenance Facilities • Septic System and Drain Fields • On-site septic tank systems for domestic waste only • Not designed to treat industrial waste • Empties to drain field, leach bed and eventually to surface/ground water • Efficiency of waste treatment variable. Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-1 (c)

4. Wastewater Disposal • Best option is to discharge to the city sewer. • Industrial discharges should be approved by the local wastewater treatment plant authority. • Check for prohibitions on discharges • Remove solids and oils before discharge. • Sump in the floor drain -- solids settle, oil floats Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-2 (a)

5. Wastewater Disposal • Oil skimmed off -- put into the used oil drum. • Settled solids called sump sludge or floor drain sludge. • Possibly contaminated with oil, lubricants, antifreeze, fuel, cleaners, and solvents. • Never discharge industrial wastewater (even vehicle washwater) to storm drains or directly outdoors. Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-2 (b)

6. Wastewater Disposal • May contaminate surface water and groundwater. • Is a violation of federal and state law. • Do not discharge industrial wastewater to a septic system. • Septic systems are designed for domestic sewage only Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-2 (c)

7. Wastewater Disposal • Industrial discharges may kill necessary bacteria in the septic tank and/or cause overloading. • Never discharge hazardous waste to a septic system. • This is illegal disposal and could result in expensive groundwater contamination and liability problems. Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-2 (d)

8. Wastewater Pollution Prevention • Replace hazardous cleaners with mild soaps to clean floors and vehicles. • Read product MSDS prior to purchasing to eliminate corrosive or toxic cleaners. • Stop drips and spills from reaching the floor - use drip pans and good housekeeping. • Clean spills immediately, using a dedicated mop and bucket or launderable rags Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-3 (a)

9. Wastewater Pollution Prevention • Never clean spills by hosing them down with water. • Do work in areas without floor drains, or seal drains temporarily during work. • Seal drains permanently to prevent spills from contaminating wastewater. • Store hazardous wastes and hazardous materials away from drains or seal drains. Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-3 (b)

10. Water Conservation • Save water in vehicle cleaning by: • Dry floor cleaning methods -- sweeping and vacuuming. • Using water efficiently • Shut faucets off when not using the water. • Install pressure-increasing, water-saving devices on faucets. • Collect water in a holding tank and reuse it for preliminary cleaning. Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-4

11. Floor Drain Sludge Management • Sludge may contain -- dirt, oil, gas, solvents, antifreeze etc.. • Sludge is potentially hazardous and must be laboratory tested. • Do not spread sump sludge directly on the ground (landspreading) • May cause surface and groundwater pollution • Testing & monitoring required to landspread Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-5 (a)

12. Floor Drain Sludge Management • Hazardous sludge must be disposed of by a hazardous waste management company. • Nonhazardous sludge can be managed in one of the following ways: • Send dried sludge to a landfill with proper permits (in Iowa - SWA) • Disposed of by a sump cleaning company. Wastewater and Floor Drain Sludge 6-5 (b)

13. Floor Drain Sludge Pollution Prevention • Same steps as Pollution Prevention for Wastewater!! • Use only mild soaps for floors and vehicles. • Read product MSDS - don’t buy corrosive or toxic cleaners. • Use drip pans and good housekeeping. • Clean spills immediately • with reusable materials Wastewater & Floor Drain Sludge 6-6 (a)

14. Floor Drain Sludge Pollution Prevention • Never clean spills by hosing them down with water. • Do work in areas without floor drains, or seal drains temporarily during work. • Seal drains permanently to prevent spills from contaminating wastewater. • Store hazardous wastes and hazardous materials away from drains or seal drains. Wastewater & Floor Drain Sludge 6-6 (b)