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ECAR
Fact Sheet for Kansas Regulations BACK to VIRTUAL TOUR The following fact sheet was prepared by the ECAR Center staff. Once prepared, each ECAR Center fact sheet undergoes a review process with the applicable state environmental agency(ies). You can check on the status of the review process here. Please read the disclaimer on the status page. While we have tried to present a summary of the essential information on this topic, you should be aware that other items, such as local regulations, may apply to you. What You Need to Know Wastewater is often generated by operations such as the rinsing of parts, and the washing down of engines or dirty tools. If water becomes mixed with oil, antifreeze, solvents, or other liquids, it is important that it be properly treated and contained prior to discharge. If your wastewater is currently just going down an unregulated drain, you've got a problem. Even if your activities have gone unnoticed for years, there is an increasing chance that you will be inspected. The federal EPA and the states are starting to look much more carefully at sources of water pollution that have so far remained unidentified, and they have (rightly or wrongly) decided that auto recyclers are a significant problem area. There are a few basic rules to keep in mind. The first is that wastewater from industrial discharges is usually handled by wastewater treatment plants, but you are usually required to conduct “pretreatment” of the discharge. The second is that the storm drains that carry rain and snow runoff from dismantling yards, roof downspouts, parking lots, and other surfaces typically go directly to open waterways, and must never be used for disposal. It is important that all the employees at your yard are aware of these rules, and that they respect them. You may need separate permits both for stormwater runoff (see the ECAR Stormwater fact sheet) and for any industrial wastewater that you generate. This page will give you an overview of how to handle your industrial wastewater. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) have prepared a guidance document to help auto recyclers manage wastewater. Much of that information is included in the fact sheet below. You can access the link to the Pollution Prevention for Auto Salvage Yards guidance document under Other Relevant Resources. This fact sheet addresses wastewater discharges other than stormwater, which is covered by a different fact sheet. Wastewater from salvage yards can be subdivided into two main types:
In Kansas, sanitary wastewater from your lavatories, washrooms, showers, and drinking fountains can be sent to the city sanitary sewer, an approved lagoon, or to an on-site septic system. Industrial wastewater includes the water going into floor drains from areas such as dismantling, water from steam cleaning and equipment wash down, mop water from floor cleaning, or water from any other sources where it comes into contact with dismantled parts or equipment. The best disposal option for your industrial wastewater, such as from your floor drains and shop sinks, is to send it to your city sanitary sewer system. Other industrial wastewater disposal options may be expensive, banned, or highly regulated. Discharge to a POTW. City sanitary sewers or publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) are specifically designed to treat wastes from homes, not industrial wastewaters that can carry chemicals and heavy metals. Some industrial wastewater discharges to POTWs can disrupt the public sewer system operation. Therefore, if you would like to discharge industrial wastewater to a POTW, you should contact the city to obtain a permit or written permission to discharge. Each city’s POTW has its own set of parameters for contaminants it can treat without causing a failure of its system. A copy of the city’s sewer use or wastewater ordinance will list those parameters. Discharge to Waste Disposal Wells. See the ECAR Septic Tanks Fact Sheet for more information. Discharge to Surface Waters. Any salvage yard that wants to discharge industrial wastewater on the surface to waters of the state needs to get a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from KDHE. Examples of waters of the state include streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, waterways, groundwater, and springs. If your floor drains lead to any waters of the state, you must have an NPDES discharge permit for this activity. You must apply to the KDHE at least 180 days before the proposed discharge. An NPDES permit must be obtained for every site where you intend to discharge to waters of the state. Wastewater Lagoons. Wastewater lagoons that receive industrial wastewater and do not discharge because of evaporation, seepage, or irrigation are required to have a Kansas Water Pollution Control Permit and receive KDHE authorization prior to construction. Links to the Regulations and Forms. Use the following links to view the regulations and permit forms pertaining to wastewater. Kansas Water Quality Standards NPDES Industrial Permit Notice of Intent Form Federal Safe Drinking Water Act Requirements When an inspector comes to your facility, there are certain things he or she checks to see if you are in compliance with environmental regulations. It makes good sense for you to perform a "self-audit" and catch and correct problems before they result in penalties. Also, there are some compliance incentives associated with self-audits (see Audit Policy Page). Use the following list to audit your wastewater management activities.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) Most regulations tell you what you have to do to be in compliance, but they don’t explain how to do it. That’s where "best management practices" come into play. BMPs are proven methods that help you to get into compliance and stay there. The following BMPs are recommended for wastewater management.
Related ECAR Fact Sheets Other Relevant Resources
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