Wastewater Discharges

ECAR Fact Sheet for Minnesota
Wastewater Discharges

Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources

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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

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 will almost certainly 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.

Regulations

Wastewater management - keeping hazardous wastes such as used oil, antifreeze and solvents out of wastewater - is essential in operating an environmentally friendly salvage yard. Because of the potential for waste and wastewater to pollute soil and ground water, environmental laws regarding disposal are very strict.

Make sure your facility is using one of the two following wastewater management systems:

On-site capture and reuse system for wastewater: This is the best method of wastewater management. Motor vehicle salvage facilities that do not have an on-site capture and reuse system should make every effort to install this type of system. Wastewater generated from on-site capture and reuse systems must be tested to determine if it is a hazardous waste. If hazardous, it must be disposed of under hazardous waste disposal requirements. See ECAR Hazardous Waste Fact Sheet. If the wastewater is not hazardous it may be transported to a wastewater facility for treatment, or landspread in an approved manner. Do not discharge to an on-site septic system. Contact your local wastewater treatment facility for more information.

Connection to a city sewer and wastewater treatment facility: This method of wastewater disposal should only be used when an on-site capture and reuse system is not yet available. Salvage facilities must have written permission from their city wastewater treatment facility operator to release this type of wastewater into the system because it may be hazardous.

Permits. State wastewater discharge permits are required for anyone who discharges waste materials from a commercial or industrial operation to ground or to a publicly-owned treatment plant, and or municipalities who discharge to ground. NPDES permits are required for anyone who discharges wastewater to, or has a significant potential to impact surface waters.

Pretreatment. If a facility generates industrial process wastewater that comes from metal-finishing or other industrial processes covered by the EPA categories listed in 40 CFR 413 - 471 and if this wastewater is routed to the sanitary sewer system, you may need to install treatment equipment such as an oil/water separator to prevent oil and sludge from being discharged to the sewer. This is referred to as "pretreatment." The oil and sludge collected by pretreatment equipment will have to be periodically removed and disposed of, possibly as a hazardous waste (you must make a hazardous waste determination). In most instances, wastewater will require some form of pretreatment prior to discharge into the sewer system. You will also have to submit the pretreatment form below to the MPCA directly.

Links to the Regulations and Forms. Use the following links to view the regulations and permit forms pertaining to wastewater.

Minnesota State Water Rules

NPDES Permit Application

Pretreatment State Disposal System Permit Application

Federal Safe Drinking Water Act Requirements

Self-Audit Checklist

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.

Does your facility discharge process wastewater? Are the discharges authorized by a permit? Check all uses of water and steam within the industrial areas of your facility. Determine where wastewater is generated and discharged. You must have a permit or written authorization for all industrial water discharges.
Is oil or solvent discharged to the sewer? Federal and state laws prohibit the discharge of oil or flammable solvents to the sewer system. These are regulated wastes that must be properly disposed of.

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.

Limit water use and the volume of water discharged through conservation methods and by reusing water whenever possible.
Train employees to use water efficiently.
Don't use water for cleaning floors and equipment unless absolutely necessary. Use dry cleanup methods for spills.
Post signs at all floor drains and sinks in industrial areas of your facility to discourage employees from using the drains to dispose of oil, other vehicle fluids, solvent, paint or similar liquids. Review these rules with your employees.
Use only non-toxic soaps to clean floors and vehicles instead of hazardous materials.
If you have floor drains at your facility that are not in use, consider having them capped or plugged to prevent misuse or accidental discharges.
Prevent drips and spills from reaching the floor.
Check your floor drains and make certain you know where they discharge.
Setup and use a maintenance schedule for inspection and cleaning of floor drains, oil/water separators, traps, etc.
Never have floor drains where hazardous materials are stored.
If your wastewater is nonhazardous, you may want to purchase evaporating equipment to evaporate your wastewater. It should be noted that evaporators may require an air permit or registration, and evaporator bottoms may be considered a hazardous waste.
Don't use degreaser solvents to clean engines. Most engine degreasers are hazardous and should not be discharged to a POTW. Even if you use nonhazardous degreasers, the oil and grease concentration in the spent degreaser may exceed the limit allowed by your sewer authority.

Contacts

For more information, contact the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Regional Office closest to you:

Northeast Region (Duluth) 218-723-4660.
North Central Region (Brainerd) 218-828-2492.
Northwest Region (Detroit Lakes) 218-847-1519.
Southwest Region (Marshall) 507-537-7146.
Southeast Region (Rochester) 507-285-7343.

If you have wastewater questions, call the MPCA Customer Assistance Center at 651-297-2274.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

Other Relevant Resources

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