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Discharge to Drains
Overview
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Overview
Sinks and drains in the lab may seem like a convenient place to dispose of liquids,
however in many labs, disposal of chemical solutions and other liquids down sinks
and drains is strictly forbidden. The disposal of improper materials in a sink
or a drain can cause damage to plumbing systems, interfere with wastewater treatment
plant operations or cause fires, explosions, generation of toxic gases or other
adverse chemical reactions. Only under very controlled conditions may some liquid
wastes be disposed of down the drain.
Regulations control what can be discharged to a sink or drain that flows to
an on-site wastewater treatment system or ultimately to a public
wastewater treatment plant. It would be very unusual for a lab to
have sinks and drains discharge directly to a septic system or directly
to surface waters anymore. If that is the case however, it is likely
the lab is under strict local regulations or permit requirements
as virtually any discharge of material down the sink or drain would
reach the environment. Check with your institution’s EH&S
department or local regulatory agencies to find out if you can safely
dispose of specific waste solutions down the laboratory sink or
drain.
The Environment Agency (EA) regulates point sources that discharge
pollutants (from both storm water and non-storm water) into waters
of the England and Wales through provisions of the Trade Effluent
and Pollution of Surface Waters and Groundwater Regulations. The
term “point source” refers to any discernible, confined
and discrete conveyance, such as a pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel,
conduit, discrete fissure, or container. So if your lab building
has an on-site treatment system where the effluent from the treatment
system discharges directly or indirectly to a surface water body,
it is very likely that a these regulations will apply.
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