Requirements for All Dental Dischargers Who Place and Remove Amalgam
1. Installation of compliant amalgam separator(s).
Existing Sources — Dental offices in operation PRIOR to the effective date of the rule (July 14, 2017):
- Must install compliant amalgam separator(s) by July 14, 2020.
- If non-compliant amalgam separators were installed prior to the Adopted Date of the Rule (June 14, 2017), the Rule allows for continued use of those amalgam separators for ten (10) years from the date of the Rule (i.e., until June 14, 2027) or until they need to be replaced, whichever comes first, at which time they must be replaced with compliant models. All other requirements including BMPs, operation and maintenance, reporting, and record keeping must be still be met.
New Sources — Dental offices that start discharging ON or AFTER the effective date of the rule (July 14, 2017):
- Requires installation of compliant amalgam separator(s) by dental offices established on or after July 14, 2017, prior to any discharges to the POTW.
2. Ongoing maintenance and inspection of the amalgam separator(s) according to the manufacturer’s manual
- Retention of records for a minimum of three (3) years.
3. Implementation of two (2) best management practices (BMPs):
- Collect and properly dispose of all waste amalgam from chair side traps, screens, vacuum pump filters, dental tools, cuspidors, and collection devices. Do NOT use oxidizing or acidic cleaners, including but not limited to bleach, chlorine, iodine, and peroxide, that has a pH less than 6 or greater than 8.
4. Submit a One-Time Compliance Report SAWS
- Required by ALL dental offices that receive wastewater services from SAWS, including dental offices that do not place dental amalgam or remove dental amalgam except in limited circumstances.