Dental Effluent Guidelines & Standards
On July 14, 2017, The US EPA published the Dental Effluent Guidelines (40 CFR 441) to reduce the discharge of mercury from dental offices to municipal wastewater treatment plants.
All dental facilities subject to this regulation must:
- Install an amalgam separator meeting ISO 11143 standards
- Conduct on-going operation and maintenance of the amalgam separator and maintain associated documentation and records
- Implement two Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Submit a One-Time Compliance Report
New source requirements
Any new dentist/dental practice that opens on or after July 14, 2017 is considered a "new source" and must comply with the Rule prior to discharging dental wastewater to a POTW.
The New Source One-Time Compliance report is due no later than 90 days following introduction of wastewater into a POTW.