Chemical Waste - Disposal to Sewer

Legislation

Water Corporation Act 1995

Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Act 1912

Health (Treatment of Sewage and Disposal of Effluent and Liquid Waste) Regulations 1974

Preamble

Some aqueous and water miscible wastes in limited quantities are permitted to be disposed of to sewer in accordance with permits and guidelines set out by the Water Corporation. For each major building on campus with waste other than normal domestic effluent running to sewer, there is an industrial waste permit issued by the Water Corporation. These permits allow industrial waste streams to run to sewer within strict limits and guidelines specified in the permit, and subject to change from time to time. The waste streams are subject to random sampling and analysis through monitoring points by Water Corporation personnel to ensure compliance with specified acceptance criteria. The penalties for breaches of permit conditions can be severe, both under statute and common law. If a discharge results in contamination of the sewage treatment plant or damage to water Corporation equipment, civil action may be pursued by Water Corporation in addition to any criminal prosecution which may be undertaken.

Wastes which can run to sewer

Guidelines and/or limits are usually given on the Industrial waste Permit for a particular building. These should be consulted for specific direction. Acceptance criteria for the waste water treatment plant specify concentrations and total amounts of wastes which are permitted to be disposed of to sewer. The Water Corporation also provides on line brochures for specific waste streams such as:

• Commercial climate control waste
• Laboratory chemical wastes     (Note that point 6 on neutralisation of acid waste over 2.5 litres prior to sewer disposal applies at a much lower level of 100 millilitres at UWA, to preserve internal waste water piping)
• Photographic wastes
• Swimming pools

Industrial waste must not be run to sewer in a building for which an industrial waste permit has not been issued, or outside of the guidelines provided in Water Corporation publications or the specific building industrial waste permit.

For further queries on industrial waste issues, or specific substances, please contact the Chemical Safety Officer on x 7934.