Separator Water

Separator water is a waste stream that is produced by most dry cleaning machines. Separator water consists of mostly water mixed with used tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene or "perc". Perc is the solvent that is used in the cleaning process to break up dirt, stains, etc. Separator water comes from many parts of the dry cleaning process, (tumblers, stills, vapor adsorbers, condenser etc.). Separator water is a hazardous waste when the perc level exceeds 0.7 parts per million (ppm). Separator water typically contains around 150 ppm of perc. Separator water that is hazardous for perc will carry the U.S. EPA hazardous waste code of D039.

Disposal Methods Used

Ohio dry cleaners may use any of the following three basic methods to dispose of separator water:

The most common method and the method preferred by Ohio EPA is to dispose of it as a hazardous waste at a permitted treatment or disposal facility.

Many dry cleaners choose to evaporate separator water. Until June 1996, Ohio EPA did not allow evaporation of separator water. This fact sheet will outline the conditions where Ohio EPA will allow a dry cleaner to evaporate its separator water. Ohio EPA will be pursuing a rule change to reinforce this change in position.

With written permission from the local wastewater treatment facility, separator water can be poured down the sanitary sewer drain. If you are uncertain as to whether you are connected to a proper sewer line, please choose one of the other disposal methods. Separator water must never be discarded into a septic system or put onto the ground. Besides being illegal, this may cause contamination of surface and ground water.

Recommendations for Evaporation Units

According to Ohio's hazardous waste rules, evaporation of separator water is treatment of a hazardous waste that requires a permit. However, after evaluating evaporator units and the potential for harm associated with their use, Ohio EPA's Division of Hazardous Waste Management (DHWM) has decided to allow dry cleaners to evaporate separator water as long as the evaporator unit meets the following criteria:

The unit must have an activated carbon system or equivalent adsorption media that will bring the tetrachloroethylene or "perc" to limits below 0.7 ppm prior to evaporation. The adsorption media/filter should be changed according to manufacturer's recommendations.

If the manufacturer has not proven that the unit can meet 0.7 ppm for perc, the dry cleaner must collect a sample of the separator water after it has gone through the adsorption media/filter. This sample must be analyzed to be certain that it does not exceed Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) regulatory levels using U.S. EPA's SW-846 analytical methods (e.g., method No. 8260). Most laboratories are familiar with these methods. You must keep a copy of the analytical results on file. Call the DHWM's Technical Support Unit if you have any questions or if you need help locating a laboratory - (614) 644-2934.

The evaporation system must remain closed and must vent to the outside of the building. "Closed" means entirely connected with pipes or other comparable enclosed means of conveyance so that it will prevent emissions into the building. An open bucket of separator water transferred to an evaporation unit would not be part of a closed system.
All adsorption media filters from the evaporator units must be disposed of as hazardous waste unless proven to be nonhazardous by analytical testing or by generator knowledge. Ohio EPA requires all generators to ensure delivery of hazardous waste to a permitted facility.
The dry cleaner must follow a regular maintenance schedule for the evaporator unit, use a log to document maintenance (filter changes, parts replacement, etc.) and keep these records on file for three years.