The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized technology-based standards under the Clean Water Act to reduce discharges of mercury and other metals from dental offices into municipal sewage treatment plants. Dental offices, which discharge mercury and other metals present in amalgam used for fillings are the main source of mercury discharges to sewage treatment plants – and these metals are subsequently released into the environment. EPA’s rule requires dental offices to comply with requirements based on practices recommended by the American Dental Association.
BCWSA will be contacting all dental offices for completion of the One-Time Compliance Report for Dental Dischargers. You may review the EPA Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions below to determine if the Dental Office Category Rule applies to your practice and what additional steps (if any) you will have to take to achieve compliance.