Although aqueous waste isn’t as toxic as petroleum solvents, it can still have serious environmental impact if the waste water is not disposed of properly.
Dumping parts washer solutions into drywells, onsite septic systems, storm drains, or onto the ground is illegal. It can contaminate your septic tank or drain field and cause disruptions in the biological ecosystem, which can cause system failure as well as environmental damage.
In some areas parts washing wastewater can be dumped into the municipal sewer system, but special permission is required from the sewer utility and they normally require laboratory testing of the waste.
Evaporation is usually the best solution. Most waste water from parts washing doesn’t contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), they may be evaporated, leaving only harmless water vapor and a smaller amount of sludge that can be disposed of safely and economically.
