Injection Wells
December 1992
Facilities Planning has recently become aware of a new enforcement initiative
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Floor drains connected to
underground dry wells, typical in School District maintenance garage service
bays, are no longer allowed by the Federal Underground Injection Control Program
under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA requires a cleanup and closure plan within
30 days or penalties up to $25,000 a day and 3 years imprisonment may be assessed.
Floor drains must be re-routed to a collection tank or acceptable sanitary sewer
system that is connected to a sewage treatment plant.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has in the
past allowed service area floor drains connected to dry wells under the State
Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit program. Also instructions
related to the State Environmental Audit Law have not previously emphasized these
floor drains as potentially unique sources of pollution. However, since the EPA
enforcement initiative has been implemented, the DEC is directing that all service
bay floor drains connected to subsurface disposal systems be eliminated.
Facilities Planning will no longer approve service bay floor drains shown discharging
to dry wells for new construction or reconstruction projects. For existing buildings,
school districts should plan to disconnect and close all such existing drains
as part of their ongoing capital construction planning.
For further information, districts should contact their regional DEC office.