The Industrial Waste Program conducts compliance inspections of dental practices that discharge mercury into the King County sewerage system. During the compliance inspection, which will normally last less than one half hour, the inspector: - Will look to see if the dental office has an approved amalgam separator unit (ASU) properly installed OR has a valid wastewater discharge permit.
- Will check to see that X-ray fixer is properly managed.
- Will check records, such as receipts for equipment and waste removal. (See "Recordkeeping" in "Best Management Practices" below).
Inspection follow-up
A typical follow-up to an inspection would include the inspector evaluating the dental office for compliance and writing-up an inspection report. If the office is in compliance there will be no further action. Minor Problems: If minor problems are noted during the inspection, King County will follow-up to see if they have been corrected promptly. If so, there will be no further action. Major Problems: If the inspector noted major problems during the inspection, (e.g. no separator or permit in place) the inspector will set up a compliance schedule for that office. If problems are not corrected King County will proceed using its Enforcement Response Plan. Goals of King County Enforcement Response Plan
- Correct violations as soon as possible.
- Treat all industrial dischargers equitably.
- Eliminate any economic advantage to a business for not complying.
- Recover costs caused by violations.
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Follow BMPs in Industrial Waste's Dental Wastewater Discharge Fact Sheet (PDF 1966KB).
- Keep good records.
- Log date, what, how much, serial numbers, name of person who entered transaction. Keep receipts for three years.
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