Septic systems (conventional septic systems, I/A technologies, and cesspools) also serve a variety of nonresidential groups such as beauty shops, drycleaners, hospitals, schools, restaurants, and funeral homes. These groups have specific issues that need to be addressed.
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Nonresidential Septic System Users
Table of Contents
Beauty Parlors
Toilet waste and regular shampoo water can go to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. However, the wastewater from chemical discharges (for example; perms and coloring) needs to be stored in an industrial wastewater holding tank certified by MassDEP. Dischargers have the choice to either direct all their sinks to a holding tank or have all of the chemical wastewater go to a special sink that is separately plumbed to a holding tank, with staff educated to ensure they only use that one sink for these processes.
If a discharge of industrial wastewater to a septic system is being discontinued, then in addition to complying with requirements for holding tanks, a beauty parlor that has been discharging industrial wastewater must notify MassDEP's Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program that the discharge is being closed.
Key Actions for Beauty Parlors
Additional Resources for Beauty Parlors
Car Washes
Toilet waste and water from sinks is sanitary wastewater and can go to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Wastewater of any volume from washing cars is industrial wastewater and must be stored in an industrial wastewater holding tank certified by MassDEP. It can also be treated and discharged to the ground under a Groundwater Discharge Permit.
If a discharge of industrial wastewater to a septic system is being discontinued, then in addition to complying with requirements for holding tanks, a car wash that has been discharging industrial wastewater must notify MassDEP's Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program that the discharge is being closed.
Key Actions for Car Washes
Additional Resources for Car Washes
Dry Cleaners
Toilet waste and water from sinks is sanitary wastewater and can go to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Process wastewater is non-sanitary wastewater that must go to a holding tank that is certified by MassDEP (perc and resulting residue) under the Environmental Results Program.
Key Actions for Dry Cleaners
Funeral Homes
Toilet waste and water from sinks is sanitary wastewater and can go to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Process wastewater is non-sanitary (formaldehyde and resulting residue) and must be stored in an industrial wastewater holding tank certified by MassDEP.
If a discharge of industrial wastewater to a septic system is being discontinued, in addition to complying with requirements for holding tanks, a funeral home that has been discharging industrial wastewater must notify MassDEP's Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program that the discharge is being closed.
Key Actions for Funeral Homes
Additional Resources for Funeral Homes
Hospitals
Toilet waste and water from sinks and showers is sanitary wastewater and can go to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. However, it is unlikely that a hospital would discharge less than 10,000 gallons per day. Any lab wastewater generated needs to be stored in an industrial wastewater holding tank certified by MassDEP.
Hospitals are required to install grease traps to handle wastewater from food preparation areas. Grease traps should be inspected monthly and must be cleaned by a licensed septage hauler whenever the level of grease is 25% of the effective depth of the trap, or at least every three months, whichever is sooner.
Contact your local Board of Health for a listing of licensed septage haulers able to pump out grease traps. Click here for the Title 5 regulatory requirements as they relate to grease traps (310 CMR 15.230).
If a discharge of industrial wastewater to a septic system is being discontinued, in addition to complying with requirements for holding tanks, a hospital that has been discharging industrial wastewater must notify MassDEP's Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program that the discharge is being closed.
Key Actions for Hospitals
Additional Resources for Hospitals
Laundromats or Laundries
Toilet waste and water from sinks and showers is sanitary wastewater and can go to an on-site system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Laundry wastewater of any volume is industrial wastewater and must be stored in an industrial wastewater holding tank certified by MassDEP. It can also be treated and discharged to the ground under a Groundwater Discharge Permit. This category does not include combination laundromat/drycleaners.
If you have a combined Laundromat/Dry Cleaning facility, you are regulated as a Dry Cleaner and should refer to that section.
If a discharge of industrial wastewater to a septic system is being discontinued, in addition to complying with requirements for holding tanks, a laundromat that has been discharging industrial wastewater must notify MassDEP's Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program that the discharge is being closed.
Office Buildings
Toilet waste and water from sinks and showers is sanitary wastewater and can be discharged to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day.
Photo Processing/Printing Shops
Toilet waste and water from sinks is sanitary wastewater and can be discharged to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Process wastewater discharged is non-sanitary wastewater that must go to a holding tank that is certified under the Environmental Results Program.
Key Actions for Photo Processing/Printing Shops
Restaurants/Supermarkets
Toilet waste and sink wastewater can be discharged to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Restaurants are required to install grease traps to handle wastewater from food preparation areas. Grease traps should be inspected monthly, and must be cleaned by a licensed septage hauler whenever the level of grease is 25% of the effective depth of the trap, or at least every three months, whichever is sooner. Contact your local Board of Health for a listing of licensed septage haulers able to pump out grease traps.
Key Actions for Restaurants/Supermarkets
Additional Resources for Restaurants/Supermarkets
Schools
Toilet waste and water from sinks, showers, and laundry is sanitary wastewater and can be discharged to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. However, lab wastewater needs to be collected in an industrial wastewater holding tank certified by MassDEP.
School Cafeterias are required to install grease traps to handle wastewater from food preparation areas. Grease traps should be inspected monthly and must be cleaned by a licensed septage hauler whenever the level of grease is 25% of the effective depth of the trap, or at least every three months, whichever is sooner.
Contact your local Board of Health for a listing of licensed septage haulers able to pump out grease traps. See the Title 5 regulatory requirements as they relate to grease traps (310 CMR 15.230).
If a discharge of industrial wastewater to a septic system is being discontinued, in addition to complying with requirements for holding tanks, a school that has been discharging industrial wastewater must notify MassDEP's Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program that the discharge is being closed.
Key Actions for Schools
Additional Resources for Schools
Taxidermy Shops
Toilet and sink wastewater is sanitary wastewater and can be discharged to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Process wastewater is non-sanitary, and must be collected in an industrial wastewater holding tank certified by MassDEP.
If a discharge of industrial wastewater to a septic system is being discontinued, in addition to complying with requirements for holding tanks, a taxidermy shop that has been discharging industrial wastewater must notify MassDEP's Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program that the discharge is being closed.
Key Actions for Taxidermy Shops
Carpet Cleaning Washwater (SIC Code 7217)
Toilet waste and water from sinks is sanitary wastewater and can go to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Wastewater of any volume from carpet and upholstery cleaning businesses is industrial wastewater and must be either stored in an industrial wastewater holding tank certified by MassDEP or disposed of at a wastewater treatment facility.
If the carpet cleaning business transfers the wastewater from a mobile tank to a holding tank prior to transferring it to a treatment facility, that holding tank needs to be certified by MassDEP per 314 CMR 18.10(1).
If the carpet cleaning business stores the wastewater in a mobile tank and transports it directly to a treatment facility for disposal the mobile tank does not need to be certified by MassDEP per 314 CMR 18.10(2).
Key Actions for Carpet Cleaning Washwater (SIC Code 7217)
Additional Resources for Carpet Cleaning Washwater (SIC Code 7217)
Water Treatment Units
Toilet waste and water from sinks is sanitary wastewater and can go to a septic system as long as it's less than 10,000 gallons per day. Backwash wastewater from water purification and filtration devices cannot be discharged to a septic system per 310 CMR 15.004(8).
The back wash can be discharged to a dry well registered through the UIC program.
Key Actions for Water Treatment Units
Additional Resources for Water Treatment Units
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