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Shallow onsite disposal systems are regulated by the Underground
Injection Control (UIC) Program. These shallow disposal systems
are also referred to as Class V wells. The kinds of shallow disposal
systems or Class V wells commonly include drywells, cesspools, and
septic systems with tanks and leach fields. Class V wells can also
be deep injection wells, but they are very rare.
More than 600,000 facilities across the United States use shallow
on-site disposal systems. On-site disposal systems can provide a
cost-effective means for industries, municipalities, and small businesses
to dispose of their wastewater, if these systems are properly sited,
constructed, and operated to protect our environment and prevent
contamination of our underground drinking water resources.
The uses for Class V wells (shallow disposal systems) vary widely.
Some examples of Class V wells include:
- A gas station with a service floor drain that leads to a septic
system.
- An apartment building with a septic system for sanitary waste
disposal.
- A rest stop that uses a cesspool.
- A municipality where stormwater flows into drywells.
- A strip mall, with small businesses such as a photo processor
and a dry cleaner, that discharge sanitary wastes mixed with process
chemicals into a septic system
- An office building that injects water passed through a heat
exchanger to cool the building
- A carwash where the waste water enters a floor drain that leads
to a drywell or septic system.
EPA established the UIC Program to develop
minimum Federal requirements for States to regulate injection
wells. These minimum requirements cover the siting, construction,
operation, maintenance, monitoring, testing, and closure of injection
wells. The goal of the UIC Program is to protect public health by
preventing injection wells (including Class V wells) from contaminating
Underground Sources of Drinking Water (USDWs). Fluids cannot be
injected if they may cause a public water system to violate drinking
water standards or otherwise adversely affect public health. All
operational injection wells require authorization under general
rules or specific permits. In 1999, EPA banned two types of
Class V wells: motor vehicle waste
disposal wells and large capacity cesspools.
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