§ 19-12 Best Management Practices for Perchloroethylene Discharges to the Public Sewer System from Dry Cleaning Facilities.
RCNY § 19-12
(a)Perc-contaminated wastewater management. Perc-contaminated wastewater generated by all new and existing perc dry cleaning facilities must be managed as follows: (1) Perc-contaminated wastewater discharges. Perc-contaminated wastewater that is discharged to the public sewer must be treated by physical separation (water separator) and double carbon filtration, or an equivalent control which has been approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which has been properly designed to assure an effluent quality that is less than or equal to 20 ppb perc without evaporation; and (2) Evaporation of perc-contaminated wastewater. Perc-contaminated wastewater that is evaporated must be treated by physical separation (water separator) and double carbon filtration prior to evaporation.
(b)Perc-contaminated wastes. Except as provided for by paragraph (a)(1) of this section, no person may discharge into the public sewer system any perc-contaminated wastewater or wastes resulting from dry cleaning processes including, but not limited to, still bottom or sludge residues, dirt, lint, soil or any other deposits or residues extracted as a result of dry cleaning processes. The discharge into the public sewer system of filters or other filter media used in dry cleaning processes is prohibited.
(c)Operation and maintenance.
(1)Dry cleaning facilities must be maintained and operated to minimize the release of perc to the environment. All components of the dry cleaning system must be properly operated and maintained in accordance with the provisions of these, as well as applicable Federal, State and other local, regulations.
(2)Perc-contaminated wastewater treatment units.
(i)Carbon filtration units. Carbon cartridges must be replaced according to a schedule as specified by the manufacturer to assure an effluent quality that does not exceed 20 ppb perc.
(ii)Evaporators. Perc-contaminated wastewater evaporators must be operated to ensure that no liquid perc or visible emulsion is allowed to vaporize.
(iii)Water Separators. Water separators must be maintained as recommended by manufacturer specifications.
(d)Preparedness and prevention. All dry cleaning operations must be equipped with the following: (1) adequate spill control equipment including sorbent materials, or alternative methods for absorbing spills; (2) vapor-proof containers dedicated exclusively for storing spill-contaminated material and labeled "FOR SPILL CONTAINMENT USE ONLY"; and (3) fire control equipment.
(e)Reporting and record keeping.
(3)Each owner or operator of a dry cleaning facility must retain on site a copy of the design specifications and the operating manuals for each dry cleaning system and each emission control device located at the dry cleaning facility.
(4)All records must be maintained on site for at least five years and must be made available to the Department upon request. (Amended City Record 2/18/2020, eff. 3/19/2020)
