Tuesday May 21, 2024

DATE: Friday, May 17th. 11:30 am until 1:30 pm

IMPACT – Minor: 1701 Page Mill Rd., 1651 Page Mill Rd., 855 California Ave. (in that order)

AGENCY: Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant

FOCUS: Handling, Storage and Potential Discharge of All Types of Material Except pH Neutral Water

ALL ITEMS EXCEPT LABELED pH NEUTRAL WATER ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO A SINK. For example:

• No spigot of sewerable material over a sink
• No unlabeled containers of water in a sink
• No trash debris in sink, etc.)

On the day of the inspection, S&EM may move or alter materials that are not compliant with Waste Water requirements.

_____

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES – Waste water inspectors typically focus on following Best Management Practices – All lab users need basic training about not discharging chemicals to the sanitary sewer (via lab sinks). Information is available on the Waste water: BMP Fact Sheet, located on Stanford’s Sustainability website.
https://suwater.stanford.edu/laboratories

• Storage of chemicals (anything but labeled pH neutral water): no storage above sinks, must be located within secondary containment; no unlabeled containers, no open containers that are unattended, sinks clean without debris in them.

_____

The following are housekeeping practices that are allowed:

• Drain disposable material with spigot not leading to sink.

• Hazardous waste and compatible chemicals labeled and stored in secondary containment.

• pH Excursion: Inspectors focus on metals and toxic organics, as well as solutions that are <5 pH or > 11 pH that are used in labs.
• No mercury thermometers or manometers are allowed, unless there is no other alternative.
• Non-copper containing algaecides are only allowed to be used in water baths, incubators or other instruments.
• No chromic acid cleaners (e.g. Chromerge) allowed.
• All bottles containing any type of material must be clearly and legibly labeled.
• No metals or metal-containing solutions to be disposed to lab sinks.
• No once-through cooling, only allowed where exceptions (emergencies, or short-duration, small volume) are granted.

_____

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
https://suwater.stanford.edu/laboratories

• Glass Wash Standard Operating Procedures.
• Soldering Waste – post the attached instructions at each soldering station and remind users in the area to follow the guidelines. Please ensure that all solder waste is collected and has a hazardous waste tag affixed to the container or ziplock bag, including lead-free solder which contains other heavy metals (Tin, Silver, Copper).
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) STARS training course. 

**If you would like to receive these these email announcements directly and subscribe to the mailing list, please complete this form.

The following are housekeeping practices that are NOT allowed:

• Hazardous materials not in secondary containment near a sink.

• Drain disposable material with spigot leading to sink.

• Hazardous materials not in secondary containment.

• Unlabeled materials.

• Hazardous waste not in secondary containment.

• Hazardous materials not in secondary containment and unlabeled chemical container.

• Chemical residue in sink.