Dental Amalgam Discharges

Mercury Minimization Plan activity summary

Dental Effluent Guidelines (40 CFR 441)

On July 14, 2017, the EPA promulgated a new regulation for wastewater discharged from dental facilities: Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 441 Dental Category Compliance. This federal pretreatment regulation is self-implementing, which means that the discharger is responsible for compliance even if it has not been notified of the regulation. The rule enforces the following requirements for dental offices that place and/or remove amalgam:

  • Install an amalgam separator
  • Implement two Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • Submit a One-Time Compliance Report to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities Industrial Wastewater Control by October 12, 2020
  • Conduct ongoing operation and maintenance of the amalgam separator
  • Maintain associated documentation and records

While there is no all-encompassing method to notify the entire dental community, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities sent letters to all known dental offices in January 2020 in an effort to ensure that its customers were aware of the requirements well before the final compliance date.

Included with this letter was a Dental Effluent Fact Sheet and a One-Time Compliance Report. The fact sheet summarizes the requirements and compliance dates found in the regulation and where to read it online. The One-Time Compliance Report requests all information required by the EPA.

*Of note, an Authorized Representative of the facility must sign the report. An Authorized Representative is a person who is responsible for principle business decisions or other policy decisions for the facility. For example, it can be an owner, president or vice-president, but not an administrative assistant. 

The report must be submitted to Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities Industrial Wastewater Control and a copy must be maintained at the dental facility as long as the dental practice is in operation or until ownership is transferred.

All dental practices in Forsyth County, NC must submit the One-Time Compliance Report by October 12, 2020.

Email Industrial Wastewater Control

Or mail to:
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utilities
Industrial Wastewater Control
2799 Griffith Road
Winston-Salem, NC. 27103

Please read the fact sheet closely as it offers a synopsis of the regulation and contains applicable conditions and deadlines. The fact sheet also contains provisions for exemptions from the rule for certain dental practices that do not place or remove amalgam on a regular basis.

Failure to comply with dental effluent discharge regulations will result in consequences as described in the Enforcement Response Plan.

If you have questions or concerns, call 336-397-7621 or email Industrial Wastewater Control.