Toxic chemicals may:

Toxic chemicals may:

• A. Be poured down the drain if they do not enter the public water supply
• B. Never be poured down the drain
• C. Be poured down the same drain as the processing water
• D. Be poured down the drain in the restroom only

Answer: (B)

Toxic chemicals must be treated as hazardous waste and disposed of through the facility’s designated hazardous waste program. Pouring them down any drain can introduce toxic substances into the wastewater system, potentially harming people, plumbing, and the environment, and it may violate regulations even if the chemicals would not reach the public water supply. The safe, correct practice is to store them in sealed, labeled containers and arrange for disposal by a licensed hazardous waste contractor. Other options—draining into processing water or restroom drains, or only draining if the chemicals don’t reach the public water supply—ignore the risks and regulatory requirements, and they still pose environmental and safety hazards.

Toxic chemicals must be treated as hazardous waste and disposed of through the facility’s designated hazardous waste program. Pouring them down any drain can introduce toxic substances into the wastewater system, potentially harming people, plumbing, and the environment, and it may violate regulations even if the chemicals would not reach the public water supply. The safe, correct practice is to store them in sealed, labeled containers and arrange for disposal by a licensed hazardous waste contractor. Other options—draining into processing water or restroom drains, or only draining if the chemicals don’t reach the public water supply—ignore the risks and regulatory requirements, and they still pose environmental and safety hazards.