AWWA JAW28469

Changes in water treatment practice resulting from new regulations affect the types, quantities and characteristics of treatment plant wastes. Many water suppliers are faced with treating and disposing wastes that are considered hazardous under current regulations. By knowing what constitutes a hazardous waste, water suppliers can plan treatment processes and formulate waste-disposal plans to minimize costs as well as the liability associated with mismanagement of hazardous waste. This article first defines hazardous waste under current regulations, then describes the characteristics used to identify hazardous wastes (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, toxicity) and finally discusses the impact of current hazardous waste regulations on water utilities. A table gives toxicity characteristics and regulatory levels for various constituents, such as arsenic, lead, or vinyl chloride. A flow chart shows the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. Includes 4 references, table, figure.