Dental Facilities

The City of Sioux Falls must notify dental facilities about federal rules that reduce mercury discharges from dental offices into the City's wastewater system.

This rule comes from the EPA under the Clean Water Act (40 CFR Part 441).

Do I Need to Do Anything?

It depends on whether your office places or removes dental amalgam (silver fillings).

• If your office does not place or remove amalgam but does send wastewater to the City's sewer system, you only need to submit a one-time certification.
• If your office does place or remove amalgam, you must:
  • Install, operate, and maintain an amalgam separator.
  • Never discharge scrap amalgam into the drain.
  • Avoid certain types of line cleaners that can dissolve amalgam.
  • Submit a one-time compliance report.

Both the certification and the compliance report use the same form:

Compliance Report

Replacing an Amalgam Separator

An amalgam separator can be used for its full working lifetime or 10 years, whichever comes first. When a separator needs to be replaced — either because it wears out or the 10-year limit is reached and it no longer meets the standard — you must install a separator that meets current requirements. Then submit a new one-time compliance report within 90 days of installing it.