U p d a t e s a b o u t t h e P r o d u c t s a n d S e r v i c e s o f M a g n a f l u x

Monthly Edition

March 2007

by Kevin Walker
Materials Product manager

The Facts about Penetrant

Wastewater Disposal
All across America, environmental consciousness
is being heightened. As a result, companies using
NDT must be more aware of penetrant wastewater
disposal issues.
Its a big financial issue because hauling waste
can cost as much as $5 per gallon. Its a complicated
regulatory issue because local sanitation rules vary
widely. And its a confusing commercial issue because
of the marketing of so-called biodegradable
penetrants.
So, what should you do with penetrant
wastewater? First lets look at some facts

What Does Biodegradable Mean?

Simply put, a biodegradable material is one that
will break down organically, or rot. Many things are
biodegradable oil, wood, leaves, paper but they
degrade at dramatically different rates.
Technically, all NDT penetrants currently on
the market are biodegradable; they will decompose in
time. Some of them break down faster than others.
Some penetrants in some areas can be drain disposed,
but most cannot be poured into the sewer without
first being treated.

Is Biodegradable Different From

Drain-Disposable?
Yes, very different. Even though all penetrants are biodegradable, they cannot always be drain disposed. Your
ability to drain dispose penetrant rinse water hinges on
the rate of biodegradability and the local sanitation
authority requirements, which vary dramatically from
one place to another.
Disposal of penetrant wastewater must be based
on a clear understanding of both federal and local
regulations.
At the federal level, the law prohibits direct discharge of wastewater into the environment without
pre-treatment; effluent must be as clean as the body
of water into which it is discharged.
The EPA monitors Publicly Owned Treatment
Works (POTWs) because they are the principal dischargers. At the local level, each POTW establishes
specific discharge regulations which penetrant users
must follow.
(Cont.)

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Because local regulations vary so widely (see chart below), there is no single drain-disposable
penetrant that meets them all.

Discharge Comparisons
REGION
N.E., Mass
Northern, IL
Texas
Quebec, Canada
Northern Calif.

FOG
100
250
200
30
100

COLOR
Excessive
Excessive
Objectionable
15 Color Units
Not Specified

The most important penetrant discharge limits are FOG:

(fat, oil, and grease content) and Color

Color limits are not well

defined, as you can tell from the
subjective words used in each
area, but penetrant color is likely
to be the first thing that draws the
attention of your local POTW.
FOG limits present obvious
problems for oil based penetrants,
but even surfactant-based products
that are supposedly oil free usually
have FOG values that exceed
POTW discharge limits.

The practical course of action is to approach the officials who manage your local sewer system;
theyll tell you what is and what is not allowable. However, given the fact that regulations are getting tougher all the time, the safest course of action is to adopt disposal practices that satisfy the
most stringent requirements.

Is There Any Penetrant Whose Untreated Rinse Water Can Be Drain

Disposed Anywhere and All The Time?
No, unfortunately there is no magic penetrant that will make drain disposal possible all the time in
all circumstances. And as environmental restrictions are tightened, the number of sewer systems that
accept untreated penetrant rinse water will dwindle even further. Most experts expect that drain disposal will eventually be banned everywhere.

What Is The Best Way To Dispose Of Penetrant Waste Water?

Pre-treatment of penetrant rinse water, prior to disposal, is the best
overall solution. Effective pre-treatment satisfies the toughest regulations
and can reduce contract waste hauling costs. Its a win-win solution.
One of the best methods to pre-treat penetrant waste water is the
Magnaflux MagnaPure System. This type of system injects ozone into
the waste water and chemically lowers the FOG to around 100 ppm
(parts per million) and eliminates the color which is unacceptable at
most waste treatment facilities.
MagnaPure will pay for itself within 18 - 24 months (depending on the volume of your waste water) by saving you either the cost
of hauling away your rinse water or buying replacement filters, if you
are currently using an ultrafiltration or nanofiltration system. The
MagnaPure System is virtually automatic and maintenance free. Once it
is up and running, you may never have to touch it again.

How Can I Get More Information?

Contact your local Magnaflux Regional Sales Manager or Customer Service:

TEL: (847) 657-5300

EMAIL: ndt@magnaflux.com