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Complying with environmental regulations for wastewater treatment and disposal is not only good for the environment, it's good for your bottom line, even if it doesn't seem like it at first glance.

The costs associated with capturing wastewater and dealing with it can be considerable for any business, but the fines that can result from noncompliance are even greater and easily justify the expense of installing a wastewater treatment system on your premises.

Systems range in size and scope to meet the needs of any rental business, but what do you need to know to make the right decision for your situation? The first step is understanding why a wastewater treatment system is needed.

From water to waste... and back again

Wastewater treatment and recycling/disposal methods exist in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air and Clean Water Act that sets maximum allowable limits for what can be released into the nation's water, air and ground. Depending on where you live, these limits are enforced by local and/or state authorities.

Wastewater from most rental centers results from the simple washing of equipment and can contain dirt, oils and greases, gasoline, hydraulic fluid and other chemicals. In most cases, this runs into the sanitary sewer and goes to the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) for treatment, after which it is emptied to a local waterway. Some industrial customers, like rental centers, must pretreat their wastewater to make it acceptable to the POTW. This is the least expensive and most convenient method of wastewater disposal.