Drain Disposal Restrictions

Sanitary Sewer Disposal

What Can Go Down the Drain?

Whatever goes down the drain ends up in the San Francisco Bay, so the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) strictly regulates sanitary sewer wastewater. Discharge of inappropriate materials into the sanitary sewer can damage sewer lines, interfere with the operation of the wastewater treatment plant, risk the safety of campus and EBMUD utility workers who maintain sewer lines, and cause harmful environmental impacts. It is illegal to dispose of hazardous waste down the drain.

Review the information below to find out what kinds of liquids can go down UC Berkeley sanitary sewer drains.

Drain Disposal Restrictions for Chemicals

The only substances allowed down drains are those that meet all of the following criteria:

1. Nonhazardous

2. Liquid

- No solids, sludges, or viscous substances (other than sanitary wastes)

3. Will not interfere with sewage treatment operations

- No corrosive pH levels (less than 5 or greater than 11)
- No grease or oil
- No hot temperatures (150°F or higher)

Types of Waste

Radioactive waste
Hazardous chemical Waste
Non-hazardous chemical waste
Biohazardous Waste
Controlled Substances
Non-liquids
Corrosive pH Levels
Hot Liquids
Grease and Oil

⚠ Emergency

Spill Reporting Instructions

If a spill enters a sink or floor drain, notify EH&S immediately. Contact

EH&S at (510) 642-3073 during business hours or
UCPD at (510) 642-6760 after hours.

EH&S will notify EBMUD of the discharge.

Protect Sanitary Sewer Drains from Chemical Spills

Campus laboratories must abide by strict state and federal waste disposal requirements. You may be held liable for violations of applicable laws.

Do not use sinks for chemical storage or secondary containment.
It is against the law to dispose of hazardous waste in the trash or down the drain.
Intentional hazardous waste dilution, such as mixing with nonhazardous materials or evaporation, is illegal.

Click on a category below to determine if a substance can go down the sanitary sewer drain. If you can't find a particular substance and aren't sure how to dispose of it, contact the Environmental Protection Team at ehs-ep@berkeley.edu.

Type of Waste:

Radioactive waste
Hazardous chemical waste
Non-hazardous chemical waste
Biohazardous waste
Controlled substances
Non-liquids
Corrosive pH levels
Hot liquids
Grease and oil

Waste	Can it go down the sanitary sewer drain?	What to do with it
Radioactive waste	NO	Read Radioactive Liquid Waste Disposal Procedures for disposal instructions.
Hazardous chemical waste	NO Note: The majority of liquid chemical wastes requiring disposal are classified as hazardous waste chemicals are hazardous waste, including many chemicals on the former Class A, Class B, and Class C lists.	Log into the Hazardous Waste Program (HWP) to create a waste label and request a pickup.
Non-hazardous chemical waste	YES, if the pH is between 5 to 11 (or 6 to 10 at Richmond Field Station) and meets the following limits: Arsenic (2 mg/L) Cadmium (1 mg/L) Chromium, total (2 mg/L) Copper (5 mg/L) Iron (100 mg/L) Lead (2 mg/L) Mercury (0.05 mg/L) Nickel (5 mg/L) Silver (1 mg/L) Zinc (5 mg/L) To discuss your wastestream, reach out to the Environmental Protection Team at ehs-ep@berkeley.edu. The following chemicals are examples of non-hazardous wastes that are allowed for drain disposal.	Drain dispose and flush with water.
Biohazardous waste	Solids: NO Liquid BSL1 waste and liquid BSL2 waste that has been disinfected and has no hazardous materials: YES Liquid BSL1 waste and liquid BSL2 waste that has not been disinfected: NO Other liquids: NO	Liquid BSL1 waste can be disinfected and made suitable for drain disposal in 2 ways: Disinfect with bleach to a final concentration of 10% bleach, sit for 20 minutes before pouring it down the drain with copious amounts of water. Occasionally, liquid waste is autoclaved. Do not add bleach in this case. Autoclaved liquid BSL1 waste may be drain disposed. Read General Autoclave Safety. Liquid BSL2 waste can be disinfected and made suitable for drain disposal by: Disinfect with bleach to a final concentration of 10% bleach, sit for 20 minutes before pouring it down the drain with copious amounts of water. Liquid BSL1 waste and liquid BSL2 waste that has been disinfected but includes hazardous materials (e.g., formalin, methanol) is a hazardous chemical waste. Log into the Hazardous Waste Program (HWP) to create a waste label and request a pickup.
Controlled substances	NO	Read Dispose of Controlled Substances for disposal instructions.
Non-liquids	Can it go down the drain?	What to do with it
Solids, sludges, or viscous substances	NO	These items can obstruct the flow of sewage. If a hazardous waste, log into the Hazardous Waste Program (HWP) to create a waste label and request a pickup. If a biohazardous waste, manage as biohazardous waste. If a non-hazardous waste, manage in the general trash.
Powders and salts	NO	These items can obstruct the flow of sewage. Do not dissolve them with water. Log into the Hazardous Waste Program (HWP) to create a waste label and request a pickup.
Corrosive pH levels	Can it go down the drain?	What to do with it
Corrosive waste with a pH between 2.0 and 12.5	YES, if the pH is between 5 to 11 and there are no hazardous constituents. YES, if the pH is adjusted to between 5 and 11 and there are no hazardous constituents. Note: At Richmond Field Station, the pH range is between 6 and 10.	You have 2 disposal options: Adjust the pH to between 5 and 11, and then dispose of it down the drain. Store and dispose of non-adjusted waste as hazardous waste. Log into the Hazardous Waste Program (HWP) to create a waste label and request a pickup. Note: At Richmond Field Station, the pH range is between 6 and 10.
Corrosive waste with a pH of 2.0 or lower or pH of 12.5 or higher	NO	This kind of waste is always considered hazardous chemical waste. Do not adjust it. Log into the Hazardous Waste Program (HWP) to create a waste label and request a pickup.
Hot liquids	Can it go down the drain?	What to do with it
Hot liquids (150°F or more)	NO	Cool the liquid to below 150°F before pouring it down the drain.
Grease and oil	Can it go down the drain?	What to do with it
Grease and oil	NO	Dispose of fuel or petroleum substances such as automotive oil, gear oil, and machinery grease as hazardous waste. Log into the Hazardous Waste Program (HWP) to create a waste label and request a pickup. Dispose of animal or vegetable-based grease or oils using a recycling vendor. DO NOT drain dispose!

Topics

Chemical Safety topic page, Environmental Protection topic page