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Underground Injection Control (UIC)

Graphic of community with various UIC disposal areas.

Click here to see the UIC PROGRAM HISTORY 

Updated Fact Sheet (5/2016): Washwater Discharges from Vehicle Washing
Discharges to Underground Injection Wells (Class V Wells) - Regulatory Spreadsheet


ATTENTION

FLOOR DRAINS IN VEHICLE SERVICE BAYS, THAT LEAD TO AN INJECTION WELL (LEACHFIELD, DRYWELL, PIT, ETC) OR THAT DISCHARGE TO THE GROUND SURFACE (A PRACTICE KNOWN AS "DAYLIGHTING") ARE PROHIBITED AND MUST BE CLOSED.

Floor drains that discharge fluid wastes to the soil or grounwater (leachfield, drywell, etc.) by businesses are regulated as Underground Injection Control (UIC) Wells. Floor drains that receive waste from the location within a facility where high risk activities occur (vehicular repair or maintenance activities; gas or diesel engine repair, vehicle salvage yards, hazardous material use and storage, dry cleaning, photofinishing, etc.) and discharge to soil or groundwater pose a risk to soil and groundwater quality and could contaminate a nearby water supply well. Accordingly, the UIC Program has amended its Rule (adopted October 29, 2014) and these floor drains which discharge to soil or groundwater are prohibited and must therefore be “closed”. “Closure” options include plugging with concrete, connecting to a holding tank or connecting to municipal sewer service. Links to additional information are provided below.

Please contact the UIC program to obtain Agency approval of your floor drain/ injection well closure plan. Once the UIC program has approved your closure plan and the floor drain/ injection well has been closed, please submit the appropriate injection well closure form. The “Prohibited UIC Well Closure From” should be used for high risk injection well closures, the “Permit Required UIC Well Closure Form” should be used for moderate risk injection well closures, and the “Low Risk UIC Well Closure Form” should be used for low risk or unregulated injection well closures. The “Prohibited” and “Permit Required” closure forms both contain lists of scenarios to which the forms apply. Please contact the UIC program if you have questions about which form to use. We suggest that you maintain a copy of the closure form for your own records to provide in the event of any sale or transfer of the property in the future.

Floor Drain Closure Resources


HOW TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT


FEES


PUBLIC NOTICE


GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS


RULES


ARCHIVED RULES


ADDITIONAL LINKS


CONTACTS:  Samuel Knapp | samuel.knapp@vermont.gov | 802-261-5734