MCWEC

Groundwater and Drinking Water Protection for Indianapolis and Marion County Indiana

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Commercial Printing

Why should I care about a wellfield?

For many years we believed that our groundwater was protected from contamination by being underground. We now know that substances on the surface can seep down and contaminate our drinking water supply. As Central Indiana grows the only source of additional water will be the groundwater resources.

How does being in a wellfield affect me in the commercial printing business?

  • Changes to Indianapolis zoning codes and Marion County health ordinances will likely affect your business operations by mandating certain Best Management Practices (BMPs) that were previously voluntary (see below).
  • If you are careful to contain your contaminants, you will avoid polluting your site, or environs and avoid a potentially expensive clean-up down the road.
  • Being a good neighbor in your wellfield is good for your business – it will be appreciated by your customers.

What are potential contaminants?

Photo processing and plate making materials, fountain solutions, cleaning solvents and solutions, and lubricating oils may contain hazardous materials. Some inks may contain flammable and toxic solvents and/or heavy toxic metals.

The printing industry has made substantial progress toward the use of less hazardous materials. Using less hazardous or non-hazardous materials will reduce the risk of groundwater contamination and decrease hazardous waste disposal costs.

What am I required to do under the new health code?

  • Provide secondary containment for any containers over 40 gallons of liquids or 240 lbs of water soluble solids that can hold 110% of the volume of the container for at least 24 hours.
  • Provide secondary containment for any areas where multiple containers adding up to 40 gallons of liquids or 240 lbs of water soluble solids that can hold 110% of the volume of the containers for at least 24 hours.
  • Insure containment areas located outside are properly drained or covered from weather.
  • Make an emergency response spill prevention plan. Check out this spill plan to help you start!
  • Notify chemical suppliers and waste transporters in writing that you are in a wellfield protection area. Download a printable notification form.
  • Post signs at all entrances so employees, customers, and visitors know that you are in a wellfield protection area.  Post signs with the appropriate emergency numbers for your area. Post signs on sinks and within chemical storage areas that remind employees that chemicals can’t be dumped down the drains. Use our signs, or make your own.
  • Create a chemical inventory that lists all of the chemicals at your facility. Use this worksheet to help you get started.
  • Have a spill kit. View information on what should be in your spill kit.
  • Train employees on the use of the spill kit. Log your training records on this form.
  • Make sure your floors are in good condition to make sure no spills, leaks, or drips, can flow through the floor into the ground.
  • Make sure all of your chemical containers are labelled.

What can I do at my place of business to help protect groundwater?

There are several easy things you can do to help prevent groundwater contamination:

  • Inspect all materials delivered to ensure damaged or unacceptable materials are not in your inventory-if you can not use the materials return to your supplier and avoid disposal costs.
  • Properly store materials to ensure recommended shelf life and remember to keep inventory on a “first in, first-out” rotation.
  • Purchase raw materials in quantities to match your production needs.
  • Look for recycling opportunities for paper waste, empty ink containers, spoiled film or paper, or expired materials. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) funds the Indiana Materials Exchange that facilitates recycling and reuse of industrial/commercial wastes. This publication lists available and wanted materials—and it is free! Contact IDEM at 800 968-8764 for more information.
  • Talk to your suppliers about substituting non-hazardous chemicals and films to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated.

Education and Training

There are many resources and face-to-face help to assist you in being compliant. Here’s what you can do: