Dry Cleaning

Spanish

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 this affect me in the dry cleaning 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.
• 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?

In the dry cleaning business, the solvent is the most obvious potential contaminant. But your spotting chemicals could also cause contamination if spilled on the ground or dumped down a drain.

What can I do to help protect groundwater?

• If you have underground solvent storage tanks, upgrade them to meet federal and state requirements.
• If possible, install secondary containment around your drycleaning machine, hazardous waste storage, and spotting chemical storage and seal the floor.
• Close and seal floor drains near chemical storage and usage areas.
• Clean-up minor spills (up to 7 gallons) with absorbent materials and use your drycleaning machine (extract and dry cycles) to recover the solvent. Train all employees on spill prevention and containment.
• Do not dispose of any solvent-bearing waste in your dumpster. Use a hazardous waste hauler or use the Indianapolis Tox-Drop sites for small quantities.
• Train all employees on spill prevention and containment.

Education and Training

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

• Review the resources from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management specifically for dry cleaners.
• Review our resource page for helpful videos, websites, and signs for your business.
• Contact us for a business assessment or help on developing your spill plan.