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 metal fabrication industry?
- 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 metal fabricating industry, metal sludge would be the most obvious hazard. But items used to cut, clean and coat metal products must also be considered. Keeping chemicals off the ground is the major goal.
What can I do to help protect groundwater?
- Segregate metal dusts and scrap for resale.
- Recycle oil from cutting/machining operations, when possible.
- Use less hazardous degreasing and cleaning agents, such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, where practical.
- Recycle metal sludge through a metal recovery vendor.
- Clean-up minor spills (0.5 to 5 gallons) with granular absorbents, such as cat litter, and have it hauled away by a licensed disposal company.
- 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 metal fabrication.
- 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.
