Is Brown Derby Cleaner EPA Approved for Run Off?

This was a long tail phrase someone put to the Bing search engine on 2/6/14 at 12:46 p.m. that was directed to our site.

And it was a very good question, and one we get a lot, so I thought I would do a blog post to answer it.

The answer unfortunately is not just a Yes or No one. The fact is NO soap is approved for stormwater runoff including Brown Derby. That said there are many ways to make cleaning with Brown Derby or almost any cleaner EPA-approved for sewer drain discharge to be handled by a wastewater facility.

While stormwater runoff can be a significant issue, a stormwater skimmer can help mitigate the environmental impact. These systems are designed to efficiently remove debris, oils, and other pollutants from stormwater before it enters drainage systems. By doing so, stormwater skimmers prevent harmful substances from contaminating natural water bodies and reduce the burden on wastewater treatment facilities. They are a crucial part of maintaining clean water in urban environments, especially in areas with high levels of industrial or commercial activity.

In some cases, incorporating advanced filtration systems alongside a stormwater skimmer can further improve water quality. For instance, combining these skimmers with oil-water separators can ensure that even the most difficult pollutants are filtered out effectively. Many businesses use this approach to meet regulatory standards, helping to prevent the discharge of harmful chemicals into the stormwater system. If you want to learn more about these technologies, click here.

With stormwater runoff regulations becoming stricter, it’s essential for industries to stay ahead by adopting these preventive measures. Using stormwater skimmers as part of a larger wastewater management strategy not only complies with environmental laws but also promotes sustainability. This proactive approach ensures that businesses contribute to maintaining clean waterways, preventing pollution, and reducing potential harm to aquatic life.

First, it does not matter how “Green” or completely safe a cleaner is, once it has been used to wash a surface, all the dirt, debris, oils, and contaminants that are released from that surface are now in the wastewater and must be addressed to meet EPA standards or the standards of that particular municipality which can be stricter than the EPA’s.

I can say that Brown Derby, as well as almost all of our cleaners, is phosphate-free, is classified under the US CLEAN WATER ACT as a non-toxic pollutant, is a nonhazardous substance (section 302) once diluted and used as directed, is also not classified under the CLEAR AIR ACT as a hazardous air pollutant, and is biodegradable.

That said, this does not mean you can just wash with it and flush the wastewater into the sewer. You need to know what your local regulations are. You may be fine to wash straight onto the ground, if on grass or gravel, and if the runoff can not immediately be washed into a watershed or waterway. But you might be required to reclaim all the wastewater, filter your water through an oil filter, through a sediment filter to meet a micron per gallon limit, or to meet a certain pH range, these are just some of the many other requirements that may need to meet, for federal, state and local regulations prior to discharge.

I hope the person who did this search and any others who come here later following the lead of this long tail will contact us at 1-800-762-7911 so that we can evaluate the needs of each contractor and customer situation to find them the best cleaning solution for their particular job.