Waste containing free liquids

• If the containment building is used to manage hazardous wastes containing free liquids the unit must be equipped with a liquid collection system, leak detection system, and secondary barrier.

If the containment building is used to manage hazardous wastes containing free liquids or if treatment standards require the addition of liquids, the unit must be equipped with:

• A liquid collection system;
• A leak detection system; and
• A secondary barrier (264.1101(b) and 265.1101(b)).

The floor should be sloped toward a sump, trough, or other liquid collection device to minimize standing liquids in the containment building and to facilitate liquid removal. A leak detection system must be constructed immediately beneath the unit’s floor to indicate any failure in the integrity of the floor and subsequent release of waste at the earliest practicable time.

A secondary barrier such as a liner must be constructed around the unit to contain and to allow for rapid removal of any wastes escaping the primary barrier before such wastes reach adjacent soils, surface water, or groundwater.

As with the unit floor, the secondary barrier must be structurally sound and chemically resistant to wastes and liquids managed in the containment building. In buildings where only certain areas are set aside for management of liquid-containing wastes, these secondary containment standards are mandatory only for “wet areas,” provided waste liquids cannot migrate to the “dry areas” of the containment building. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that the entire unit be provided with secondary containment to guard against unanticipated releases.