At the end of 2009, the Water Authority Board amended the SUO requiring all qualifying dental clinics to install and maintain amalgam separators and properly dispose of the waste.
These devices prevent mercury from dental amalgam from entering the waste stream. Industrial Pretreatment Program staff inspect dental facilities with an amalgam separator to monitor compliance and prevent mercury from being discharged to the collection system.
The following types of dental practice are exempt as defined by the Water Authority SUO, Section 3-2-19: orthodontist, periodontist, oral maxillofacial surgeon, oral maxillofacial radiologist, and oral pathologist.