The sandblasting of water tanks is part of a group of smaller sources of pollution known as area sources — smaller activities by businesses or facilities that, when measured across a group of sites, can accumulate to large amounts of pollution impacting Delaware’s air quality.

What is Regulated?

An air quality permit is required for sandblasting of outdoor water tanks in Delaware. Projects removing lead-containing coatings from water tanks by use of dry abrasive blasting must obtain a permit from DNREC’s Division of Air Quality.

Lead

Water tanks used for irrigation systems, firefighting, manufacturing processes, farm stock watering, and municipal water supply have, in the past, been coated with paints that contain lead or lead compounds. Lead is a public health concern.

Exposure to high levels of lead can cause damage to the brain and kidneys.  Lead can, even at lower levels of exposure, permanently affect a child’s mental and physical growth.

Dry-Abrasive Blasting

Dry abrasive blasting is the process of propelling an abrasive material under dry, pressurized conditions against a surface, to remove coatings or to prepare the surface for subsequent coating. Dry abrasive blasting, also referred to as sandblasting, is often used to remove paint from water tanks before they are repainted.

What is Required?

Prior to 2019, “outdoor painting and sandblasting equipment” were exempt from the air permit requirement. The Delaware regulations applicable to air permits (7 DE Admin. Code 1101 and 1102) have been amended to remove an exemption for “…the removal of lead-containing coatings from outdoor water tanks by dry abrasive blasting.”

Permits and Notification

DNREC has developed a permit containing requirements that will ensure that blasting operations have sufficient containment measures to prevent the release of abrasive material into the environment. Applicants can refer to a flow chart to help determine if they need to apply for a permit or just to submit a notification form.

The required permit or notification can be applied for using the Digital DNREC ePermitting system. Find detailed instructions to complete a water tank source category permit application or notification.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the permitting program, Delaware’s regulation regarding Particulate Emissions From Construction and Materials Handling (7 DE Admin. Code 1106) prohibits emissions from sandblasting operations and states “No person shall cause or allow sandblasting or related abrasion operations unless sufficient contaminant measures are taken to prevent the sand or abrasive material from traveling beyond the property line where the operation is being conducted.”

Permits and Notifications

Related Topics:  air quality, air quality permits, area sources, clean air, lead, permitting and regulation, registrations, sandblasting, water tanks