Are floor drains allowed in residential garages?
The Maine Subsurface Waste Water Disposal Rules expressly prohibit floor drains in areas where there is a “significant potential for industrial, hazardous or toxic liquids (including gasoline, oils and degreasers) to drip, be spilled or washed into the floor drains.” Overall, activities in home garages do not represent the same threat to ground and surface waters that commercial repair garages do. Most homeowners are not conducting day-to-day engine maintenance on their personal vehicles. Therefore, floor drains are allowed in residential garages provided there are no other indications of a “significant potential” for the discharge of hazardous materials (i.e., home vehicle repair business, tractor trailer truck driver, etc.). That said — the DEP encourages homeowners to construct garages without floor drains. “Why take chances?” is the reasoning, particularly where wells serve the local drinking water needs. New garages can be constructed with the floor pitched slightly towards the d
