Regulatory

The DiriGoH2O Unit has been accepted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for wastewater treatment disinfection. Read DEP Acceptance Letter

Did you know cleaning products are pesticides?

Household and commercial cleaning products are regulated as pesticides, designed to remove hazardous germs or odors. The US Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) is responsible for regulating pesticides and ensuring the end user is given appropriate information about how to safely use the product, including recommendations about safety gear or warning about other products that may cause a reaction. 

Pesticide Devices

Generally, products that generate a substance (through physical means), such as ozone or hypochlorous acid/electrolyzed water generators, are considered devices and do not require EPA registration unless they are sold with or contain a substance. See EPA.gov.

DiriGoH2O and DiriGoClean are Pesticide Devices.

EPA provides a Pesticide Devices: A Guide for Consumers here.

A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for:

  • Preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.
  • Use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.
  • Use as a nitrogen stabilizer.

See EPA.gov

Wastewater

DiriGoH2O is a pesticide device that produces Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) on-demand from the wastewater it will be used to treat. Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) is a free and available chlorine that can replace hazardous and toxic chemicals currently used to treat wastewater.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under its authority from the Clean Water Act (CWA), regulates pollution discharged into public waters.

“The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.” 

EPA.gov Clean Water Act

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is the permit program that regulates the discharge of wastewater treatment facilities, including cleaning and disinfection products allowed for water treatment and the amount that can be released. The EPA has delegated all states, except three (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Mexico), the authority to issue wastewater treatment permits and ensure compliance.

DiriGoH2O devices are customized to ensure the wastewater treatment facility continues to meet State or EPA permit requirements.

Cleaning

DiriGoClean is a pesticide device that produces HOCl on-demand for cleaning and disinfecting non-porous surfaces. Again, EPA has the authority to regulate pesticide devices.  

Other agencies and departments regulate pesticide usage with food products, including food prep areas in restaurants or pre-harvest crops on farms. In those circumstances, EPA and other agencies and departments set the conditions of use and rules. Please contact craig.cunningham@mmph2.com at Maine Manufacturing with specific questions.

Here is a helpful resource for determining when FDA, EPA, or both regulate a cleaning/disinfectant product.

Decision Tree for Determining whether any Particular Antimicrobial Intervention for Food is Regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food and Drug Administration

Your state may have additional requirements.