If the level of mercury in waste water is still high after installation of a separator, this is probably due to amalgam that has settled in the water pipes.
The replacement of old pipes should therefore be considered.
It is also of utmost importance that dental personnel are properly trained to use and maintain the installed system.
Alternative solutions for removingmercury from wastewater include the use of an aqueous solution ofpolymers, which reduces the amount of mercury in dental wastewater by 99.99% (Pederson et al., 1999).