Oil Water Separator Cleaning

Oil water separators provide a convenient and effecient means to capture oil before it can enter a stormwater or sewer system.  The most common oil water separators are buried baffelled tank systems (either concrete or steel oil water separators) that are connected to interior underground drain lines.   Oil water separators recieve water from an interior work space such as auto repair bays, truck washing stations and automobile dealer service bays.  Oil water separators separate oil and water prior to the water entering a sewer system.

Since oil water separators are buried and out of site few owners and operators properly maintain the systems which can subject facilities to fines.  Systems that are not maintained can discharge oil to stormwater system that can lead to streams and is a cause of pollution.  This illegal discharge can be avoided by properly serving oil water separators through scheduled cleaning.  It is a common misconception that cleaning an oil water separator only involves pumping out residual liquid, which only removes flowable liquids leaving sludges and solids that can fowl a oil water separator.  Thorough cleaning of a oil water separator is necessary to restore a system to