Oil water separators are an important part of effective wastewater systems, as they help to filter out oil and other solids from wastewater before they enter sewerage systems and waterways. Oil pollution can clog up sewers and present an environmental hazard once it is released into waterways.
This is why oil water separators are essential for water authority compliance for many businesses. Any businesses that produce or dispose of oils in their wastewater are responsible for the appropriate treatment of this water before it enters the environment.
What is an oil water separator?
An oil water separator is a wastewater system that captures drained water in one end, allows oils to be separated from the water while in the systems chamber, and then discharges treated water. The discharged water then enters sewerage systems, free from hazardous oils.
There are a range of oil separator systems and processes, but all types remove oils, grease, and hydrocarbons from water so that it enters sewer systems as non-hazardous water.
How does an oil water separator work?
Oils and other grease solids are lighter than water and naturally float to the surface. However, when water discharges through pipes, oil particles don’t have a chance to rise to the top. On top of this, due to wastewater being suffused with other types of contaminants, oil gets diffused into tiny droplets and needs proper equipment to be able to remove it.
Depending on the type of oil water separator in use, the process will work in different ways. The types of oil water separators include Vertical Gravity, Hydrocyclone, Petrol and Oil Pits, and Coalescing systems.
Coalescing systems are the most common type for a range of applications and have many benefits over other systems. They use the principle of gravity to simply and efficiently remove oil from wastewater. This system is particularly beneficial for larger enterprises, as it is designed to work effectively for large volumes of water.
Here’s a breakdown of how a coalescing oil water separator system works:
Once larger solids are filtered out in the drainage system, the wastewater enters the oil water separator unit for treatment. The water travels over a series of plates that help to separate oil, water, and sludge into three distinct zones.
The oil particles tumble over the plates and collect on the surface in large globules, which then helps more oil to rise to the top. This process is called coalescing, as the oil rises to the surface where it can coalesce into larger particles, ready to be skimmed away.
While this is happening, the sludge and suspended solids sink to the bottom of the unit and the separated water sits in the middle of the system. Coalescing separators ensure that the majority of oil, grease, and sludge is removed from wastewater before it goes through finer filtration and enters sewers.
Who needs oil water separators?
Oil separation is a vital treatment for wastewater, as it decreases water pollution, helps to protect the environment, and importantly for businesses, ensures business compliance.
Wastewater can include an array of oils, from cooking oils and grease, to petroleum and other hazardous substances. These can clog up drains and sewer systems, disrupt ecological systems, and be harmful for the environment.
Businesses will need an oil water separator if they:
- Produce wastewater as part of normal operation
- Discharge that wastewater into public drains
- Need to achieve water authority compliance
This means that there are many businesses that will require oil water separators as part of their operations. Particularly, coalescing oil separators are commonly used alongside wash bay systems, which produce large volumes of automotive and machinery wastewater. You will find these systems in places such as:
- Mechanical Workshops
- Car/Vehicle Dealerships
- Automotive Workshops
- Panel Beaters
- Plant and Equipment Hire
- Vehicle Rental Outlets
- Earthmoving and Heavy Vehicle Workshops
- Slipways
- And many more
Need more help and advice?
The Citi Industries team is highly experienced in all things oil water separators. We have been supplying and installing these systems for a range of Brisbane businesses, with the local knowledge and expertise to ensure your business is 100% compliant.
You can take a look at our range of oil water separators here. If you would like to learn more or enquire about our installation and project management, reach out to our friendly team here.
1300 002 484
