Businesses have to deal with the environment. The Establishments and activities Decree BES (IAB BES) and the Ministrial regulation establishments and activities BES (RIA BES) lays down environmental rules for all businesses in the Caribbean Netherlands.

Oil separator

In the Regulation establishments and activities BES rules are laid down that waste water must pass through an oil separator if it contains mineral oil. This occurs when waste water is discharged from a soil protection facility or when bilge water is discharged from vessels.

On this page:

Oil (liquid hydrocarbons)

The word oil means on this page liquid hydrocarbons that float on water such as  petrol, engine oil and diesel. Oil is a substance that does not belong in waste water.  Oil can end up in waste water during several activities. For example when refuelling and washing cars and other motor vehicles.

Oil separator

To prevent oil ending up in the sewer or a waste water treatment system, an oil separator must be installed. This is laid down in Article 2.2.3 and Article 3.2.3 of the Regulation establishments and activities BES. The oil separator separates oil and water. An oil separator consists of a section separating oil and water and a sludge trap. In the sludge section of the sludge trap, the water is purified by sand and sludge sinks to the bottom. In the separation part, the oil floats to the surface. Separator systems shall incorporate a sludge trap either as a separate unit or as an integral part of the separator. The size of an oil separator depends on the quantities of oil and water.

Types of oil separators

A standard for an oil separator is available in the countries of the European Union. This is the standard EN 858. This standard consists of 2 parts: EN 858-1:2002 on principles of product design, performance and testing, marking and quality control and EN 858-2:2003 for the determination of nominal size, installation, operation and maintenance.

Operation, inspection and maintenance

Part 2 of the EN 858 standard includes requirements for the operation of the  separator, inspection and maintenance. The following is included:

  • all regularly maintaind parts of the separator shall b at all times reachable
  • maintenance of the system has to be carried out at least once every 6 months by experienced personnel.
  • the maintenance shall be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and shall include at least the following components:
    • sludge trap: determination of sludge volume
    • separator: measurement thickness light liquids, operation of the automatic closure device, check of the function of the warning device
    • sampling shaft: clean the drain channel
  • when necessary, oil and sludge are removed. The separator is then re-filled with fresh water.
  • Emptying the separator is recommended when one half of the sludge volume or 80 % of the storage capacity of the separator is reached.

5-yearly inspection

EN 858-2:2003 includes a 5-yearly inspection of the separator. In intervals of at maximum 5 years the separator system shall be emptied and then submitted to general inspection covering the following items:

  • tightness of the system
  • structural condition
  • internal coatings, if present
  • state of inbuilt parts;
  • state of electrical devices and installations
  • checking of adjustment of automatic closure device, e.g. floating bodies.

The insepection shall be carried out by experienced personnel.

Waste management

The content of an oil separator is hazardous waste. This also applies to the sludge trap. This waste must be handled and stored correctly and disposed to a waste collector that has a valid permit to collect waste.

Checklist

  • Is the oil separator serviced at least once every 6 months?
  • Is the waste from the oil separator kept separate and presented to an authorised collector?

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