OIL INTERCEPTORS SOURCE

GREATER DUBLIN STRATEGIC DRAINAGE STUDY -

CONTROL

PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS BENEFITS

Construction Cost MEDIUM þWater Quality Control YES

þWater Quantity Control YES
Maintenance Requirements HIGH
ýAmenity Value NO
Land Take LOW ýHabitat Creation Value NO
ýBiological Treatment NO
Example of an Oil Interceptor

DESCRIPTION DESIGN
3) Interceptor chamber screening:

O
il interceptors generally 1) Run-off segregation:
comprise three underground Only run-off from areas which are likely Ensure that the orifice between the
retention chambers designed to have oil contamination (e.g. filling primary and secondary chambers is
to remove coarse sediments and retain areas for service stations) should be effectively screened. This should
oils. The first chamber is used for directed to the separator. This will generally not allow debris greater than
sedimentation and removal of large reduce the size of the separator 5 millimetres in diameter to enter the
debris. This chamber contains a required. Appropriate use of bunding second chamber. It should be easily
permanent pool of water and a well may help segregate oil contamination accessible and easily removed for
screened orifice which allows regulated from 'clean' run-off. cleaning.
flow into the second chamber. The
4) Maintenance access:

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT POLICY

second chamber is used for oil retention 2) High flow bypass:
and also contains a permanent pool of The separator should be designed to Easy access is required for inspection
water. An inverted elbow pipe permits accept low flow only, with a high flow and cleaning. Each chamber could
regulated flow from this chamber into bypass installed to provide for the have its own inspection entrance, with
the third chamber. The inverted pipe residual flow up to the capacity of the step rings leading to the bottom of the
collects water from deep in the pipe system. chamber.
permanent pool leaving oil
contaminants floating on the surface
until it is removed or absorbed by
sediment particles when they settle.
The third chamber is used to collect and
disperse flow into the stormwater drain
network or an infiltration basin. This
chamber contains an orifice outlet
which is often raised to create a third
settling pool and regulate outflow.
Inspection Hatch
Inlet Baffle Oil Elbow Pipe

Inflow

Accumulated Litter Screen Outlet Pipe

Coarse Sediments Over Opening

TRIPLE INTERCEPTOR DEVICE

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 OIL INTERCEPTORS
POLLUTANT REMOVAL / MAINTENANCE
STriple oil interceptors have been
reported to have relatively poor
pollutant removal capability. This has
been attributed to poor maintenance
and the passage of high flows though the
device (Galli, 1992). They have also
been found to be expensive to operate
due to their high maintenance
requirements (Ontario Ministry of
Environment & Energy, 1994).
Pollutant Removal
MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS
ZClean once a month to keep
accumulated oil and grit from escaping.
A vacuum pump tanker can be used to
pump out the contents of each chamber.
ZWithout regular maintenance, the
system quickly reaches capacity. Oil and
solid pollutants are re-entrained into the
flow, rendering the device ineffective.
Regular inspections should be made to
assess sediment and oil levels along with
outflow oil concentrations.
SOURCE
CONTROL
ADVANTAGES
þSuitable for treating stormwater
from areas with significant vehicular
pollution (e.g. car parks).
þCan also trap litter.
þCan treat stormwater from areas
storing or handling petroleum
products (e.g. service station and
petroleum depots).
þCan be retrofitted into existing
drainage systems.

Gross Pollutants Low to Medium þMinimum visual impact.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Fine Sediment Low SOil interceptors are widely used to
protect receiving waters from pollution
Medium Sediment Low to Medium
by oil.
Coarse Sediment Medium SSee Pollutant removal capacity LIMITATIONS
included for documented experience of
Attached Pollutants Low their performance. ýLimited removal of fine sediments or
soluble pollutants.
Dissolved Pollutants None

Oil & Grease ýTurbulent conditions may re-

Medium to High
suspend particles or entrain floating
Floatable Material Medium to High oil. (A high flow by-pass can
overcome this problem).

ýTrapped debris is likely to have a

high concentration of pollutants,
possibly toxic.

ýRequires regular cleaning to achieve

design objectives.

ýCan pose a potential safety hazard

for maintenance personnel.

TRIPLE CHAMBER OIL INTERCEPTOR

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