Hazardous waste removal can clean up drinking water
- August 13, 2013
- By Duane Nuekom | Marketing manager for WasteXpress
Hazardous waste removal is about more than just removing and transporting hazardous substances from one site to another. Hazardous waste services also include the cleaning of drinking water in water treatment facilities. The buildup of oily sludge in a facility can hinder the process of water treatment, causing health and environmental issues. The cleaning and vacuuming services offered by hazardous waste removal companies help treatment facilities run at optimum levels and keep the public safe.
Oil and water separation
Oil and water separators, drain sumps, wash racks and storage tanks that contain sludge can impair the effectiveness of a water treatment system. When a separator isn't managed well, the sludge can contaminate a community's surface and ground water, leading to potential violations.
With the help of a professional oil and water separator system, hazardous waste services separate oil from water or wastewater. The oil and water separating machine works like this: Water or wastewater flow into a vault through the inlet; a grit trap catches particles in the water; after flowing through an adjustable weir, a series of coalescing plates, or baffles, built into the vault slows down the flow of water; the vault forces oil to float to the top of the water in the tank and sludge moves down to the bottom. An oil skimmer helps remove the layer of oil at the top of the water; and the cleaner water moves through a second adjustable weir and exits through an outlet.
An oil and water separator can work above and below ground, and make a waste water system operate more efficiently. A hazardous waste removal company can service waste water systems at treatment plants as needed or regularly to ensure that a system is environmentally friendly and works efficiently. After completing a job, the hazardous waste service transports and disposes the waste.
Vacuuming services
A good hazardous waste company has a prime vacuuming service that offers a variety of equipment capacities, from 500-gallon vacuuming units for small jobs to larger 80-barrel (3,000 gallon) trucks for medium-sized jobs. Large projects use 130-barrel trucks that fit 5,000 to 6,000 gallons. Also available is vacuum box equipment or super vacuums for specific projects, based on a job's specifications.
Semi-solid materials and liquids that a vacuuming service can remove include:
- Flammable liquids
- Non-hazardous wastewater
- Oils
- Corrosives
- Class 9 waste
- Toxins
- Oily sludge
When a hazardous waste removal company uses vacuum trucks, the vacuum pumps and hauls semi-solid waste or liquids from tanks, oil and water separators, sumps or other trucks. The company generally maintains its own fleet of trailers for such purposes or may use the trucks of reputable area vendors.
Duane Neukom is marketing manager at WasteXpress, a hazardous waste removal company. WasteXpress provides on-site disposal, transportation and industrial services to businesses across Oregon and Washington.
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