Industrial / Commercial Stormwater Processing:

    US Laws and Regulations

    Oil in water discharges from industrial and other facilities are governed by a variety of federal, state and local laws. The basic law covering discharges is the Clean Water Act (CWA). Permits for discharge are required and any discharges other than those allowed by permit are illegal.

    Stormwater Vault Flows

    Although the Clean Water Act was enacted primarily to control discharges from sanitary sewer and industrial plants, it also governs other discharges of water containing petroleum and other hydrocarbons into water.

    Most states and localities require discharges to contain 15 ppm or less oil and grease, based on a 24 hour composite sample. This requirement is based on the CWA requirement for "no sheen". Oil and grease may include petroleum hydrocarbons as well as animal and vegetable oils.

    Storm water discharges were covered under the CWA but not required to have permits under the system until 1990. "Storm water discharges" refer to discharges consisting entirely of rainwater runoff, snowmelt runoff, or surface runoff and drainage. Waters that do not meet this definition are not covered by these regulations. These rules specify that facilities with storm water discharges from "areas containing raw materials, intermediate products, finished products, by-product, or waste product located on site" will require a permit.

    Stormwater Processing Systems for Industrial Plants

    MSR Coalescing systems are often installed in underground concrete vaults, either cast-in-place or precast to process stormwater from industrial and commercial facilities.

    MSR will be glad to provide kits of equipment for installation in existing or new cast-in-place systems and has arrangements with some concrete precast vault companies to provide complete systems ready to install in the ground.

    MSR stormwater systems are guaranteed to produce effluent that will meet the requirements for discharge for either 10 mg/l or 15 mg/l effluent quality as required.

    Stormwater Processing Systems for Commercial Facilities

    Many commercial facilities such as truck depots and large service stations require stormwater processing equipment. MSR coalescing systems installed in concrete vaults are often the most economical and reliable methods of controlling oil in stormwater.

    Stormwater processing for service stations

    Hospital parking lot stormwater processing