Sand and Grit Traps
Sand and grit traps are normally located at any car washing or car dealership business. When a car is washed, the dirt and debris that comes off of the vehicle is captured in a sand or grit trap. These businesses need to hire a waste management company to clean out and dispose of any dirt these traps may hold.
How does a sand and grit trap work?
A sand and grit trap contains two chambers, a primary and secondary one, to isolate oils and solid waste, like the debris, sand, or dirt, from water. The water that is collected from the end of a car wash goes into the primary separate chamber and the oil will float to the top as the solid waste will sink to the bottom.
A pipe is constructed in the middle of the chambers, below the oil but above the solid grit. Clean water will flow through this pipe into the second chamber, and this allows gravity to separate any remaining oil or sand from water. The water continues through a pipe in the middle of the chamber that leads out towards a sewage system.
Importance of cleaning the traps
No matter what area you reside in, there are different local plumbing codes that regulate the maintenance and disposal of dirt from sand and grit traps. The maintenance and upkeep on these traps are critical because if they overflow, car wash traps can transport sand and grit to sewer systems and clog this system. This can be extremely expensive to fix.
Businesses generating semi-liquid waste must also consider their sand and grit traps, which can be contaminated with benzene, lead, and other oil. The proper disposal of this is very critical for safety purposes, and transporters should be registered so they can legally pump and dispose of sand and grit waste. Your choice in a waste disposal company can also be very important as your company will be liable of how your waste is transported. If the sewage system is clogged, you’ll want a reliable company that keeps accurate records that could prove your company is innocent.
How often should you pump your traps
Each area’s local regulations will require different sand trap cleaning and grit trap cleaning requirements, so be sure to check on those. A standard time is only once or twice a year, but you’ll want to stay on top of these time requirements. You should hire a legally registered service to clean out these pumps when a pipe gets clogged.
Signs your grit and sand trap needs pumping
If you notice any of the following signs, it could indicate that you need sand and grit trap pumping. Water levels rising higher in the primary chamber and sitting at normal levels in the secondary chambers usually means the crossover pipe is clogged, or if water is overflowing the primary chamber lid. If water levels are higher in both primary and secondary chambers then the outgoing pipe is usually clogged. If both the primary and secondary chamber are full with oil and solid waste, the grit trap is most likely full or the pipe could be clogged as well.
Sand and grit traps are important factors to help keep your business running smoothly. It’s crucial to maintain and clean the traps to ensure you’re following local city regulations and prevent clogged sewage systems. For proper waste disposal and treatment of your sand and grit traps, contact Clean Management and ask about our sand and grit trap services. We specialize in sand trap cleaning and grit trap cleaning as well as the disposal of the resulting waste.
