Interceptor Cleaning and Inspection

Vehicle parking areas, yards and forecourts should drain to the surface water interceptor. Accumulation of silt and debris in the interceptors will prevent them from working efficiently and so they need to be regularly emptied and cleaned. Surface water from your premises will eventually discharge to local streams and you are legally responsible for making sure that the discharge does not pollute the receiving streams. Note that if you wait until the interceptors are full before arranging for an emptying you may not necessarily avoid pollution. The quality of the discharge from your premises is all important.

The following liquid wastes should not be directed to surface water interceptors, storm drains, watercourses or soak-aways:

• Vehicle wash waters containing detergents (including so called bio-degradable), traffic film removers and other chemicals.
• Liquid waste from vehicle maintenance areas, and workshop interceptors, internal drains and gullies.
• Paraffin and white spirits used as degreasers.
• Liquid waste from canteens and laboratories.

Detergents and chemicals will pollute streams and rivers even if discharged through interceptors, and, therefore, should go to the foul sewer, possibly via an interceptor. Consent to discharge to a sewer should be obtained from the local sewerage undertaker (not the Environment Agency or local council) for handling at the sewage treatment works. Alternatively, such liquid waste can be directed to a catchpit with no discharge capability and collected and removed for disposal by our vacuum tankers.

Cutting/suds oils are polluting to water and must not be directed to the surface water systems. Our vacuum tankers will call to your premises and we will arrange for safe disposal.