What are oil grit separators and filters?
Stormwater oil grit separators and filters are underground stormwater management devices that clean stormwater runoff. The City of Brampton has 130 of these devices installed on City property, road right of ways, and parking lots.
Oil grit separators and filters help prevent pollution in local rivers and creeks by capturing pollution like oil and sediments. They clean stormwater by using gravity to remove heavy contaminants like sediments that fall to the bottom and oils that float to the top. Devices with filters use membrane filters to remove small contaminants.
Removing contaminants from oil grit separators and filters
Since 2018, the City has removed almost 450 cubic metres of contaminated sediment from the City’s oil grit separators and filters, which would have otherwise ended up in local rivers and creeks.
This amount of contaminated sediment could fill 220 pickup truck cargo beds!
Maintaining oil grit separators and filters
Oil grit separators and filters are designed to capture a specific level of sediment and oil. Without regular maintenance, the sediment and oil can build up over time, and the device can become plugged. When a device becomes plugged, sediment and oil bypass the device and enter the stormwater drainage system untreated and pollute local rivers and creeks.
Regular inspections help determine when these devices needs cleaning or repairs to function effectively. Routine cleanouts are essential to remove accumulated contaminants, allowing oil grit separators and filters to function effectively again.
