Environmental Friendly Slop Water Treatment
Discharge Requirement
Slop water is the aqueous stream left when oil and solids have been skimmed, drained or washed out of a process. It cannot be released as it stands. The operator carries the obligation to bring it within the discharge limit that applies at the site before it leaves the boundary.
| Contaminant | Why it matters at discharge |
|---|---|
| Dispersed oil | The parameter most discharge consents are written against |
| Suspended solids | Carry adsorbed hydrocarbon and raise turbidity in the receiving water |
| Emulsified hydrocarbon | Not removed by skimming alone, requires centrifugal force to break out |
| Residual chemicals | Process additives that remain in the aqueous phase |
Treatment sequence
- Bulk oil is removed first, so the separator is not asked to do coarse work.
- The stream is fed to a separator or decanter, where centrifugal force acts on the density difference to draw out dispersed oil and suspended solids.
- Solids are discharged and dewatered for disposal; recovered oil is routed back for processing.
- The treated water is checked against the consent condition before release.
Scope of Supply
Separator and decanter technology removes dispersed oil and suspended solids from the aqueous stream, including the emulsified fraction that skimming leaves behind.
Mechanical separation carries no chemical dosing of its own, so the treated water is brought toward the discharge limit without adding a further reagent load. See also contaminated water treatment.
Units are handed over with an operation manual, and support is available while the unit is on site so that site crew can run it without prior experience of the equipment.
Rental units are sized to the project and are mobile and skid mounted for transport and installation. A trained operator can be supplied with the unit. Ask for current rental availability.
Engineering FAQ
What is slop water?
Slop water is the aqueous stream left when oil and solids have been skimmed, drained or washed out of a process. It carries dispersed oil, emulsified hydrocarbon, suspended solids and residual process chemicals, so it cannot be released as it stands.
Can slop water be discharged as it stands?
No. The operator carries the obligation to bring it within the discharge limit that applies at the site before it leaves the boundary.
Why is skimming alone not enough?
Skimming does not remove emulsified hydrocarbon. Breaking that out of the aqueous phase requires centrifugal force.
What is removed from slop water?
Dispersed oil, suspended solids carrying adsorbed hydrocarbon, emulsified hydrocarbon and residual process chemicals left in the aqueous phase.
Talk to an Engineer
Send the volume held, an analysis of the stream and the discharge limit that applies at your site. We will return a configuration and a scope of supply. Related duties: slop oil treatment and produced water treatment.