Oil and Grit Separator

Plan view cut out of a typical Oil-Grit Separator (OGS) pretreatment device. In this example, the cylinder chamber and weirs create a "vortex swirling effect", which promotes settling of solids in the bottom of the chamber. In most OGS, there is also an oil storage chamber to capture light liquids and floatables. The accumulated sediment and debris is cleaned out regularly by maintenance professionals once the sediment in the chamber reaches the manufacturer’s recommended sediment maintenance depth or the floatables capture chamber is full.

Overview

Oil and Grit Separators (OGS) are Manufactured Treatment Devices (MTDs) used for water quality treatment of stormwater runoff through the removal of large particle suspended solids and associated pollutants, and debris. Some devices can also trap light liquids such as oil and other floatables. These MTDs are typically installed underground within the stormwater sewer system in an on-line or off-line configuration. They are distinguished from Filtration-based MTDs by their removal of solids through settling rather than filtration.

Application

Oil and Grit Separators are suitable as pre-treatment to other downstream treatment systems such as ponds or LID features. Cost effective application of OGS as pretreatment to a downstream LID practice typically requires that the practice have a single inlet with a drainage area larger than 0.2 ha.

OGS normally require maintenance every year to function as designed. The cost and level of effort required to undertake the maintenance program over the full life cycle of OGS should be carefully considered when implementing this water quality treatment solution.

Further guidance on how the data and information generated from verified laboratory testing of OGS technologies should be interpreted and factored into regulatory agency approvals and procurement decisions for stormwater management is provided in this publicly available specification The Canadian Procedure for Field Testing of Stormwater Filtration Manufactured Treatment Devices, developed by TRCA and the Standards Council of Canada that addresses both OGS and Filtration MTDs.

Testing and Verification

Several agencies across Canada require ISO 14034 Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) as a condition of technology acceptance.
(Note: when visiting the above link click on the "Other" tab on the page to view Specific Testing Protocols for OGS).

For OGS, the ISO 14034 verification process in Canada consists of two parts:

1. Third party laboratory testing of MTDs in accordance with the 2023 Canadian Procedure for Laboratory Testing of Oil Grit Separators and
2. Third party verification of the test in accordance with the ISO 14034 ETV standard.

The ISO 14034 verification process is currently administered by Globe Performance Solutions and Verify Global. Completed ISO 14034 verification statements for OGS are posted on the former Canadian ETV website website, here.

Note that ISO 14034 verification is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for approval agencies using the ISO/ETV process for technology acceptance. The technology must also be classified as an Oil Grit Separator (i.e. not include a filter) for the Canadian Procedure for Laboratory Testing of OGS to have been properly applied. This ETV Bulletin helps to provide clarification on this requirement: See table below for a list of current ISO 14034 verified OGS MTDs.

List of ISO 14034 verified OGS MTDs

Verification Year (Initial)	Technology Name	Company Name	Verification Statements
2023	StormSettler® Oil Grit Separator	STORMTRAP, LLC.	Verification Statement
2022	RWM-DM-1200 & DM-1200-OS Stormwater Systems	Rainwater Management LTD.	Verification Statement
2021	HydroDome® Oil-Grit Separator	HydroWorks, LLC	Verification Statement
2019	Hydro International Downstream Defender® OGS	Hydro International	Verification Statement
2019	SciCLONE™ Hydrodynamic Separator	Bio Clean Environmental Inc. (A Forterra Company)	Verification Statement
2018	Hydro International First Defense® OGS	Hydro International	Verification Statement
2018	Hydroworks® HydroStorm (HS) OGS	HydroWorks, LLC	Verification Statement
2017	Stormceptor® EF and EFO Oil-Grit Separators	Imbrium Systems, Inc.,	Verification Statement
2017	CDS Hydrodynamic Separator®	CONTECH Engineered Solutions LLC	Verification Statement
2016	SDD3 Oil Grit Separator®	Next Stormwater Solutions (8091200 Canada Inc.)	Verification Statement

Performance Test Results

The Canadian Procedure for Laboratory Testing of OGS provides performance testing for the following performance measures based on a standard sediment particle size distribution with a median particle size of 75 microns:

1. Sediment removal performance: Mass balance testing at a minimum of seven surface loading rates to determine the capacity of MTDs to retain suspended solids
2. Sediment scour and re-suspension test: Sediment is pre-loaded into the unit and effluent concentrations are measured at a minimum of five surface loading rates to determine how well the units retain captured sediment.
3. Light liquid capture and retention test: An optional test in which beads with a density similar to motor oil are pre-loaded into the unit and the number of beads in the effluent during pre-loading and testing are measured to assess the capacity of the unit to trap and retain light liquids.
   

As of October 2023, there were nine OGS vendors with ISO 14034 verifications (as shown in the table above), and 12 different OGS designs that have been verified.

• The list of manufacturers and test results (Sediment Scour and Light Liquid Test Results, and other relevant operational parameters) of all OGS products and other verified technologies can be downloaded here (updated as of January 2024):
  

• The list of manufacturers and test results (Sediment Removal rates) of all OGS products and other verified technologies can be viewed and downloaded here (updated as of January 2024):
  

The verified OGS technologies can be divided into two groups based on sediment removal performance results (see group 1 and 2 in the graph below).

• Group 1 includes traditional designs (n=10) with large openings and limited flow restriction. Results for these OGS types were relatively consistent at low flows and slightly more variation at high surface loading rates.
• Group 2 units with debris filters, fine meshed debris screens or coalescing plates (n=2) showed higher performance (group 2). These units force water to flow through smaller orifices, which increase the risk of clogging, leading to higher maintenance costs in the long run. Test plans for these units should include a scenario that evaluates system hydraulics and removal rates under a scenario where a portion of the small orifices are clogged. If this has not been done, it would be reasonable to apply a factor of safety to verified results to account for clogging potential over the maintenance cycle.

Performance testing of an OGS unit in St Anthony Falls Laboratory in Minnesota (Saddoris, et al. 2010)

In general, OGS should not be installed as stand-alone units for water quality treatment. While every effort has been made to ensure that the ISO 14034 verified lab test is an accurate representation of actual performance, there remains uncertainty about how lab results translate to the field, particularly for group 2 technologies. Installing OGS only as pretreatment to other downstream practices helps to mitigate this uncertainty and risk because downstream stormwater treatment practices can be relied on to provide a second line of defense.

Graph Above: Sediment removal efficiencies for ISO 14034 verified OGS. Group 1 units (n=10) are conventional OGS with large openings.
Group 2 units (n=2) contain additional components that filter or strain flows. Sediment removal performance results were relatively consistent across
different MTD designs, with slightly more variation at higher surface loading rates

*Note: Oil Grit Separators do not achieve the 80% removal efficiency required for stand alone application in Ontario, even at very low flow rates.

Scaling

The ISO 14034 ETV sediment removal rate data for the tested model at specified surface loading rates may be applied to similar MTDs of smaller or larger size by proper scaling. Scaling the performance results of the tested MTD to other model sizes without completing additional testing is acceptable provided that:

1. The claimed sediment removal efficiencies for the similar MTD are the same or lower than the tested MTD at identical surface loading rates; and
2. The similar MTD is scaled geometrically proportional to the tested unit in all inside dimensions of length and width and a minimum of 85% proportional in depth.

Ensuring the unit is scaled appropriately in all dimensions also helps to ensure that the recommended maintenance intervals for the unit can be achieved.

Sizing

See a screenshot of a recent version of STEP’s OGS Review Sheet Calculator used for developers/manufacturers of new OGS MTDs to help with the submission of their devices to the International Working Group on Environmental Technology Verification (IWG-ETV) (Photo Source: City of Toronto, 2020)

It is recommended that a standard sizing approach be used for all OGS units to ensure they are evaluated based on a consistent methodology. See a screenshot of STEP's OGS Review Sheet, which has been developed to facilitate application of ISO 14034 ETV test data through a standard approach applicable to all OGS MTD designs. Click the button below to download an excel version of the tool:



The following methods and processes are built into the tool:

• Rational Method used as a basis for flow calculations:
  
• Target treatment is based on capture and treatment of the average annual runoff volume for the site using ISO 14034 verified sediment removal test results for 7 surface loading rates
• Linear interpolation is used to calculate sediment removal efficiencies between the ISO/ETV tested surface loading rates
• Surface loading rates below the lowest ISO/ETV tested surface loading rate are assigned a sediment removal efficiency equal to that of the lowest tested rate
• Hourly historical rainfall data greater than 1mm for the April to October period are used to generate the rainfall intensity frequency distribution curves.
• Users may input their own rainfall intensity frequency distribution curve data for meteorological stations not provided in the tool.

Associated Documents Submitted with OGS Review Calculator

Other documents typically submitted with the OGS Review Calculator would include:

• Signed Stormwater Management (SWM) Report, engineering drawings, and specifications by the design engineer (Professional Engineer in Ontario) on behalf of their respective clients/owners
• Applicable third-party testing and verification/certification statements and documentation supporting performance claims
• Manufacturer-provided letter/documentation confirming proposed and tested MTD model details (i.e., diameter, depth, treatment depth, max storage depth, sediment storage capacity, hydraulic capacity for bypass), and compliance with sizing and scaling provisions, as per the OGS Procedure scaling provisions
• Operations and Maintenance Manual indicating the inspection and maintenance frequencies, methods of maintenance, health and safety considerations and other relevant information.

ISO 14034 verified OGS vendor websites

1. RWM-DM-1200 & DM-1200-OS Stormwater Systems - Developed by: Rainwater Management LTD.
2. Hydro International Downstream Defender® OGS - Developed by: Hydro International.
3. SciCLONE™ Hydrodynamic Separator - Developed by: Bio Clean Environmental Inc. (A Forterra Company).
4. Hydro International First Defense® OGS - Developed by: Hydro International
5. Hydroworks® HydroStorm (HS) OGS - Developed by HydroWorks LLC.
6. Stormceptor® EF and EFO Oil-Grit Separators - Developed by: Imbrium Systems, Inc.
7. CDS Hydrodynamic Separator® - Developed by: CONTECH Engineered Solutions LLC
8. SDD3 Oil Grit Separator® - Developed by: Next Stormwater Solutions (8091200 Canada Inc.)

Disclaimer

In our effort to make this guide as functional as possible, we have decided to include proprietary systems and links to manufacturers websites. Inclusion of such links does not constitute endorsement by the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program. Lists are ordered alphabetically; link updates are welcomed using the form below.

Systems designed to remove trash, debris and some amount of sediment, oil and grease from stormwater runoff based on the principles of sedimentation for the grit and phase separation for the oil.

Initial capturing and removal of unwanted contaminants, such as debris, sediment, leaves and pollutants, from stormwater before reaching a best management practice; Examples include, settling forebays, vegetated filter strips and gravel diaphragms.

Soil, sand and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish-nesting areas and holes of water animals and cloud the water so that needed sunlight might not reach aquatic plans. Careless farming, mining and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to be washed off the land after rainfalls.

The portion of water precipitated onto a catchment area, which then flows as surface discharge from the catchment area past a specified point.

Water from rain, snow melt, or irrigation that flows over the land surface.

The technique of removing pollutants from runoff as it infiltrates through the soil.

Low Impact Development. A stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased urban runoff and stormwater pollution by managing it as close to its source as possible. It comprises a set of site design approaches and small scale stormwater management practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration and evapotranspiration, and rainwater harvesting.

The total surface area upstream of a point on a stream that drains toward that point. Not to be confused with watershed. The drainage area may include one or more watersheds.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

The technique of removing pollutants from runoff as it infiltrates through the soil.

Soil, sand and minerals washed from land into water, usually after rain. They pile up in reservoirs, rivers and harbors, destroying fish-nesting areas and holes of water animals and cloud the water so that needed sunlight might not reach aquatic plans. Careless farming, mining and building activities will expose sediment materials, allowing them to be washed off the land after rainfalls.

The total mass of a pollutant entering a waterbody over a defined time period.

The net amount of something (e.g. chemical, such as phosphorus), calculated as the product of concentration and volume in a given time. Some BMPs significantly reduce loading of pollutants to the environment by reducing volume more so than concentration.

Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program

This formula is used to calculate peak rates of runoff when designing drainage LID BMPs in urban area. It is useful in estimating runoff on relatively small areas (roofs, parking lots, medians, road right-of-ways, etc.)

The rate of rainfall in millimeters per hour.

Stormwater Management