Concrete Plant Wash Pit – Testimonial

Reducing Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in an Oil Separator Pit

Managing oil, grease, and petroleum hydrocarbons in industrial wastewater is an important part of protecting sewer systems and maintaining wastewater discharge requirements.

In this customer testimonial, Joe Pierce, Shop Foreman, describes his experience using BioLynceus® products to treat an oil separator and containment pit receiving wastewater from equipment washdown racks.

Maintaining Low TPH Levels

The facility's containment pit collects oil and grease generated during washdown operations.

According to Pierce, the pit was treated with BioLynceus® products for approximately three years. During that period, the facility consistently maintained total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations below 32 ppm.

“During this three-year period, we maintained TPH levels below 32 ppm.”

Joe Pierce
Shop Foreman

Pierce reported that maintaining TPH below the facility's applicable discharge threshold allowed the treated wastewater to be discharged to the municipal sewer system.

TPH Increased After Changing Treatment Programs

After approximately three years of successful treatment, Pierce decided to test a different biological product in the containment pit.

According to the testimonial, TPH concentrations increased from approximately:

32 ppm to 9,030 ppm

within several weeks of changing treatment programs.

After observing the increase, the facility discontinued the alternative product and returned to the BioLynceus® treatment program.

TPH Reduced From 9,030 ppm to 32.5 ppm

Pierce reported that within approximately four weeks of returning to the BioLynceus® program, TPH concentrations decreased from 9,030 ppm to 32.5 ppm.

The facility continued using the BioLynceus® treatment program following these results.

Biological Treatment for Petroleum-Contaminated Wastewater

This application demonstrates how biological treatment can be incorporated into an industrial wastewater-management program where petroleum hydrocarbons, oil, and grease are present.

Potential applications may include:

  • Oil separator pits

  • Equipment washdown wastewater

  • Industrial containment pits

  • Petroleum-contaminated wastewater

  • Hydrocarbon remediation

  • Wastewater pretreatment systems

According to Pierce, the performance observed at his facility gave him confidence in continuing the BioLynceus® treatment program.

“Needless to say, I am quite satisfied with your product’s performance and have no intention of switching again.”

Joe Pierce
Shop Foreman

The results described above reflect observations and testing reported from this specific facility. TPH reduction and wastewater-treatment performance can vary depending on hydrocarbon type, concentration, temperature, oxygen availability, retention time, wastewater chemistry, application rate,