Ecology & Environment
In keeping with our mission to reduce the ecological impact of compressor oil carryover, Blu Ocean has partnered with Clean Resources to educate businesses on the environmental consequences and safely remove oil carryover from compressed air systems.
Domestically an estimated one million gallons of oil are passed out of the system and onto the ground, into storm drains and city sewer systems. The EPA's Clean Water Act mandates that the compressed air oil carryover is contained. By partnering with Clean Resources, we can assure our customers they are in compliance and reduce oil pollution.
Today's Reality
You wouldn’t dump oil down the sewer—Right?
If your company is running an air compressor without an oil-water separator, this is precisely what you are doing! Unfortunately, approximately eighty-five percent of companies in the U.S. using compressed air are out of EPA compliance and don't realize it.
That's nearly 1.3M units, illegally dumping oil and chemical-laced condensate one drop at a time into our sewers, contaminating millions of gallons of groundwater every day.
Are you ready to do the right thing? Blu Ocean provides a cradle-to-grave service that guarantees 100% EPA compliance, is risk-free, and we do all the work.
EPA and the Clean Water Act
Oil and Wastewater Limits
Together with Clean Resources, we set the industry standard for clean condensate, which no one else has been able to match. So, what are the limits on dumping oil-laced condensate into the environment (sewer, ground, rivers, lakes)? In some states and cities, Illinois, New Orleans, Chicago, as an example, the limit is 15 ppm.
Due to the Clean Water Act (CWA) amendments in 1972, compressor lubricants and other pollutants are regulated from release into waterways in the US. At the Federal level, the EPA does not have a set standard for the allowable amount of oil in compressor condensate. Instead, each state and local municipality or water reclamation district works together within the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40—Part 279—Standards for the Management of Used Oil, to determine the appropriate wastewater management program and standards.
Criminal Provisions of Compressed Air Oil Carryover
As the saying goes, ignorance of the law is no excuse, and the EPA means business. Unfortunately, a few of our client base has been obtained due to EPA audits and fines. But, with an estimated 1.3 million air compressors running without an oil-water separator, it's only a matter of time before a business is found out.
What are the penalties, and are they a big deal? Even the slightest misstep can be costly, both criminally and financially. Fines begin at $2,500 per day with the possibility of 1-year incarceration. View more on theor visit the EPA Criminal Provisions for the complete list of violations and penalties.
Ready to get started or have a question? Send a message to a Compressed Air expert today.
Case Studies
New Jersey
A kayaker discovers an oil slick caused by decades of discarded oil carryover to the ground resulted in bankruptcy.
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New Orleans
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 set new and stricter guidelines for allowable compressor oil carryover.
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Atlanta
Oversight resulted in fines for non-compliance, remediation, and removal of hazardous waste fees.
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