Is an oil water separator mandatory?

Yes, environmental regulations require oil removal before wastewater discharge.

Which industries require oil water separators?

Manufacturing, oil & gas, marine, automotive, power plants, and refineries.

What maintenance is required?

Regular oil skimming, plate cleaning, and periodic inspection are recommended.

Oil Water Separator – Industrial, Commercial & Environmental Compliance Guide (2026)

Q: What is an oil water separator?

An oil water separator removes oil and hydrocarbons from wastewater using gravity and coalescing methods.

Q: Can emulsified oil be removed?

Yes, advanced oil water separators with coalescing media can remove emulsified oil.

An Oil Water Separator is a mission-critical wastewater treatment system engineered to remove oil, grease, hydrocarbons, and petroleum-based contaminants from water before discharge or reuse. In today’s regulatory-driven industrial environment, oil water separation is no longer optional — it is a legal, environmental, and operational necessity.

Industries that fail to install a compliant oil water separator risk environmental penalties, operational shutdowns, reputational damage, and long-term cost escalation.

What Is an Oil Water Separator?

An Oil Water Separator (OWS) is a physical separation system designed to exploit the density difference between oil and water. Since oil is lighter, it naturally floats when wastewater velocity is controlled. Modern oil water separators enhance this natural phenomenon using engineered internals such as coalescing plates, parallel plate packs, baffle chambers, and sometimes centrifugal force.

At CBS Energy, oil water separators are designed for both free oil removal and complex industrial wastewater streams containing emulsified oil, suspended solids, and variable flow loads.

Why Oil Water Separation Is Mandatory (Regulatory Perspective)

Environmental authorities globally impose strict discharge limits for oil in wastewater — typically 10–15 ppm. Exceeding these limits can result in heavy fines or plant shutdowns.

CPCB & SPCB norms (India)
EPA guidelines (USA)
IMO MEPC regulations (Marine)
ISO 14001 environmental standards

Installing a certified oil water separator ensures long-term compliance and regulatory peace of mind.

How an Oil Water Separator Works – Detailed Process Flow

1. Inlet Flow Conditioning

Wastewater enters the separator through a diffuser that reduces velocity and turbulence, enabling gravity-based separation.

2. Primary Gravity Separation

Free oil rises to the surface while heavier solids settle at the bottom as sludge.

3. Coalescing Enhancement

Fine oil droplets collide and merge on coalescing media, forming larger droplets that rise faster.

4. Oil Collection & Skimming

Separated oil is collected in an oil chamber for safe disposal or recovery.

5. Treated Water Discharge

Effluent exits within permissible oil concentration limits.

Oil Water Separator – Video Demonstration

Video Description: This video demonstrates the working of an Oil Water Separator in an industrial setup. It shows the wastewater entering the separator, the coalescing and gravity separation process, and how clean water and separated oil are collected. Watching this helps understand the actual operation of separators installed at manufacturing, marine, and automotive facilities.

Types of Oil Water Separators (Technical Comparison)

Gravity Oil Water Separator

Simple, cost-effective design used for free-floating oil removal in low-flow applications.

Coalescing Plate Separator

High-efficiency separator capable of handling small oil droplets and moderate emulsions.

API Oil Water Separator

Designed as per API standards for refineries and petrochemical industries.

Centrifugal Oil Water Separator

Compact design using centrifugal force for high-performance separation.

Industry-Wise Applications

Manufacturing & Heavy Engineering

Removal of cutting oil, coolant, hydraulic oil from machine wastewater.

Automotive & Service Stations

Separates grease, fuel residues, engine oil from vehicle wash water.

Oil & Gas Industry

Handles high-load oily wastewater from drilling, refining, and storage terminals.

Marine & Shipping

Mandatory for bilge water treatment under IMO regulations.

Power Plants

Treats turbine oil contamination in cooling and utility water systems.

Design Parameters for Correct Oil Water Separator Selection

Wastewater flow rate (m³/hr)
Oil concentration (ppm)
Oil droplet size distribution
Presence of emulsified oil
Available installation space
Required discharge norms

Operational Benefits of Oil Water Separators

Environmental compliance
Reduced wastewater treatment cost
Protection of downstream equipment
Extended machinery life
Water reuse and recycling
Improved sustainability metrics

Maintenance & Long-Term Performance

Periodic oil skimming
Cleaning of coalescing plates
Sludge removal
Oil content monitoring
Annual performance audits

Pricing & Cost Factors

Oil water separator pricing depends on:

Capacity and flow rate
Separator type
Construction material (MS / SS)
Automation level
Industry-specific customization

For accurate pricing and technical consultation, contact CBS Energy.

Request Technical Consultation

Why Choose CBS Energy?

Proven industrial experience
Custom-engineered solutions
Compliance-driven designs
Expert technical support
Pan-India service capability

Learn more about our expertise at CBS Energy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is an oil water separator?

It separates oil and hydrocarbons from wastewater using gravity and coalescing techniques.

Can emulsified oil be removed?

Yes, advanced coalescing separators can handle emulsified oil.

Is oil water separator mandatory?

Yes, for most industrial wastewater discharges.

What oil ppm can be achieved?

Typically below 10–15 ppm.

Does it require electricity?

Gravity separators do not require power.