Secondary spill containment
Encyclopedia
Secondary spill containment is the containment of hazardous liquids in order to prevent pollution of soil and water. Common techniques include the use of spill berms to contain oil-filled equipment, fuel tanks, truck washing decks, or any other places or items that may leak hazardous liquids.
(EPA) Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) guidelines require that facilities that store large quantities of petroleum (products) must have a plan in place to contain a spill. The purpose of the SPCC rule is to establish requirements for facilities to prevent a discharge of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. Within the electric utility
industry, oil-filled transformers
are often in need of secondary containment. Outdated secondary containment techniques such as concrete catch-basins are quickly losing ground to modern solutions that offer more cost effective cleanup in case of a spill or leak. One example of a more cost effective method involves placing a geotextile
boom filled with oil solidifying polymers around a transformer. These geotextile barriers allow for flow of water, but completely solidify oil in the event of a leak and effectively seal the spill. Many electrical utility companies are switching to this method because it saves them significant amounts of money when a spill occurs, because there is no need to employ vac-trucks
afterwards to clean up a spill inside a catch-basin.
, trucks, tankers
and trailers. Unlike geotextile berms, portable berms usually do not solidify oil. Portable berms are essentially a basin that can catch many different types of hazardous liquids and chemicals.
Secondary containment in the electrical utility industry
United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) guidelines require that facilities that store large quantities of petroleum (products) must have a plan in place to contain a spill. The purpose of the SPCC rule is to establish requirements for facilities to prevent a discharge of oil into navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. Within the electric utility
Electric utility
An electric utility is a company that engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity for sale generally in a regulated market. The electrical utility industry is a major provider of energy in most countries. It is indispensable to factories, commercial establishments,...
industry, oil-filled transformers
Transformer
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field...
are often in need of secondary containment. Outdated secondary containment techniques such as concrete catch-basins are quickly losing ground to modern solutions that offer more cost effective cleanup in case of a spill or leak. One example of a more cost effective method involves placing a geotextile
Geotextile
Geotextiles are permeable fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain...
boom filled with oil solidifying polymers around a transformer. These geotextile barriers allow for flow of water, but completely solidify oil in the event of a leak and effectively seal the spill. Many electrical utility companies are switching to this method because it saves them significant amounts of money when a spill occurs, because there is no need to employ vac-trucks
Vacuum truck
A vacuum truck is a truck mounted, heavy duty industrial vacuum loader designed to pneumatically convey solids, liquids, sludge or slurry through suction lines typically 2-4" in diameter with 3" being the norm. The typical pump used in the industry is the rotary vane vacuum pump. The truck can be...
afterwards to clean up a spill inside a catch-basin.
Portable secondary containment
Portable containment berms are another form of secondary spill containment. Portable containment berms are useful for containing mobile equipment such as oil drumsDrum (container)
A drum is a cylindrical container used for shipping bulk cargo. Drums can be made of steel, dense paperboard , or plastics, and are generally used for the transportation and storage of liquids and powders. Drums are often certified for shipment of dangerous goods...
, trucks, tankers
Tank truck
A tank truck or road tanker is a motor vehicle designed to carry liquefied loads, dry bulk cargo or gases on roads. The largest such vehicles are similar to railroad tank cars which are also designed to carry liquefied loads...
and trailers. Unlike geotextile berms, portable berms usually do not solidify oil. Portable berms are essentially a basin that can catch many different types of hazardous liquids and chemicals.