Grit and sand trap pumping is an unavoidable part of commercial and industrial car washing operations in Texas. The soap, waste, and contaminated fluid that your business generates can’t simply run into the municipal drainage system untreated. Instead, there are multiple different steps that your business is responsible for to make sure the waste is disposed of properly and the water table isn’t compromised.  At Cactus Environmental Services, our team is here to help with comprehensive grit and sand trap cleaning services. We provide cleanouts, transportation, and disposal, and our team is TCEQ-registered for compliant pumping and transportation.

What Are Grit Traps?

Grit traps, or sand and grit traps, are two-chamber devices that separate solid particulate from wastewater. They’re commonly used—and generally required—at car washers as a preliminary treatment for wastewater and soapy runoff from clean cars. First, wastewater is funneled into the primary chamber, where the oils and petrochemicals rise to the top, and heavy sediment or solids fall to the bottom.  After this separation is complete, the crossover pipe connecting to the secondary chamber funnels the rudimentarily cleaned water to the next stage. Here, oily byproducts rise to the top again, and any remaining solids sink to the bottom. Then, the water in the middle can be sent into the municipal sewer system for regular treatment. However, this leaves carwashes with the collections of oils and solids. If these waste byproducts aren’t carefully contained, they can flow into the sewer system, overwhelming it and leading to significant fines. But car washes also can only store the waste for a while, especially when more is added every day. 

How Often Should They Be Cleaned?

There are two answers to the question of how often grit traps should be cleaned out. First, they should be cleaned according to your local municipal requirements. Generally, towns and counties around Houston require this task to be completed at least once a year. Second, they should be cleaned out whenever they are becoming full. If you have a small grit trap or your Houston car wash handles much business, your trap may fill up more than once a year. 

Signs It’s Time for a Professional Cleaning

Along with any legal requirements regarding how often your facility’s grit trap should be cleaned, know when your trap is at capacity. Here are some of the most common signs it’s time to hire a professional service to clean out your trap: 
  • Clogged crossover pipe, which can increase water levels in the primary chamber or cause backed-up wastewater to come out of the primary chamber
  • Clogged outgoing pipe, which can cause overflows from both the primary and secondary chamber
  • Too much oil or grit visible in the traps
  • Pipes are frequently clogged or make noise because of partial clogs.
Any of these problems indicate that it’s time for a grit and sand trap cleaning appointment. Schedule a service promptly when these problems appear to avoid backflow and potential ground contamination.

Industries We’re Familiar With

At Cactus Environmental Services, we provide comprehensive trap cleaning services for commercial and industrial facilities, including grit traps, grease traps, and more. We serve the following industries with complete sand trap pumping:
  • Auto centers
  • Car washes
  • Commercial kitchens
  • Industrial cleaning facilities
  • Restaurants

How Grit Trap Cleaning Works

We comply with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations to provide comprehensive grit trap cleaning. Our process involves these stages:
  1. Sludge waste and sand trap pumping to extract the oil and solid waste from the trap with our in-house vacuum equipment and vehicles
  2. Treating the waste to condense hazardous or provide preliminary treatment so it’s safe for transport and disposal
  3. Transporting the waste away in a certified tanker
  4. Disposing of the waste at the appropriate waste facility

Contact Us for Sand Trap and Grit Trap Cleaning Today

Cactus Environmental Services is the go-to environmental remediation, cleanup, and hazardous waste management organization in the Houston area. Contact us today to learn more about how to properly manage grit and sand trap cleaning for your business, or schedule an appointment for your annual cleanout.

Image Credit: Maksym Kaharlyk/ Shutterstock