Oil and Water Separators

Oil and water separators are important for places like:

• Repair garages
• Gas stations with grease racks, grease pits and work racks
• Factories where oily waste is produced

This waste must go through an oil and water separator before entering a building drainage system and going into the City's sewer system. An oil and water separator works by separating oil from water because oil is lighter than water.

Business owners must install these separators. This is required by the NYC Administrative Code, Titles 26 and 27. You can find the rules in the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Building Code, Reference Standards 16: Plumbing, Drainage and Gas Piping and Local Law 2007/033, Enacting the New York City Construction Codes.