Car/Truck Wash Tanks and Interceptors

Car wash and truck wash tanks or sumps are purpose-built to capture washdown water, sediment, and hydrocarbons before discharge to tradewaste or an approved treatment system. These systems are commonly found at commercial car washes, fleet depots, logistics hubs, service stations, and industrial sites—anywhere vehicles are regularly cleaned and contaminants like grit, soaps, and oils are present.

Washdown water flows into a sump or tank where settling and separation occur. Grit and sediment settle to the base, while oils and fuels rise and are retained, often via baffles or absorbent media. Soaps and surfactants may be managed through additional treatment such as interceptors or additional filters.  From there, water is either pumped to tradewaste or stormwater dependant on the consent.

Without routine cleaning, sediment and sludge can reduce storage volume and clog pumps, strainers, and pipework. Hydrocarbon buildup impairs separation efficiency and increases the risk of non-compliance with council tradewaste conditions. Odours, corrosion, and equipment failures also become more likely, raising operating costs and causing downtime.

At Dutton Stormwater, we service car and truck wash tanks and sumps nationwide. Our typical maintenance includes inspection of chambers, baffles, pumps, floats, and control panels; vacuum removal of sludge, grit, and oily residues; and cleaning of sumps, screens, strainers, and pump wells. For underground tanks and sumps, maintenance may require confined space entry, which is performed by our specially trained technicians following strict safety protocols. All waste is disposed of at authorised waste disposal facilities.

These systems typically require maintenance every three to six months for high-usage sites, and six to twelve months for lower-usage operations. Actual frequency depends on vehicle volumes, washdown chemistry, and observed sediment or oil loading. During each service, we review the system’s condition a includes a job summary with any recommendations in your service report.