Many Class I and shortline railroads, commuter and light rail transit agencies operate wash facilities. Many of these entities along with some railroad construction companies operate maintenance-of-way equipment wash operations also. Most of these operations may be designated as "transportation related activity” and not come under mandated EPA SPCC regulations of the Clean Water Act. But due to the nature of railcar/equipment washing, it is probable that these operations require a railroad secondary containment system which would include spill collection/drip pans to catch and properly handle the wastewater generated from the washing process as per SWPP.
Passenger Wash Facility Railcar
As a supplier, Century Group Inc. is proactive in the railroad industry by ensuring that all sales and technical field representatives have been through the Class I Railroad's e-rail safe program, http://www.e-railsafe.com/, the Roadway Worker On-Track Safety program overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program (TWIC) implemented by Transportation Security Agency (TSA) and the U. S. Coast Guard. Safety and security at jobsites is the highest priority at Century Group Inc.
Maintenance of Way Wash
Features & Benefits:
As mentioned above, such facilities may not be subject to SPCC regulations but most rail yards and maintenance facilities are required to have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPP) mandated by the EPA. SWPP regulations, are enforced to prevent the discharge of stormwater into public ditches, sewers, and drainage structures that contain suspended solids, sludge, and other contaminants that ultimately pollute ditches, streams, rivers, and other bodies of water.
The Century Enviropansprovide the best available technology to collect all wastewater and by-products of railcar and equipment wash operations. Having an adequate railroad spill containment system such as the High Density Polyethylene Enviropans to catch wash water which contains dirt, sludge, oils, and detergents thereby preventing these products from being discharged onto the ground or into nearby drainage structures or bodies of water. By doing so you are at great risk in violating state and federal environmental regulations. Violations described above could make your company/customer liable for civil and/or criminal penalties and susceptible to expensive litigation. In most installations, the Enviropans discharge to an oil/water separator or a waste water treatment system which will allow oils and sludge to be filtered from the water. If detergents are used, then additional treatment of the water may be required before discharging into wastewater/sanitary sewers, outfall ditches or adjacent bodies of water in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Passenger Railcar Wash Facility
Why Century Group's HDPE Enviropans are the perfect solution for secondary containment at your railcar wash facility?
With over four decades of railroad construction experience, the Century Group teambrings to the table a wealth of experience in working with engineers, railroads, and transit agencies in developing a railroad secondary containment system that is second to none and meets our clients' specific needs.
California Carwash Facility
The sloped ribbed design of the HDPE Enviropans provides the optimal design for catching wastewater, solids, and other contaminates in your railcar or equipment wash operation. The HDPE Enviropan® is easy to wash down and minimizes the build-up of solids in the spill containment pans.
Railcar Wash Facility
Century Group's technical team can also assist in the design and provide sand traps in the piping system to minimize the amount of solids reaching oil water separators. Many railcar wash facilities are in covered areas or inside structures which may have concrete walkways/aprons that abut the ends of the crossties. In these instances, the field pans may require customization to fit between the rail and the platform. Century Group's onsite field technicians can take field measurements to insure that the spill collection pans maximize containment of wastewater during wash operations. In many instances, a flashing may be required to prevent seepage between the track pans and the platforms inside the carwash facility.
Maintenance of Way Wash Area
Century Group can provide as-built shop drawings to be reviewed by our clients before construction to insure that the spill collection system meets all environmental objectives. These as-built drawings will serve as a valuable asset when environmental health and safety personnel generate documents for permitting purposes.
Field Custom Installation
Once the project is planned and the Enviropans are delivered to the site, Century Group can provide an experienced onsite representative to assist your railroad personnel in installing the HDPE Enviropans providing the best secondary containment system at your railcar wash facility.
Century's Experienced Field Technicians
Other services that Century Group can provide are elevated or at grade walkways to allow pedestrian traffic to safety traverse the spill collection pan system which is critical especially at facilities which have platforms on both sides of the track. Let the Century Group team provide you with the best available technology when it comes to containment at your carwash facility.