How South Feather Water and Power Company Strengthened Sump Oil Control and Reduced Environmental Risk
Continuous Oil Skimming for Cleaner Water Systems, Reduced Maintenance Activity, and Long-Term Environmental Protection
Hydroelectric facilities operate critical infrastructure where even small amounts of oil leakage can create environmental and operational risks. At sump and drainage collection points, oil from aging equipment can accumulate on water surfaces and must be removed quickly to prevent discharge into surrounding water systems.
At South Feather Water and Power, a solution from Abanaki Corporation was installed to continuously remove oil from sump water in hydroelectric generation facilities, replacing manual sorbent-based cleanup methods with automated separation.
The result was continuous oil removal, reduced manual maintenance effort, and improved environmental protection performance across hydroelectric operations.
Download Abanaki Model 8 Brochure.
The Challenge: Oil Leakage in Hydroelectric Sump Systems
In hydroelectric generation environments, older equipment and mechanical systems can introduce oil into sump water. At South Feather Water and Power, oil contamination occurred due to:
- Leakage from aging generators and hydraulic systems
- Accumulation of oil in sump basins
- Risk of oil migration into reservoirs and surrounding waterways
- Manual sorbent-based cleanup practices that were labor-intensive
This created several operational challenges:
- Ongoing need for manual oil removal using absorbent materials
- Time-consuming maintenance checks on sump conditions
- Risk of environmental discharge if oil was not removed quickly
- Inefficient cleanup process requiring frequent operator intervention
The facility needed a continuous, automated solution to remove oil from water surfaces more effectively and with less labor.
The Solution and Results: Abanaki Model 8 Belt Oil Skimmer in Hydroelectric Operation
To address these challenges, South Feather Water and Power installed a Model 8 Oil Grabber belt skimming system from Abanaki Corporation in key sump locations within its hydroelectric facilities.
The system continuously removed floating oil using a belt-and-wiper mechanism, replacing manual sorbent cleanup with automated separation. Oil was collected directly into a container for disposal, while cleaned water remained in the sump system.
Operational improvements and results included:
- Continuous removal of oil from sump water surfaces, reducing buildup
- Replacement of messy sorbent-based cleanup methods with automated skimming
- Reduced manual maintenance and inspection workload for maintenance staff
- Improved protection against oil entering reservoirs and downstream water systems
- Reliable performance in fluctuating sump conditions common in hydroelectric facilities
Measurable result:
- 40 gallons per hour of oil removal, significantly improving the facility’s ability to handle sump contamination events and preventing accumulation before discharge risk occurred
This capability provided a substantial improvement over manual cleanup methods and ensured consistent oil control in critical water-handling areas.
Why Hydroelectric Facilities Use Belt Oil Skimmers
Hydroelectric and water utility operations use belt oil skimming systems to:
- Prevent oil discharge into natural waterways
- Reduce manual maintenance and cleanup labor
- Improve environmental compliance performance
- Maintain cleaner sump and drainage systems
- Support continuous, low-maintenance operation
Looking for a Reliable Hydroelectric Oil Removal Solution?
Oil contamination in hydroelectric sump systems can create environmental and maintenance challenges if not continuously managed.
Continuous belt skimming technology from Abanaki Corporation delivers reliable oil removal performance, reduced manual labor, and improved environmental protection in utility-scale water systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does oil appear in hydroelectric sump systems?
Oil typically leaks from aging generators, hydraulic equipment, and mechanical systems.
What was the main improvement in this case?
The system replaced manual sorbent cleanup with continuous automated oil removal.
What is the key quantified performance result?
The system can remove up to 40 gallons of oil per hour under operating conditions.
Why is continuous oil removal important?
It prevents oil from accumulating and reduces the risk of environmental discharge.
