Mining Wash Bays & Oil Water Separators

A 100% above ground modular wash bay is a fully engineered, relocatable wash down facility designed for the controlled cleaning of vehicles, plant, and equipment. Unlike in-ground systems, above-ground designs require no excavation or civil works, allowing for rapid deployment and relocation across sites.

Each system integrates infrastructure to capture, contain, and treat wash water in accordance with EPA discharge standards (<10 mg/L TPH, no visible sheen) and WHS obligations for safe operation. Standard inclusions may consist of bunded platforms, sediment traps, first-flush diversion, and oil–water separators, ensuring all wastewater is processed before discharge or recycling.

Above-ground modular wash bays are essential in industries such as mining, transport, automotive, defence, and construction, where managing hydrocarbon- and sediment-laden wastewater is mandatory for regulatory compliance.

Washbay HQ systems are 100% Australian-made from hot-dip galvanised structural steel (AS/NZS 4680:2006), delivering superior durability, compliance assurance, and lifecycle value.

Oil in the wastewater from vehicle and equipment wash-down contains hydrocarbons, grease, and suspended solids that can severely impact wastewater treatment performance. If not properly managed, these contaminants can bypass treatment systems, cause blockages, and discharge pollutants directly into the environment.

In Australia, the EPA typically requires treated discharge to contain less than 10 mg/L of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and to be free of visible oil sheens before release to sewer or stormwater. Non-compliance can result in environmental harm, regulatory penalties, and operational downtime.

To meet these standards, compliant wastewater treatment systems must integrate Oil Water Separators (e.g., coalescing plate or vertical tube technology) designed to efficiently remove free oils, grease, and suspended solids prior to reuse or lawful discharge.

Oil Water Separators are specialised treatment systems that remove hydrocarbons, grease, and suspended solids from wash-down water to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. They operate using physical separation technologies such as coalescing plate packs, vertical tube coalescers, and hydrocyclones, which accelerate the natural separation of oil droplets and solids from water.

Under EPA guidelines and Australian Standard AS 1940 (The Storage and Handling of Flammable and Combustible Liquids), discharge water must contain less than 10 mg/L of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and be free from visible oil sheens before it can be legally discharged or reused.

Washbay HQ  | Oil Water Separators are purpose-built to exceed these requirements, integrating into our 100% above-ground modular wash bay systems. Unlike traditional in-ground systems that require extensive civil works, our modular design:

• Ensures rapid deployment without council approval delays.

• Provides full portability for temporary or leased sites.

• Delivers lower maintenance and lifecycle costs through easy access and robust Australian-made construction.

• Keeps clients compliant with EPA, WHS, and council standards across mining, transport, automotive, and government sectors.

Unroofed wash bays may be permitted; however, they are subject to strict EPA and council requirements because of the risk of stormwater ingress and contaminated runoff. In most jurisdictions, unroofed systems must incorporate rainwater diversion, first-flush diversion, and oil–water separation to prevent hydrocarbons, sediment, and heavy metals from entering stormwater drains.

Under EPA stormwater management guidelines, uncontrolled discharge from an unroofed wash bay can result in non-compliance penalties and significant environmental harm.

Washbay HQ provides engineered above-ground wash bay systems specifically designed for unroofed applications, featuring:

• Automated stormwater diversion valves to isolate wash water from rainwater.

• First-flush capture tanks to contain the most contaminated runoff.

• Integrated oil–water separators ensuring discharge remains below 10 mg/L TPH and free of visible oil sheens.

• Modular construction that allows for rapid setup and relocation, avoiding costly civil works and long approval delays.

This ensures our clients can operate unroofed wash bays legally, safely, and in full compliance with EPA, WHS, and council regulations.

Washbay HQ wash bays are manufactured from heavy-duty, hot-dip galvanised structural steel, engineered for high load capacities and long service life in harsh industrial environments. All steel components are treated to AS/NZS 4680:2006 Hot-Dip Galvanized (zinc) Coatings standards, ensuring corrosion resistance and compliance with Australian durability requirements.

Surface finishes, wash mats, and liners are selected for chemical resistance against hydrocarbons, degreasers, and detergents commonly used in wash-down operations. This results in low maintenance, reduced lifecycle costs, and extended operational life, even in high-frequency, heavy-equipment applications such as mining, transport, and defence.

By using Australian-made, compliant materials, Washbay HQ delivers systems that not only withstand demanding conditions but also support clients in meeting EPA, WHS, and council infrastructure standards.

Above-ground modular wash bays are widely used across industries where vehicle and equipment washing must comply with EPA, WHS, and council regulations. These systems are engineered for operations that require rapid installation, portability, and compliant wastewater management.

Typical industries include:

• Mining & Resources – managing heavy haul trucks, earthmoving equipment, and hydrocarbon-contaminated wash water.

• Transport & Logistics – fleet depots, trucking companies, and distribution centres requiring high-frequency wash-down.

• Automotive & Car Wash – workshops, dealerships, and commercial car wash facilities seeking EPA-compliant solutions.

• Construction & Civil – mobile equipment wash-down and wheel-wash pads to prevent sediment run-off from job sites.

• Government & Defence – secure, relocatable wash infrastructure for military and council fleets.

• Equipment Hire & Agriculture – compliance-focused cleaning of plant, machinery, and agricultural equipment.

Washbay HQ’s modular systems offer a faster, more flexible alternative to in-ground bays, delivering:

• Rapid deployment without civil works or council delays.

• Portability for leased sites or temporary projects.

• Australian-made structural steel to AS/NZS standards for durability and compliance.

• Integrated oil–water separation technology meeting EPA discharge limits (<10 mg/L TPH, no visible sheen).

This makes them the preferred choice for industries with high compliance obligations and demanding operational environments.

Ensuring compliance with EPA, WHS, and council requirements is critical when operating a wash bay system. Non-compliance can result in fines, enforcement action, or site shutdowns.

Washbay HQ provides full compliance support by:

• Designing systems to meet EPA discharge limits (typically <10 mg/L TPH and no visible oil sheen).

• Supplying Form 15 (Compliance Certificates), engineering documentation, and technical drawings for council and regulatory approvals.

• Assisting with trade waste agreements and liaising with local authorities to ensure discharge conditions are met.

• Providing as-installed documentation and operational guidelines so your wash bay continues to operate within regulatory limits.

By integrating Australian Standards (AS 1940, AS/NZS 4680) and proven wastewater treatment technologies, Washbay HQ ensures every system is audit-ready and compliant from installation through to daily operations.

Yes. Washbay HQ specialises in engineered, above-ground modular wash bay systems designed to handle heavy equipment across sectors such as mining, transport, agriculture, equipment hire, defence, and government.

Our solutions include & feature from 1-tonne to over 1oo-tonne per axle load capacity, making it ideal for the most demanding vehicle and machinery cleaning tasks.

This makes Washbay HQ systems ideal for haul trucks, loaders, dozers, cranes, and other heavy-duty equipment, ensuring both regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.

The full range includes load ratings from:

• 1 tonne per axle for light applications (e.g., parts),

• 2 tonnes per axle for cars,

• 12 tonnes per axle for trucks,

• 20 tonnes per axle for heavy hire equipment,

• 30 tonnes per axle for mining operations,

• 80 tonnes per axle for heavy-duty tasks, and

• Over 100 tonnes per axle for extra heavy-duty applications.

Each system is fully above-ground, requiring no civil works, water, or electricity, which enables rapid deployment, easy site relocation, and minimal operational disruption—especially suitable for remote or sensitive environments.

Yes. Every Washbay HQ system is engineered to order, ensuring it meets the specific layout, load capacity, and compliance requirements of your site.

Our modular designs can be adapted for:

• Any load rating – from light vehicle applications to 100+ tonne per axle mining equipment, with custom engineering available for extreme loads.

• Any site layout – including compact bays, extended multi-lane truck facilities, or integrated wheel-wash systems.

• Permanent or portable configurations – above-ground modular platforms that can be deployed, relocated, or expanded without civil works.

• Industry-specific requirements – mining, transport, defence, automotive, construction, agriculture, and government.

All systems are designed to ensure compliance with EPA discharge standards (<10 mg/L TPH, no visible sheen) and WHS obligations, with engineering documentation, Form 15 certificates, and council/trade waste support provided.

Washbay HQ delivers fully customised solutions that combine strength, portability, and compliance, giving clients confidence that their wash bay will meet both operational and regulatory demands.