IBAC Plumbing & Trade Services are based in Kununurra and have been providing reliable plumbing and trade services across the East Kimberley for over 20 years. Our experienced team handles everything from residential/commercial plumbing, renovations, through to landscaping, real estate maintenance, and ongoing school repairs. We’re trusted by local government, property managers, and homeowners alike for our fast response times, 24/7 emergency support, and quality work that’s done right the first time. Whether it’s a quick fix or a full-scale project, we make it easy with free quotes, honest pricing, and a skilled team that shows up on time and gets the job done properly.
Oily Water Separators (OWS) Repairs and Maintenance
We believe that outstanding service starts with outstanding people. That’s why we actively support the mental and physical wellbeing of our team through targeted training, fatigue management, safe work environments, and a strong culture of care and respect. This same commitment extends to our clients, where we deliver reliable, compliant systems that provide long-term peace of mind, safety, and performance for their properties and occupants.
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Commercial Pump Maintenance, known as CPM, is a Perth-based specialist pump, control and commercial plumbing maintenance business servicing commercial, strata, industrial and high-rise building assets. Established in 2018 by Adam Thomas, CPM provides expert servicing, repairs, installation, commissioning and preventative maintenance for critical water-moving systems. The team works across pressure systems, sewer and stormwater pump stations, hot water circulation systems, water storage tanks, backflow prevention, filtration systems and oily water separators. CPM is best suited to facility managers, strata managers, commercial property owners, plumbing contractors requiring specialist pump support, industrial sites and businesses that require reliable maintenance of critical plumbing and pump infrastructure. With 24/7 emergency breakdown support, stocked service vehicles and experienced technicians, CPM helps keep buildings operational, compliant and protected from avoidable system failures.
Enterprise Plumbing & Gas is a locally owned and family-run plumbing and gas fitting business servicing residential, commercial and project clients across Perth and the Wheatbelt region. The business provides practical plumbing and gas support across repairs, maintenance, installations, hot water systems, blocked drains, leak detection, civil works, construction projects and mining-related plumbing work. With more than 28 years of industry experience, Enterprise Plumbing & Gas supports homeowners, businesses, contractors and regional clients with reliable plumbing and gas fitting services. The company is focused on quality assurance, responsive service, professional workmanship and practical solutions for both metropolitan and Wheatbelt customers
We are an established, independent business with a proven record of delivering specialised solutions throughout Western Australia for over 45 years. With our highly skilled team, modern fleet and award-winning projects showcased state-wide, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service and value to our clients. We are family owned and operated and our reputation is built on forming strong relationships, working collaboratively to achieve unique and cost-effective results whilst maintaining the highest quality and safety standards. We offer a wealth of industry expertise and our well-recognised capabilities add value to projects from concept through to completion. The agility we are known for facilitates innovative turnkey solutions that overcome unique project challenges, saving time and providing value for money. Our client base is diverse and includes private businesses and public utilities in the resources, Defence, Commercial, Retail, Health and Community infrastructure sectors. We strive to deliver every project successfully as a trusted, reliable partner, whether we are leading as Head Contractor or supporting Australia’s most renowned Contractors.
Ace Plus is a leading provider of integrated asset management, maintenance, and construction services to the market. PUMPS • PLUMBING & GAS • ELECTRICAL • BUILDING MAINTENANCE • CONCRETE SCANNING • GPR • VACUUM EXCAVATION
Techworks Plumbing is a Perth-based commercial plumbing contractor operating within the broader Techworks Group alongside Techworks Electrical. Established in 2017, the company delivers maintenance and project services across government, education, transport and commercial sectors throughout the Perth metropolitan area. Known for its integrated plumbing and electrical capability, Techworks provides practical end-to-end solutions for facility managers, local councils, universities and infrastructure clients. The business has built a strong reputation for reliable service, collaborative culture, long-term staff retention and a strong commitment to apprenticeship training and workforce development.
Exy Plumbing & Contracting is an Exmouth-based plumbing and gas business servicing residential, commercial and industrial clients across Exmouth and the surrounding region. The business provides practical plumbing and gas support with a focus on reliable service, strong local knowledge and quality workmanship suited to regional conditions. Starting with a single ute, Exy Plumbing & Gas has grown into a large local plumbing business supporting the Exmouth community with emergency plumbing, plumbing repairs, maintenance, installations and project-based plumbing work. The business is family-owned and built on trust, hard work and strong local values.
Pureco Plumbing Group is a Perth-based plumbing and gas fitting company providing residential, commercial and industrial plumbing services across the metropolitan area. The business specialises in maintenance, repairs, gas fitting, hot water systems, drainage solutions, leak detection and construction plumbing. Known for responsive service, quality workmanship and a strong focus on compliance, Pureco Plumbing Group delivers practical plumbing solutions for homeowners, businesses and builders throughout Perth.
Le Grande Plumbing is an established Esperance plumbing and gasfitting business servicing residential, commercial and construction clients throughout Esperance and surrounding areas. Operating since 2007, the team provides plumbing maintenance, new homes and renovations, gasfitting, hot water systems, drainage, stormwater and commercial plumbing services. As a member of The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA, Le Grande Plumbing combines strong regional experience with professional, compliant workmanship suited to the needs of local homes, businesses and regional properties.
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In a mechanical workshop or washbay, an oily water separator is part of the site’s wastewater management. When its condition is uncertain, an alarm is active, wastewater is backing up or oil and sludge are visible, it is important to understand the operating issue before it affects day-to-day work. Oily water separator maintenance brings attention to the separator’s condition, components, cleaning history and the practical constraints of an operating commercial or industrial site.
These systems need enough separation capacity and flow control to remove hydrocarbons and solids from wastewater. If sludge or oil fills the unit, wastewater may pass through without being properly treated. Cleaning chemicals can also create stable emulsions that make oil harder to separate.
When an oily water separator needs attention
Oily water separator repairs may be relevant where the system is no longer performing as expected or a component needs investigation. A site may notice an active alarm, wastewater backing up, visible oil or sludge, or a change in how the washbay drainage system is operating. These signs do not identify the cause on their own, but they provide useful starting information for a plumbing business.
Build-up is one possible concern. Sludge, grit, silt and oil can reduce the available capacity within a separator. Blocked coalescing plates, tubes or filters may also affect performance. Pumps, float switches, alarms and control equipment require attention when faults arise; a failed pump or float switch may contribute to overflow or a system no longer discharging.
What oil water separator service can involve
The work required depends on the condition of the separator, its equipment and the site’s records. An oil water separator service may involve inspection and condition reporting, fault diagnosis or maintenance work directed at the parts affecting operation.
- Separator inspection and condition reporting
- Assessment of sludge, grit, silt and oil build-up
- Pump, float switch and control fault diagnosis
- Checks of high-level alarms and control panels
- Cleaning or replacement of coalescing plates, tubes or filters where required
- Leak repairs to tanks, pipework, pumps or fittings
- Repairs to sampling points and inspection points
- Checks of bypass, overflow or isolation arrangements
- Recommissioning after cleaning, repair or shutdown
- Maintenance records and service reporting
Oil water separator cleaning may also require coordination of liquid waste tankering or pump-outs. Where liquid waste is removed from a separator, collection and transport may need to be undertaken by an approved controlled waste carrier.
Why cleaning products and maintenance history matter
A separator’s current condition is only part of the picture. The cleaning chemicals used onsite can be relevant because detergents that create stable emulsions may prevent oil from separating properly. Previous servicing, pump-out records and known fault history can also help establish what has changed and what needs closer attention.
Maintenance records matter for more than internal planning. If servicing is not recorded, a site may have difficulty demonstrating trade waste compliance. For commercial and industrial operations, the practical objective is to give the plumbing business enough information to understand the asset, its recent history and the operational impacts of the work.
Prepare a clear maintenance or repair enquiry
Good site information helps a plumbing business understand the separator and plan around access, approvals and disruption to operations. Gather what is readily available before making contact.
- Identify the asset: note the separator make, model and serial number, asset ID and location.
- Describe the current issue: record fault symptoms, active alarms, wastewater backup, and visible oil or sludge.
- Bring together records: include the last service date, maintenance history, pump-out records and any trade waste permit.
- Provide useful images: photos of the separator, control panel, washbay and relevant labels can assist the initial discussion.
- Explain site conditions: outline business operating hours, tanker access, induction requirements, shutdown restrictions and the person authorised to approve urgent repairs.
For industrial sites, it may also be important to flag permits, isolation requirements, environmental controls, confined-space risks, hot works requirements and any critical production impacts. This context helps the site and plumbing business discuss work in a way that recognises operational constraints.
Trade waste and separator maintenance
In Western Australia, commercial or industrial wastewater discharged to Water Corporation sewer is generally trade waste and may require a permit. Water Corporation requires washdown areas connected to sewer to discharge through accepted pre-treatment fixtures, including a vertical gravity separator, coalescing plate separator, hydrocyclone or another accepted fixture suitable for the waste being discharged.
That makes the separator’s condition, cleaning approach and service records important site considerations. A plumbing business can use the available asset and operating information to understand the work required; permit conditions and site controls should be included in the discussion where they apply.
Related workshop and washbay services
Separator maintenance may sit alongside other workshop and washbay systems. If the issue relates to a new separator rather than an existing asset, consider Oily Water Separators (OWS) Installation. Recycle-system work, pressure washer maintenance, flow-meter work, sampling and testing, and tankering and cleaning may also be relevant depending on the equipment and issue identified onsite.
Find a Master Plumber connects customers with Master Plumbers and plumbing businesses associated with the Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of Western Australia. Choosing a Master Plumber helps consumers make a more informed choice of plumbing business for their property or project.
Brands and products customers may encounter
Equipment, components and supply channels can differ between sites. Examples customers may encounter include Cleanawater, Fox Environmental Systems, SPEL, Hydroflux, ACO and Kingspan in separator and washbay-related equipment; Allied Pumps, Grundfos and Davey in pumping equipment; and Reece, Galvins and Tradelink as plumbing supply channels. Identifying the nameplate, labels and existing equipment helps make a maintenance enquiry more specific. These examples are not endorsements and do not indicate what any plumbing business supplies or services.
Frequently asked questions
What can cause an oily water separator to stop working effectively?
Possible issues include sludge or oil build-up, blocked coalescing plates or filters, pump faults, failed float switches, ignored alarms and cleaning chemicals that create stable emulsions. The observed symptoms and service history help determine what needs investigation.
What information should I provide for oily water separator repairs?
Useful information includes the make, model and serial number, trade waste permit, last service date, pump-out records, photos, current fault symptoms, active alarms, cleaning chemicals used onsite, access requirements and the person authorised to approve urgent repairs.
Can oily waste be discharged or a separator bypassed while it is being maintained?
Customers should not bypass, pump out, modify or discharge oily waste from a separator without suitable approval and controls.
Why keep oily water separator maintenance records?
Records provide a history of servicing and site conditions. Without maintenance records, a site may have difficulty demonstrating trade waste compliance.
Is washbay wastewater trade waste?
Commercial or industrial wastewater discharged to Water Corporation sewer is generally trade waste and may require a permit. Site-specific permit conditions should be included when discussing the work.
Find a Master Plumber is backed by the Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of Western Australia. Use the directory to choose a plumbing business for oily water separator maintenance, repairs or related workshop and washbay work.