The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is seeking qualified Architectural and Engineering Firms to provide design, estimating, and construction administration services to obtain a properly functioning oil water separator system in RIPTA’s Transportation Building (269 Melrose Street). RIPTA is seeking a long term solution that will provide the agency another 30+ years of service. The transportation building houses a fueling station, bus wash, and most of the RIPTA buses when not in service. Trench drains located in the fueling station and bus parking area directs water to an existing 1,000 gallon underground oil water separator. Trench drains located in the bus wash directs the used wash water to a sediment pit. Water that is not reused by the bus wash system then flows to an existing 3,000 gallon underground oil water separator. Once the water passes through either separator it is discharged into the sewer system. These tanks are assumed to be the original tanks installed when the building was constructed in the early 90’s. Previous periodic inspections of the tanks have identified holes in at least one separator. Reports also noted that internal components show heavy corrosion and are nonfunctional. The remote monitoring system has also been found to be non-functional. RIPTA Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for scheduling regular cleanings of the separators and performing water sampling as required by the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC). RIPTA has already obtained approval for the repair or replacement of these separators through the NBC.
