At ACME Environmental, we know that oil spills are sometimes unavoidable, and often unpredictable. As oil spill cleanup experts, we are available anytime, day or night, any day of the year for emergency oil spill cleanup. With years of oil spill cleanup experience ranging from small local spills to major US oil spills, you can rely on ACME Environmental to be professional, effective, and efficient.
Our oil spill cleanup routine begins with evaluation of the situation. Environment, oil type, and other factors make each oil spill unique; each oil spill cleanup procedure must therefore be individualized to the specific situation. After evaluation, we begin our containment phase of the oil spill cleanup. Because oil is less dense than water, it floats; this is advantageous for oil spill cleanup as it allows us to focus our efforts on the water’s surface. Containment typically involves a boom, a long floating piece at the water’s surface and an attached skirt, a sheet-like piece below boom. These two pieces help to corral the oil without impeding regular water flow.
Once the oil has been contained, oil spill cleanup continues with skimmers. Our team uses both major types of oil skimmers—oleophilic and weir skimmers. Oleophilic skimmers attract oil while repelling water, resulting in a higher concentration of oil and reduced water intake. Weir skimmers are used at the surface, collecting oil as water flows through (for more, see our oil skimmers page). After collection, the oil is removed from the affected body of water.
Oil spill cleanup is essential in areas with aquatic life, both plant and animal. Unmanaged oil spills may disperse naturally, but often at the cost of losing fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants and more. Oil spill cleanup also prevents future deaths of aquatic life, as it may take years, or even decades to naturally restore the water to its original state. Oil spill cleanup conducted in a timely manner significantly increases the rate of environmental recovery.
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