Oil spill cleanup in Toronto has to be fast and it has to be contained. Our phone is answered 24/7, and our crews arrive with drain cover mats, absorbent booms, a 200F hot-water rig, degreaser and a hydrovac tank, so the oil comes off the pavement and the oily water goes into our truck, not the storm sewer.
Why Is an Oil Spill on Pavement So Urgent?
Oil spreads, soaks in and runs downhill. Within minutes it reaches the nearest catch basin. Within hours it penetrates porous concrete and asphalt and becomes a permanent stain. A slick lot or loading dock is also a slip and vehicle hazard for staff and customers.
The common reaction, grabbing a hose, is the worst one. It spreads the oil and pushes it straight into the storm drain, which can create problems under Toronto Municipal Code 681 and, depending on the spill, reporting obligations under Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act.
What Is Included in Oil Spill Cleanup?
- Containment: drain cover mats on nearby catch basins and absorbent booms around the spill
- Absorption of free liquid where needed
- Hot-water degreasing: 200F water and degreaser to emulsify oil bonded to the surface
- Hydrovac recovery of every drop of oily wash water
- Documentation: timestamped photos and disposal notes
We handle motor oil, hydraulic fluid, diesel and gasoline residue, coolant and cooking oil on paved commercial surfaces such as lots, loading docks, driveways and forecourts.
How Does Spill Response Work?
Contract and pricing table
| Situation | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Small spill on a driveway or a few stalls | Rapid quote by phone |
| Commercial lot, dock or forecourt spill | Written quote per call-out |
| Contract clients | Priority dispatch at locked rates |
COI delivery in 24 hours
Contract clients already have our COI on file. New clients receive one within one business day, with $2M liability and WSIB clearance.
Hydrovac wastewater containment (Toronto Municipal Code 681)
Recovering oily water is the point of the service. Our on-truck hydrovac vacuums wash water as we go and the load is disposed of properly. If oil has already entered a catch basin, our catch basin cleaning service can extract it with the same truck. Our sister brand, Hydrovac Toronto, provides extra vacuum capacity for larger events.
What to Do Before We Arrive
- Keep people and vehicles away from the spill.
- Stop the source if it is safe to do so.
- Block the nearest drain with a mat, sand or absorbent if you have it.
- Do not hose the area down.
- Take photos for your records and call us.
How Much Does Oil Spill Cleanup Cost?
We give a rapid quote by phone and confirm it in writing. Spill size, fluid type, surface, recovery volume and time of day set the price. Contract clients get priority dispatch at locked rates.
Common Spill Situations We Handle
Ruptured hydraulic line on a loading dock
Forklifts, dock levellers and compactors can lose a line and dump fluid quickly. We boom the spill, absorb free liquid, degrease the concrete and recover the wash water.
Motor oil in a parking lot
Leaking vehicles, dropped oil containers and overnight leaks leave large pools in lots. Hot water and degreaser lift the oil from asphalt and concrete.
Diesel residue at fuel islands and yards
Overfills and small leaks leave a film that is slippery and smells. We contain it and degrease the area, recovering all water.
Cooking oil behind restaurants
Spilled fryer oil behind kitchens is slippery and draws pests. It responds to hot water and alkaline degreaser.
Oil reaching a catch basin
If oil has already reached a drain, our hydrovac can extract the basin sump on the same visit so it does not continue downstream.
What You Receive After a Spill Cleanup
- Timestamped photos of the spill, the containment and the cleaned surface
- Notes on the fluid type, the approximate area and the method used
- Disposal notes for the recovered wastewater
These records are useful for insurers, landlords and any report you may need to make. If your spill must be reported to the province, your advisor or the Spills Action Centre can tell you what is required; our documentation supports that process.
Spill Response Across the GTA
Power Pressure Washing Toronto responds to spills in Mississauga, along the airport and Highway 401 logistics corridor, in Etobicoke industrial areas, and across Toronto, Vaughan and Brampton. For routine oil staining, see parking lot power washing and mechanic shop floor cleaning, or our full commercial power washing program.
