Stormwater Tech ICDs

Stormwater Tech

 

The Problem

Wet weather pollution is reported to be the largest water quality issue facing industrialized nations today.

Most municipalities have designed their storm water management infrastructure to handle rain events and weather based on statistical norms in order to practically manage costs.  However, with urban growth and the resulting reduction in natural drainage, the infrastructure is becoming increasingly strained so that even moderate rainfalls can cause storm water and sewer systems to be overwhelmed.  Overloaded systems cause upstream sewage backups into residential basements and downstream sewage overflows into rivers and lakes, as well as a drastic reduction in effectiveness at sewage treatment plants.  This has become so common that Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) have become topics of conversation and the targets of pollution abatement programs.  The financial and intangible cost to homeowners, businesses, ecosystems, tourism and overall municipal image is impossible to calculate.

Adding to this problem are the challenges associated with many past solutions, which usually require expensive and disruptive construction efforts.  Many urban run-off, storm water and sewage management systems are underground with substantial urban growth built on top or nearby.  So, often, no construction-based solution is possible much less practical.

Other solutions have been on the market for the past few decades but they are usually prone to blockage with both natural and man-made debris entering storm drains during regular rainfalls.  And during drier periods these same devices allow odors to escape from downstream sewer drains and up to street level, especially in dense urban areas.

Another problem becoming more evident with time is related to the past widespread use of plug-style flow control devices which plug directly into the out-flow pipe.  These devices seem favorable initially due to lower costs and the elimination of having to anchor devices into the cement walls of catch basins.  However, these costs can sometimes be offset when these devices become blocked with debris and cannot be removed without severely damaging the pipe (due to tight fits and even glued joints).  In other cases the plugs fall back out or even worse, drift downstream causing blockages in pipe sections impossible to reach.  Many times brackets have to be added later to stabilize control devices that extend out from a plug-base. These problems have escalated to the point now where some municipalities are phasing these devices out of their sewer specifications altogether.

Clearly improvements are needed, and soon.


Solution

Plas-Tech Fabrications’ product line, Stormwater Tech, offers a complete set of patented storm water management solutions that act as Inlet Control Devices (ICDs) specifically designed to address Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) without any need for construction or significant ongoing maintenance.

Stormwater Tech ICDs operate by:

  • Immediately and automatically restricting flow into downstream sewers from catch basins and man-holes during major rainfall events.
  • Allowing temporary build-up of water in basins and man-holes, thereby using existing infrastructure.
  • Preventing blockages due to debris loosened by flooding and urban runoff.
  • Continuing to relieve upstream systems gradually until downstream capacity is later available.
  • Automatically returning the system to the initial state once downstream capacity is normalized.

Advantages

Each and all of the interchangeable products in our Stormwater Tech family of municipal products have the following benefits and advantages:

  • All units are interchangeable (within minutes) from street level with no special tooling and procedures required.
  • We design all units to be as lightweight as possible while meeting durability requirements.
  • No moving parts means reduced maintenance and improved reliability.  And no clumsy brackets or braces.
  • All units are constructed of UV-inhibited thermoplastic which is lightweight for handling but tough and durable in high and low temperatures and completely resistant to corrosion and rust.
  • Installation is very simple with only four stainless steel anchor bolts required during the one and only visit down into the catch basin or man-hole.  All subsequent work can be safely and quickly performed from street level.
  • Our patented dove-tailed adapter plate design confirms the unit is in place with a click that can be heard and/or felt from street level.
  • Units are delivered ready to install.  All units have built-in engineered orifices that can be delivered as standard sizes or we can customize to within 0.1 l/s or 1.5 GPM at the time of ordering.
  • All units are built with rubber o-rings and/or neoprene gaskets that can be reused over many inspection cycles.  No silicone or temporary sealants are used or necessary.
  • All units can be adapted easily to both rectangular and round catch basins and man-holes with very little space required for installation and operation.

The end result is that Plas-Tech Fabrications’ Stormwater Tech line is the most advanced and complete solution set on the market today.  The only choice is which product to use.  And if your needs change you can literally swap any one of our units with any other within 10 minutes or less of arriving on site.


Products

Vortex in Round Adapter - Front  Odour Trap in Round Adapter - Front Orifice Plate in Round Adapter - Front Shallow Sump in Round Adapter - Front Shallow Sump Vortex in Round Adapter - Front
Vortex Odour Trap Orifice Plate Sump with Flow Control (SFC) Shallow Sump Vortex (SSV)

*Click on any photo above to learn about the product and view images.

Click here or on the icon below to download our Stormwater Tech Product Brochure.

StormTech ICD Brochure Icon


Selection

Our Stormwater Tech Inlet Control Devices (ICD’s) form a complete line of defense for established infrastructures faced with storm water management issues.  We know that a large part of providing a world-class solution is making product selection easy in the first place, and then allowing seamless adjustments if unexpected changes are necessary. Stormwater Tech provides both.

Most of our customers’ orders include a broad range of devices and sizes since the optimal overall solution often reflects variation in infrastructure, drainage conditions and topography.  So you can pick the solutions you need and leave the rest to us.

Selecting your optimal Stormwater Tech device is easy.  Just answer the following questions:

  1. What is the possible maximum flow rate required?
  2. Does odour need to be contained at this location?
  3. Is there potential for blockages due to debris (es. leaves, garbage, mud, grass cuttings …etc.)?
  4. Is there at least 305 mm (12 inches) from the bottom of the out-flowing pipe and the bottom of the catch basin?
  5. Is the catch basin rectangular or round?

These simple points will allow you to zero in on the best Stormwater Tech solution for a given catch basin or man-hole.  And don’t forget, we are here to help you with any step in this process whether it’s a question, concern or complaint.

StormTech Storm Water Product Selection Matrix

Click here to open in separate window:  Plas-Tech Fabrications Stormwater Tech Solution Selection Matrix


Sizing

With your Stormwater Tech ICD selected, only the sizing remains as the last step to ordering your products from Plas-Tech.

For sizing at a particular location you will need to know:

  • The diameter of the outflowing pipe (in mm or inches).
  • The operating head (H) in the catch basin.  This is measured from the centerline of the outflowing pipe up to street level (in metres or feet).
  • The desired maximum flow rate through the device into the outflowing pipe (in l/s or GPM).

Also, we are here if you need us for any help with this sizing process.  If you have specific questions or concerns that may need some design adjustments please don’t hesitate to ask.  For example, you may need a specific distance between the device inlet and the water level or between the inlet and the bottom of the catch basin.  If it matters to you then it matters to us.