I believe the device can be installed now in retrofit projects to start benefitting the water quality…

I have conducted an initial review of the stormwater treatment technology, AqualeteTM, based on the drawings of both exterior and interior structures, the video shots of the bench-scale tests, and the communications with personnel of Storm Drain Technology (SDT), LCC. I would like to offer the following initial observations:

(1) The device will be able to effectively separate trash and debris and other gross solids

There is a wire mesh as the first part of the treatment process chain that will provide a barrier to trash, debris, and other coarse materials and remove them from the flow stream.
AqualeteTM will separate the leaves, grass clippings, etc. above the standing water, so they do not decompose and let out nitrogen and phosphorus. That is, Aqualete TM will help reduce nutrient loadings to the receiving waters such as rivers, lakes, and bays.

(2) The device will be able to effectively separate oils

There is a baffle wall in the flow path that will separate floating oils from the water.

(3) The device will be able to effectively separate sediments

Three parts of the device will separate sediments from the water: upper trough, middle trough, and device bottom including bottom trough.

I believe the device will remove at least 50% of the total suspended solids (TSS) from the stormwater runoff under a design flow rate of 40 gpm per squared foot of the chamber water surface area. However, the exact design flow rate would have to be determined from the laboratory study, as a part of the verification and certification process. A high TSS removal efficiency such as 80% would be possible if the design flow rate could be greatly reduced. The relationship between the removal efficiency and the design flow rate would again have to be determined from the laboratory study. The maximum sediment depth that could be allowed to accumulate, before maintenance cleanout, would also have to be determined from the laboratory study, as a part of the verification and certification process.

(4) The device can be easily inspected and maintained

Accumulation of the trash, debris and other gross solids on the wire mesh can be easily inspected after the device cover is opened. The wire mesh can be easily reached and removed, and the trapped solids can be easily cleaned out.

The upper trough inside the treatment chamber can be easily reached and opened, and interior of the chamber can be easily inspected including thickness of the oil accumulation and depth of the bottom sediments. The oil, sediment, and water within the chamber can also be easily removed, e.g., using a vacuum pump.

(5) The device can be retrofitted into the existing drainage system to reduce pollutant loadings into the receiving waters.

The New Jersey stormwater management rules require a manufactured treatment device (MTD) be verified by NJCAT and certified by NJDEP before its use in the new development and re-development areas for the stormwater management purposes. I cannot be certain at this stage but believe there is an excellent chance that AqualeteTM will pass the verification and certification process.

At the same time, there is a significant amount, sometimes a dominant amount, of pollutants being washed into the degraded receiving waters by the stormwater runoff from the existing development area. The AqualeteTM treatment device can be retrofitted into the existing drainage system to reduce the pollutant loadings into the receiving waters such as rivers, lakes, and bays. I believe the device can be installed now in retrofit projects to start benefitting the water quality.