New Oil Water Separator for Rye Brook DPW!

It was a bit chilly this morning when we arrived on site at the Rye Brook DPW garage on West William Street.  As the representative for Terre Hill Stormwater Systems, we wanted to be on site for the delivery.  One particular word comes to mind.... BURRRRRRR.  Yes, folks, it was COLD!!!!


The trucker was already on site and preparing the unit for easy off-loading from the truck.

See all of the white stuff?  At this point,
it has been so cold is solid ICE!!!

The yellow color is a special
liner that will protect the box.

Here it is.... the oil/water separator and the lid.
This unit will be installed in the ground in the
next few days.

Engineering Career Expo for High School Students

We are excited to be volunteering on the committee that is organizing the 8th Annual Lower Hudson Valley Engineering Expo.  This expo is designed to show high school students what a career in engineering can be.


To that end, we are reaching out to corporations, engineering firms, government organizations, engineering societies as well as college and universities so students can find out:


1- What is an engineer?
2- What do engineers do?
3- What kind of job opportunities are available to engineers?
4- How can these kids "get there"?


Last year this event hosted 1,500 students and 35 colleges/universities.


Our special guest speaker is Marshall Brain - Founder of "How Things Work" a program on Discovery Networks.


8th Annual Engineering Expo Details:
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011
Where: White Plains High School, White Plains, NY
Time: 11AM - 4PM


If you can help support us by sponsoring a booth, please let us know.
If you know a student that would benefit by attending, please let them know.
Attendance is FREE.  


Registration opportunities and full details are on our website: www.BeAnEngineer.Org


It is going to be a GREAT day for the kids!!!
Hope to see you there.

Warren County, NY SWCD installs TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator to improve stormwater runoff at AAA rated, historically important, Halfway Brook, Queensbury, NY

We LOVE what we do because we:
1) Really help our clients improve stormwater runoff
2) What we do has a long term impact on improving water quality
It means a lot to have this opportunity.


During the summer of 2009, we were invited to make a site visit and compete against other hydrodynamic separator units for a high profile project to improve the stormwater runoff that flows into Halfway Brook in Queensbury, NY.   Queensbury is located in Warren County, which is located on the edge of a 6 MILLION ACRE Adirondack State Park.


This particular site was selected because:
1- The Warren County SWCD wanted to have the largest impact on improving stormwater and this outfall is the largest in the County
2- A large surrounding commercial area of 106 of impervious surface drains into Halfway Brook at this point.
3- Halfway Brook is a historically important Brook
4- Halfway Brook is a AAA rated Trout Brook
5- Brook trout need cold clean water to thrive
6- Site is upstream from a popular public park


The site constraints were very difficult:
1- The site had a very small footprint 
2- A 12" gas main ran through the property
3- Other utilities ran through the property
4- Unit would have to go RIGHT NEXT to the brook, so there is a high water table
5- Runoff from a large commercial area (106 acres of impervious surface) enters the brook at this location
6- Site is right along side a major state route - with lots of traffic
7- The property owner agreed to help at great inconvenience to himself and his going business
8- The site had previously been a gas station - leaky tanks contaminated the site and it had undergone cleanup


The best option at this site would be a hydrodynamic separator.  Water could flow down to toward the brook and through the hydrodynamic separator.  We demonstrated how the TerreKleen works:


1- Water enters the primary chamber where oils, sediment, trash are collected
2- The water then flows through a screen into the secondary chamber and onto the TerreKleen's stacked inclined plates
3- The water enters the secondary chamber near the bottom of the plates as the water rises the stacked inclined plates help finer sediments fall out
4- Once collected, there is no scour or re-suspension and so the material is permanently collected
5- Maintenance is easy - NO CONFINED SPACE ENTRY is required and most maintenance is completed with a vac truck in about an hour
6- What is really cool is to realize that the stacked inclined plate technology is technology that has been used to separate particles from drinking water since 1905.  One would think that if there were a better way to separate particles from water, the drinking water industry would have gone with it.  This technology is still widely used and its effectiveness is well known by engineers.  The TerreKleen simply adapts this technology to efficiently remove sediments from stormwater.


Details on the TerreKleen:
Each TerreKleen is custom manufactured for each site.  We look at flow rates, particle size removal objectives and where the pipes are coming in and manufacture the TK for specific site)  
This site has a TK63 - which is our largest unit
TK63 Structure size is: 16.5' X 7' (115.5 ft2)
TK63 offers 403 ft2 Settling Surface Area
The Settling Surface Area per Structure Ft 2 for the TK63 is 349%
*(Please read ft2 as "foot squared - I cannot figure out how to superscript the 2 - thank you)




Here are a few pics:

Just cool to see part of the unit on the ride
up to the site.  The weather is sub-optimal

You can see the site here - RIGHT NEXT TO
THE BROOK.  The guys told me that brook
 trout are always seen right here at the outfall.

The hole has been pre-dug and prepared
for the TerreKleen.  The crane is in place and
ready to go.  Trucker backs in to
start off-loading the base of the TerreKleen.

Here is the base - in place
This shows the manifold system
which allows the TerreKleen to
be cleaned from the curb.

Here is the middle section of the
TerreKleen getting installed.
This is our largest unit and
these plates will help all of the
fine sediments settle out. 

Two hours later and
3 lifts by the crane,
the TerreKleen is in place and ready to work

The TerreKleen is the BEST option at this site.

Not only does TerreKleen maximize the 

sedimentation in the smallest footprint, but 

the easy maintenance/cleanout will significantly

help keep both short and long-term

maintenance costs to a minimum.

What a great day!

PS - here is a link to project details prepared by

Warren County Soil and Water Conservation 

District

TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator now improving stormwater runoff at Waccabuc, NY

It was a beautiful day in Waccabuc, Westchester County, NY.  Getting the TerreKleen installed at this site has been a long term project and finally, this past Thursday was the day.  The day of our first of two installations at this site.   We arrived at about 8 AM and the TerreKleen was already on site.

The installation site was right on the edge of a large open field.   Here is a picture of the hole that has been prepared for installation.  The contractor had done a lot of work prepping the installation site the day prior so for the most part, upon arrival, the unit is ready to be installed.  

Contractor makes some final checks and adjustments, re-confirms the gravel bed is level and cleans out some mud that has accumulated overnight.  When everything is confirmed ready for installation, the TerreKleen is lifted off the truck and manipulated into place.

Here is the TerreKleen getting installed into place.  A crane easily lifts the unit into place.  The TerreKleen arrives fully assembled eliminating any additional work that needs to be done on site.

Here is the riser getting installed.  Again, it is a very easy operation - the crane simply lifts the riser and installs it on top of the base of the TerreKleen.  

TerreKleens install quickly as they are designed to assemble on-site with each section manufactured to fit on top of each other.

In about an hour, the TerreKleen is installed and ready to work.  It will remove sediments, trash, debris and oils.

For more information about the TerreKleen or if we can assist you with information about hydrodynamic separators, please contact us at www.stormwaterworks.com

Meet us at these upcoming stormwater tradeshows!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

CCM - CT Conference of Municipalities - Booth 424

(Open to Municipal Officials Only)

Hartford, CT

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

10th Annual Southeast Stormwater Tradeshow 

Dutchess Manor, Beacon, NY

Click here for more details

Thursday, October 14, 2010

North Country Stormwater Tradeshow
Roaring Brook Resort
Lake George, NY

Let us know if you need details! 

Improving Stormwater runoff at the Ausable River, Wilmington, NY (Part 2)

Wanted to post a few last pictures so you can see how the installation was completed:

Off the truck, the crane is moving the TerreKleen into position.

Easy does it!  TerreKleen is gently lowered into the hole

Most difficult part of installation complete

Primary chamber on right, inclined plates on left

Improving Stormwater runoff at Ausable River, in a NYS DOT right of way- 3 part post

Wilmington, NY.  The Ausable River in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York is known for its world-class trout fishing.

This is the site of our first TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator installation in upstate NY.  The TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator is being installed to capture sediment, trash, oils and debris and prevent its flow into the Ausable River.  

This project is a collaborative effort between Essex County Soil and Water Conservation District and NYSDOT.  The installation of the TerreKleen is in a NYSDOT right of way.

This is a picture of the Ausable River from the site.

Difficult installation site conditions include:
Re-routing traffic on this section of Route 86 until installation complete, small site footprint, excessive low hanging power lines. 

(This is a 3 part post click on stormwaterworks banner at top of page to view additional 2 postings)

This is a look at sediment on this site.

This is an overview of the site as the TerreKleen 
arrives.  This part of Route 86 has been closed for installation.

Hydrodynamic Separator - TerreKleen 45 is now capturing sediment, trash and debris at N. Lake Carmel, NY

This was a very exciting day!  The effectiveness of the TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator for capturing sediment, trash and debris is well known and these units are widely used in VA, MD, PA, NJ and DE.  As the representative for TerreHill Stormwater Systems in New York and New England, Stormwaterworks.com was  thrilled to see our first installation of a TerreKleen in New York State!  What made this day even more exciting is that the unit is a TK45 - the largest unit we have ever seen installed.

 This is a picture of the jobsite.  The N. Lake Carmel community is mainly residential, however, there is A LOT of traffic.  I took this picture to give you an idea of how small the work area is.  A shoring box is hidden behind the orange netting - this is where the TerreKleen is going to be installed.

This picture is looking down into the hole that has been dug for the TerreKleen.  It is important that the gravel in the bottom is level.  Since this is a lakeside community, there is a high water table and you can see that some mud has creeped into the hole.  The mud will be cleaned before the TerreKleen is positioned in place.

 

 This image shows the base of the TerreKleen as it is being maneuvered into place.  It just takes the crane operator a few minutes to lift the base off the flatbed truck and position the base in the hole.  

This is the base of the TerreKleen.  You can see the manifold system (white bars and red hose on the left side of the unit) are designed to assist in cleaning the unit.  Notice the white socks on the right side of the unit designed to collect oil.

Next, the middle section or "riser", is positioned into place with the crane.  This picture shows the stacked inclined plates on the left side of the unit.  This is where all of the fine particle separation takes place.  Stacked inclined plate technology was developed in 1905 and has been widely used in the drinking water industry around the world ever since.  The Terrekleen merely adapts this proven technology and widely accepted engineering practice for the storm water industry.  The riser is made to fit ontop of the base.  It takes just a few minutes to get this piece into place.

The lid is placed on top of the TerreKleen.  This lid incorporates 3 manhole covers for cleanout as well as a catch basin grate.  This unit will function as the last catch basin in the line and will provide 3 other access points to aid in cleanout.

This TerreKleen unit was installed in about an hour.  The TerreKleen will contain trash, oil and sediments until the units are cleaned out.  No scour or re-suspension of collected material happens because of the design of the TerreKleen.

Stay tuned - we have an additional installation in North Lake Carmel that will be posting shortly.  We are excited to help keep North Lake Carmel clean!

TerreKleen Hydrodynamic Separator installation in Kent, NY at N. Lake Carmel this week!

Coming up this week... the installation of a TerreKleen TK45 hydrodynamic separator in Kent, NY at North Lake Carmel!  Took the day Friday to visit the installation site in Kent, NY.  

The TerreKleen being installed is going to capture trash, sediment, oils, and prevent them from traveling into North Lake Carmel.    

TK45 is capable of treating large flows and will improve the water quality that flows into North Lake Carmel.  Stay tuned for installation pictures later this week!

I LOVE New York!!!

Last weekend I drove to Rochester, NY which was a trip that took about six hours to drive.  I don't usually travel that far, and I was unaware how beautiful the drive would be.  Of course I started my trip stuck in traffic and the traffic congestion continued until I got on to Route 17.  But it wasn't long before I was driving along and enjoying the countryside.  

It seemed that every mile or so I was on an overpass driving over a river, stream or brook and for the first time I saw fly fishing - guys up to their chests in the water looking for their next big catch.  

After I had been driving for about three hours, I saw a sign near Binghampton that said "Entering the Chesapeake Bay Watershed".  I had no idea the watershed was that big!

As the drive continued, I saw lots of farms, hay, cattle and even some wild life.  Everything was getting ready for Spring. 

By the time I got to Syracuse, I was asking myself  "are we there yet?"  The trip started to get really long.   After I passed Syracuse, I learned that I was in the Finger Lakes Wine Country - really cool!   Just another hour or so when I saw the sign announcing "Erie Canal"    YES!  Getting closer!

I felt very lucky that I have a friend that lives in Rochester and I had a day to check out the city.  What a great city!  We went for a nice walk and actually did get a chance to check out the canal.  It is mostly used for pleasure, rather than cargo these days and I was surprised to see that the canal was in draw-down during the winter.  As we walked along the canal, we started hearing fish jumping in the canal.  At a point, I could swear we saw a carp breaching in the water.  (The water was REALLY shallow).  What a nice city!  One disturbing point, my friend told me that during the summer, the beaches on Lake Ontario are often closed due to pollution.  

Lots of great restaurants in Rochester and it was a very manageable city as it was easy to get around.  I am looking forward to my next trip to Rochester!