Stormwater: NJCAT verification comparison chart for hydrodynamic separators

We are pleased to announce that the TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator has been re-verified by NJCAT and re-certified by NJDEP to reflect 50% TSS removal at significantly higher flow rates!

Having gone through the NJCAT protocol, we are well versed in test methods, particle size distribution and thought it would be interesting to compare the hydrodynamic separators certified under the Tier 1 NJ Protocol. Click here to see the comparison chart which has been posted on our website.

Here is the link the NJDEP webpage for certified manufactured treatment devices.  Here is a direct link so you can see the TerreKleen certification letter.

Meet us at the NYS Conservation District Employee Training and Tradeshow

We hope you will meet us at the NYS Conservation District Training and Tradeshow.  We are going to be showing the TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator, the TerreBox - box culvert with patent pending water-tight seal and the TerreArch - storm water infiltration arches. 

Come visit us at the show

NYS Conservation District Employee Training and Tradeshow
Binghamton, NY
March 9, 2010

Customized Hydrodynamic Separator - TerreKleen

We've been working on a project that is finally getting ready for installation.  It has taken a while to get this particular order together, but we were just notified that we are looking at installing the first week of March!  So why was this project so different than others?  Hmmmm.... well, I guess it would be that we are going to be installing the TerreKleen hydrodynamic separator in an existing parking structure!!!!  

We have been working on the project since October and since that time I have recounted the details of this particular application to a number of people and it seems to spark a lot of interest.  While I am not in a position to reveal all of the custom details tonight, I will be at the install and taking a ton of pictures to share with you on my blog as soon as I can.  

Actually, I really am very excited about this job.  If you are working on a site and need to accommodate difficult site issues, (high water table, oil/gas lines running through the site, need additional storage for trash/debris, etc.)  give us a call!  We have the flexibility to do a lot of customization to accommodate difficult sites.  

Mysteries of the Great Lakes - IMAX movie at American Museum of Natural History

Yesterday I went to the American Museum of Natural History in NYC and saw the IMAX movie "Mysteries of the Great Lakes".   Honestly, I had not spent a lot of time thinking about the Great Lakes but because of my interest in water, it was eye opening in many ways - not only seeing how big the Great Lakes are , but to be made aware of their natural beauty.  In focusing on water, it was most interesting to me to learn that The Great Lakes contain 20% of the world's fresh water supply and that it takes a drop of water 400 years to travel from the headwaters of Lake Superior to the edge of Lake Ontario.  Looking at the map was helpful.  

I was also most interested in the focus on wildlife that survives on life in the Great Lakes - including Eagles, Caribou and Sturgeon.  The segments on Sturgeon were amazing as they had been tracking this species' population for the past 20 years and had been tracking/studying a specific female sturgeon for the past 20 years.  Amazingly, the one scientist could identify her simply from the markings on her head.  At her most recent capture/release event her age was 120 years old!  Through their research they learned how to look at the scales or fins (can't remember which one) and, like reading rings in a tree trunk, scientists learned how to read the environmental conditions of the Great Lakes.  

Sturgeon of the Great Lakes had thrived by the millions for millions of years but had significantly declined in numbers due to over-fishing and pollution.   During the film, several pictures were shown from long ago ( maybe 100 years ago?) where the subjects of the pictures were proud of their businesses and lives and could display their most recent abundant catch of sturgeon.  From a 2010 perspective, it was hard to get beyond the waste and destruction, the man-hours and work dedicated to improving the environmental conditions of the Great Lakes and  reviving the sturgeon population.   It seems there are still 42 "hot spots" - where lake quality is highly degraded due to pollution coming from industrial waste and waste water treatment plants.  Hopefully clean-up in the lake can continue and we can learn to make better environmental choices.

This was a great movie and I encourage you all to see it.  Here are the showtimes for the IMAX showings at the New York Museum of Natural History.  You might want to check out some of the exhibits including the  Silk Road Exhibit.  One word of advice for the Silk Road, enjoy the journey, but don't get caught up in stamping your "passport".

TerreKleen Hydrodynamic Separator is NJCAT Verified!

Big day for improving stormwater!

TerreKleen  went through a lengthy process and a lot of testing to get certified through NJCAT.  The testing protocol is very precise and the NJDEP testing guidelines were strictly followed .We were excited today to receive NJCAT verification letter!   We would be happy to speak with you about the TerreKleen and how this hydrodynamic separator can improve your stormwater runoff in the smallest area footprint!

Click here to read more about the TerreKleen.

Gearing up for EarthDay, 2010 - Looking to showcase our stormwater technologies

April 22, 2010 marks the 40th anniversary for EarthDay.  We want to do something extra special to celebrate this milestone anniversary and are looking to be part of a festival or meeting where we can educate people about the importance of improving storm water runoff, protecting our rivers, lakes and streams and showcase the latest technologies in stormwater.  Half of what we can do is educational, and for the civil engineers in the crowd, they might see something they really like.  If you are in the NY / CT area and holding an Earthday event,  we might be the right team to participate in your event!  Please contact us if you think we would be a good fit!  Click here for our website so you can see what kind of work we do.  Our phone and contact info is on the top right of our homepage.   We would love to hear from you!

Here is the link to the CT DEP list of Earthday goings-on
Here is a link to the EPA list of EarthDay goings-on and tips to help the earth


We hope to see you at EarthDay!

Cigarette Butt Litter

After reading the Keep America Beautiful report on litter and thinking more about the toll it takes on our economy and our communities, I have been more focused and more observant about litter. We followed-up on Friday with a meeting with the Keep America Beautiful folks and spoke further about their programs and one of the issues that was specifically mentioned was cigarette butt litter. While I have seen more than my share of cigarette butts out in the field, I was unaware that 1 in 5 pieces of litter is actually a cigarette butt.

After our meeting, I did a little more research and looking around and found an LA Times article "Fuming Over Cigarette Butt Litter" (written by David Lazarus, November 30, 2008) citing that the City of Los Angeles picks up 600,000 cigarette butts a month and more than 7 million butts per year.

Virginia Beach exceeded its budget to clean storm drains by $3,000,000.00 and a significant portion of this amount was due to cigarette butts.

Once in the environment, it is important to remember that cigarette butts don't disappear. 95% of all butts are made from cellulose acetate that don't break down. Butts easily travel through storm drains and end up in local rivers, lakes and streams. Ultimately, they can be mistaken as food and pose a threat to marine and wildlife.

Cigarette butts are a significant source of pollution. While education and access to proper ashtrays/disposal is key, cigarette butt littering is rampant. While we have never been approached specifically to target cigarette butts, this is one of the types of trash that we can prevent from entering the stormwater systems.

For more information about cigarette litter, click here
For a look at how we can help you improve your storm water quality, click here