DuraWattle’s Post

Case Study: DuraWattle serves as a unique first defense for a storm grate filtration system. The Problem: An Overwhelmed Storm Grate Filtration System the City of Tacoma Environmental Services Solid Waste facility was faced with a sediment control issue on the yard. Sediment control around the facility was something that had easily been handled before with hay bales in swales along the landfill roads. Once they built a new parking lot and a Filterra biofiltration system installed for sediment control, It did not take very long to find out that the facility had more sediment than their biofiltration system could handle. During frequent rains, there were large amounts of sediment and debris being washed into the large drains at the bottom of the slope at the east end of his parking area. The sediment that had washed into the grate system was clogging the biofilters and compromising the effectiveness of their Filterra system. The in-grate filtration slowed to a near stop and caused the water runoff to flood back over the grate and into the yard. The Creative Solution: The City of Tacoma had received a DuraWattle sample. They were very impressed with the overall design and applications of the wattle, and decided it would be a fantastic fit for these drains. The durability of the wattle and the fact that it was created to be driven over were clearly important since the location of the drains were at the entrance of the parking lot, and the facility has approximately 60 trucks that drive over the drains several times a day. Additionally, DuraWattle is typically used as a perimeter control BMP and is manufactured with a tail section to trench and backfill on soil or sidewalk to prevent undermining. This proved to be the final deciding feature for the city. The tail section of the DuraWattle did not even require securing. The weight of the drain grates was enough to hold the wattle in place, even when being driven over. The Results: The first rains came shortly after installation and the results were astounding. There was a significant reduction in the amount of silt being washed into trenches. The DuraWattle had not only stopped sediment, but had stopped some of the larger debris such as paper, wrappers, and ear protection buds. The product had prevented the drain from getting clogged and overflowing. The maintenance changed from weekly changing of the biomedia to short weekly maintenance around the grates. https://lnkd.in/eiWd4ZFx #durawattle #civilengineering #sedimentbarrier #homebuilders #erosioncontrol

An Overwhelmed Storm Grate Filtration System Jim Nunn was faced with a sediment control issue at the City of Tacoma Environmental Services Solid Waste facility. Sediment control around the facility was something he’d easily handled before with hay bales in swales along the landfill roads. In the Fall of 2014, they built a new parking lot and had a Filterra biofiltration system installed for sediment control. It did not take long to find out that the facility had more sediment than their biofiltration system could handle. During frequent rains, there were large amounts of sediment and debris being washed into the drains at the bottom of the slope at the east end of his parking area. The sediment that washed into the grate system was clogging the biofilters and compromising the effectiveness of their Filterra system. The in-grate filtration slowed to a near stop and caused the water runoff to flood back over the grate and into the yard. If they were to change the biomedia every time it was plugged, it would be a weekly project. It was time to find an alternative solution. Learn more about how DuraWattle was the solution to this project at the link in the first comment! https://lnkd.in/eiWd4ZFx #durawattle #civilengineering #sedimentbarrier #homebuilders #erosioncontrol

Recently, I alluded to the effort to stop the Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan (CAP), a massive oil & gas proposal seeking to bring 155+ hydraulic fracking wells to unincorporated Arapahoe County in Colorado. Save the Aurora Reservoir (STAR) is leading the opposition to this plan. 𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬! The well pads would sit next to the Aurora Reservoir, a vital drinking source for nearly 400,000 people in metro Denver. And abut the Lowry Landfill Superfund site, one of the nation's most toxic. Experts have noted significant deficiencies in the applicant's plan, such as a lack of wildfire prevention planning, seismicity evaluations, and inadequate cumulative impact assessment and wildlife protection provisions. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸, "𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮; 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗲." 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿: * Metro Denver's Front Range regularly fails to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards and is designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being in severe nonattainment of federal ozone standards ("F" for ozone pollution). * Oil and Gas development is the #1 cause of ozone pollution on the Front Range, and approving the CAP would worsen air quality even further.  * According to Dr. Ted Schettler, children within 5 miles of a fracking site are four times more likely to get cancer, and within 2 miles are seven times as likely. Altitude Elementary and Woodland Elementary are within a mile of two proposed sites. * Emissions don't stay put. Areas downwind of fracking projects experience higher cancer rates than those located upwind. * An impact analysis prepared on behalf of the applicant clearly states the risk of groundwater contamination. * If the drilling disrupts the Superfund Site, highly toxic chemicals could be released into the aquifers, which extend well beyond Aurora's boundaries. * The CAP will require approximately 24,360,000 gallons of fresh water for each well. Throughout the CAP's life, these wells will permanently destroy over 4 billion gallons of fresh water. The injection of chemicals for hydraulic fracturing makes the water highly toxic and unsuitable for consumption. * Throughout its lifecycle, Lowry Ranch CAP is estimated to emit:  # 420,478.07 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) # 3,887.92 tons of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)) # 3,854.88 tons of Nitrous Oxide (NOx) # 1,238.09 tons of Methane (CH4) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗘𝗖𝗠𝗖) 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗔𝗣 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗖𝗠𝗖 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘄𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗔𝗣. 𝗘𝗖𝗠𝗖 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 

ACME in Action: Last summer, ACME responded to an oil spill that affected three properties and roughly six miles of creek in Northern Oklahoma caused by torrential rains. ACME deployed equipment and personnel to excavate, haul off, and remediate the affected areas in under 200 days. After extensive cleanup, approximately 3,000 barrels of contaminated soil were excavated and removed. Learn more about the project and ACME’s extensive restoration capabilities in the article below! https://lnkd.in/gD_qHhbM #leavenotrace #acmeboom #osha #containment #oilspill #spillresponse #containmentboom #environmental #environment #oil #oilandgas #oilspillresponse #safety #energy #oklahoma #oilboom #remediation #safetyculture #coastguard #osro #spillcontrol #spillcontainment #environmentalprotection #oilproducts #pipelinesafety #pipelinemanagement #marineconstruction #marineconservation #marinedebris #dredging #discharge #pipelineconstruction #bridgeconstruction #bridgeengineering #sedimentcontrol #npdes #cleanwater #dotcompliance #geotextile #construction #constructionindustry #water #pipeline #offshore #drilling #acmeinaction #oilspillcleanup #sorbentboom #oilskimmer #oilspillequipment #oklahomadepartmentoffishandwildlife #environmentalprotectionagency #oklahomacorporationcommission

Water with Will - a bit late this week. Let the fun begin with the Colorado River. A recap. From the November 20th Colorado Sun, the Bureau of Reclamation overview of five water management options. "Alternative 1, would stick closely to the current rules, which were established in 2007 and are widely regarded as insufficient because they allowed the reservoirs to fall so low. Under this plan, Lake Powell could release anywhere from 5 million to 9.5 million acre-feet down to the Lower Basin states — Arizona, California and Nevada. Other reservoirs, like Blue Mesa in Colorado, might be called on to help with these releases, and the Lower Basin could have to cut its use by up to 3.5 million acre-feet. Alternative 2 would require all basin states, even Colorado, to conserve water during times of shortage and it would involve multiple federal reservoirs, like Blue Mesa, the largest reservoir in Colorado. Upper Basin officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah argue they should not have to conserve water because the states already use less than their full share of the river. They also say the new management rules should only include lakes Mead and Powell. Alternative 3 incorporates ideas from conservation organizations. Under this option, Lake Powell could release more water: Its maximum releases could reach 11 million acre-feet, which is higher than the 9.5 million acre-feet listed in other options. This proposal also includes basinwide cutbacks, including more conservation in the Lower Basin — a maximum of 4 million acre-feet compared with 3.5 million acre-feet included in other alternatives. Alternative 4 aims to blend competing proposals submitted by upper and lower basin states and tribal nations. Under this draft alternative, Lake Powell might be required to release 12 million acre-feet and to pull water from upstream reservoirs depending on the conditions in the basin. This alternative includes provisions to ensure tribal nations will be involved in water management. It calls for basinwide cutbacks when water is short and calls for less Lower Basin conservation —maximum cutbacks are listed as 2.1 million acre-feet. The draft released Wednesday is part of a long, federal process. For the new rules to be ready at the start of 2027, the federal government must have a finalized agreement by August 2026." It is worth tracking how this plays out and whether the final outcome actually addresses the challenges facing the Colorado River. Water United is part of the solution to the aridification of the Colorado RIver basin. #water #coloradoriver #climatechange #waterunited #catalyticcommunities FIDO Tech Water Foundry Earth Finance, Inc. Atlantean Media Tom Freyberg Victoria Edwards Sonya Bengali Polly Blythe https://lnkd.in/gECKxFzK

Why You Should Install the InvisiHead System The InvisiHead: A Cutting-Edge Solution for Seawater Intake and Outfall This report outlines the significant benefits of installing the InvisiHead intake head and outfall diffuser system for your seawater intake and discharge needs. Environmental Protection and Regulatory Compliance: Eco-Friendly Design: The InvisiHead prevents harm to marine life by eliminating the intake of fish, sediments, and debris. This not only protects biodiversity but also ensures compliance with strict environmental regulations like the latest US EPA Rule 316b. Eliminates Screening Systems: Traditional intake systems rely on mesh screens that require ongoing maintenance and can trap marine life. InvisiHead eliminates the need for these screens, simplifying operations and minimizing environmental impact. Reduced Operating Costs: Fast Payback Period: The InvisiHead system delivers significant savings on operation and maintenance (O&M) costs. Its efficient design offers a payback period within months of installation. Low Maintenance: InvisiHead's innovative technology minimizes maintenance requirements. While we offer supervision services, the system is designed for minimal ongoing expense. Superior Performance and Customization: Tailored Design: We provide custom-engineered InvisiHead systems to perfectly suit your specific site conditions and operational needs. Exceeds Regulatory Standards: The InvisiHead surpasses US EPA requirements by a significant margin. Whereas the EPA mandates a maximum intake velocity of 0.15m/s, InvisiHead operates at much lower velocities (0.09m/s inlet and 0.11m/s outlet). These slow velocities prevent the intake of marine life and debris. Self-Flushing Design: The low approach velocity of 0.002m/s minimizes sediment intake. Even weak currents can easily flush out any accidental sediment entry. Optional Advanced Filtration: NatSep Onshore System: While the InvisiHead effectively reduces sediment intake, we offer the optional NatSep onshore system for further filtration of very fine silt (down to 62 microns). This can significantly reduce the load on your RO pre-treatment systems. Reliability and operational Sustainability: Equivalent (Von‐Mises) Stress modeling for Cat5 hurricane of a 3.4m InvisiHead system installed in the Caribbean Sea in 2006; the IH system has been in operation ever since, delivering the design capacity under all weather conditions. Conclusion: The InvisiHead system offers a comprehensive solution for your seawater intake and outfall needs. It combines environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and substantial cost savings. For more information on the InvisiHead system and its potential benefits for your project, please contact us at [email protected]

From the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency MN Stormwater News, April 2024: https://lnkd.in/d-ZYnWSj “Reminder: Update your MCM 4 regulatory mechanism by July 31st Last summer, the MPCA reissued the Construction Stormwater (CSW) permit. According to item 19.4 of the 2020 MS4 general permit, MS4 permittees have until July 31, 2024, to update/revise, if necessary, their existing MCM 4 regulatory mechanism. The permittee’s MCM 4 regulatory mechanism must be at least as stringent as the requirements for erosion, sediment, and waste controls as written in the August 1, 2023, CSW permit. To assist in this process, the MPCA has updated the MCM 4 and MCM 5 model ordinance guidance document to reflect the August 1, 2023, CSW permit requirements. The guidance document discusses the different ways that a MS4 can update their regulatory mechanism. The model ordinance covers options such as incorporating the most current version of the CSW permit by reference, incorporating only the erosion, sediment, and waste control requirements by reference, or incorporating the requirements directly into your regulatory mechanism. The model ordinance can be found under the MCM 4 and MCM 5 sections. (https://lnkd.in/dtgQgRak ) Questions? Reach out to any of the technical assistance and compliance enforcement staff. (https://lnkd.in/dk9N2jtx )” #thepreserver #stormwatermanagement #stormwater #momentumenvironmental #civilengineering

As four aging hydroelectric dams are demolished, environmentalist along with tribes and communities along the Klamath River wait anxiously to see what the future holds. According to officials, "it's an environmental disaster." But why the discrepancy? Dam removal is expected to improve the health of the Klamath River, the route that Chinook salmon and endangered coho salmon take from the Pacific Ocean to their upstream spawning grounds, and from where the young fish return to the sea. However, according to Siskiyou County Supervisor Ray Haupt. "The river is essentially dead, as is everything in it." What do you think about this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments. #KlamathRiver #damremoval #environmentaldamage #sustainability #future

Last week’s barge collision with the main thoroughfare to Pelican Island has certainly shook up South Texas. Luckily no injuries were reported and the estimated 200 residents on the island were safely evacuated for investigators and clean up efforts to quickly begin. Despite what many may say, the oil and gas industry truly values environmental protection as much as it values its contributions to the economy. It is for that reason that safety precautions are essential to operations onshore, offshore, in transit, in production, and every step in between. In unfortunate circumstances like last week’s collision, oil and gas implements emergency protocols to limit the damage and impact to the surrounding area and inhabitants. Oilspillprevention.org describes these protocols: “In urban environments, spill response strategies place primary emphasis on protecting human health and restoring usability to the site of the spill as quickly as possible. Since the "urban" banner can encompass everything from paved surfaces to forests and parks, the specific response must be tailored to the affected ecosystem. In these environments, recovery of spilled oil is a top priority, as it can leach into groundwater or enter rivers and streams as run-off. Because used oil should never be flushed into the sewage system, oil recycling plans are of the utmost importance. Berms and trenches can be used to contain the spill. In some cases, the spilled area can be flooded to "float" the oil, or move it to the water’s surface, as it is typically lighter than water, to allow for recovery. Vacuums, skimmers, shoreline cleaning agents, and sorbents may also be used, along with bioremediation. Earth-moving equipment can recover contaminated soil for disposal.” Our thoughts and prayers are with the businesses and residents of Pelican Island during this time. #industryexpert #oilandgas #texasoil #pelicanisland #galvestontx #texanshelpingtexans

🌧️The runoff rundown: Where I attempt to demystify stormwater management and answer frequently asked stormwater questions.    Today's question: 💧 What are common sources of stormwater pollution?   There are a few usual suspects of stormwater management contaminants and they originate from differences sources - because of this the water quality improvement approaches vary as well. Water quality improvement strategies are categorized as physical, biological, and chemical processes. In stormwater management, more often than not, physical and biological approaches are applied.   The key contaminants are:   Sediment: This is the big one that we try and manage as part of the stormwater system. Loose soil and construction debris can wash into storm drains, leading to sediment buildup in water bodies, which can harm aquatic habitats and increase flooding risks. Construction sites are major contributors of sediment runoff, which is where erosion and sediment control practices can be applied to minimize the wash off. Physical processes (such as sedimentation basins or filtration) are usually the best bet here.   Oil, Grease, and Chemicals: Typically these containments are traced back to leaks from vehicles or from industrious activities. Rainwater carries them into storm drains, contributing to pollution in creeks, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Physical methods (such as oil-grit separators or sand filters) or biological methods (bioretention of constructed wetlands) are typical stormwater management best practices to approach this problem.   Fertilizers and Pesticides: Chemical wash off from lawns and gardens can drain into storm drains during rain, contaminating waterways and harming aquatic life. Physical, biological, or chemical practices can be considered for water quality improvements on this front. Biological methods such as bioretention and constructed wetlands have a lot of potential to absorb these materials prior to discharge. Phytoremediation is an interesting way to do this too, but is very case specific.   Litter and Debris: Trash on streets, sidewalks, and open spaces often finds its way into storm drains. This debris not only detracts from urban aesthetics but also poses serious environmental hazards as it accumulates in water systems. Physical treatment methods are the best strategy to separate out unwanted materials.   Often combinations of these techniques are applied throughout the drainage system and referred to as the "treatment train" giving the most opportunities for treatment to occur in various modes.    If you have questions that you'd like featured on the Runoff Rundown, please contact me through www.strmwtr.com and I'll add them to the queue! I've had great feedback so far, so keep the questions coming!   Lastly, if you enjoy this content, please take a moment to follow strmwtr inc, future posts will slowly transition there!   #stormwatermanagement #waterquality #stormwater #civilengineering