Maintenance - Aqua-Filter™ Stormwater Filtration System
AquaShield™ recommends that periodic system inspections be performed to determine whether the disposal of captured material and/or filter media is needed to ensure proper operation of the Aqua-Filter™ treatment system. It is important to keep in mind that all BMPs require some degree of maintenance; and maintenance cycles are dependent on site-specific pollutant loading conditions. AquaShield™ furnishes an Inspection and Maintenance Manual for each project installation for an end user(s) to track and document system operations.
Upon installation and during construction, we recommend that the Aqua-Filter™ system be inspected every three months and the system be cleaned as needed. During the first year post-construction, the system should again be inspected every three months and cleaned as needed. The unit should be inspected and cleaned once annually regardless of whether it has reached its sediment or floatable pollutant storage capacity. For the second and subsequent years post-construction, the Aqua-Filter™ can be inspected and cleaned once annually if the system did not reach full sediment or floatable pollutant capacity in the first year post-construction. If the Aqua-Filter™ reached full sediment or floatable pollutant capacity in less than 12 months in the first year post-construction, the system should be inspected once every six months and cleaned as needed. AquaShield™ recommends that bypass structures should be inspected whenever the Aqua-Filter™ is inspected and maintained as needed. The filter media containers are the only components of the system that require replacement. The replacement of filter containers is generally needed if the filter media is observed to exhibit a dark brown or black color, and if a noticeable excessive accumulation of sediment, oil or other materials occurs across the filter bed. Filter replacement activities can be performed without the on-site assistance of an AquaShield™ representative. AquaShield™ recommends that confined space entry techniques be used to perform tasks associated with filter replacement or entry to the filtration chamber for any other reason. A built-in ingress/egress ladder is provided in the filtration chamber and extends downward through the riser to the base of the filtration chamber and near the outlet opening. Proper health and safety protocols should be followed during all maintenance events. We also recommend that all materials removed during the maintenance process be handled and disposed of in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local guidelines. Depending on the influent pollutant characteristics of the facility drainage area, it may be appropriate to perform Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analyses on representative samples of the spent filter media to ensure that the handling and disposition of materials complies with applicable environmental regulations. Essential elements of an Aqua-Filter™ maintenance event include the replacement and disposal of the filter media containers, as well as vacuuming of floatables, oil and sediment from the swirl and filtration chambers. Two scenarios for Aqua-Filter™ maintenance events are likely. The first and most common scenario provides for cleaning both components of the system by utilizing a vacuum truck and replacing the filter media containers. The second maintenance event scenario provides only for the cleaning of the swirl chamber and filtration chamber by use of a vacuum truck; but, no replacement of the filter media containers. The filter media containers are the only components of the system that require replacement. The replacement of filter containers is generally needed if the filter media is observed to exhibit a dark brown or black color, and if a noticeable excessive accumulation of sediment, oil or other materials occurs across the filter bed. Filter replacement activities can be performed without the on-site assistance of an AquaShield™ representative.
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Spent perlite filter media containers need replacement
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