Net Capture System Corrals Trash on Stormwater Outflow

A new net-based, packaged stormwater treatment system for smaller flows will be used to capture trash and debris released from a pumping station vent that flows to Lake Ontario.

An underground installation at a pumping station on the Bay of Kingston is engineered with a bypass vent to an outflow containing the TrashMasterTM system. The pumping station, with no solution available, had for a number of years released the trash and debris into a creek which dumped into Lake Ontario. With the increased commitment by the Canadian Government and the Canadian cities that border the Great Lakes to find solutions to the growing problem of trash and debris being dumped into the lakes, the engineers upgrading the Kingston Pumping Station turned to Fresh Creek Technologies.

The company’s TrashMasterTM Net Capture System was selected because of the low flow of water passing through the pumping station bypass vent. The system is designed to address flow rates up to 5 cubic feet per second (cfs), exactly what was needed to meet the design demand. The unit was expected to be in operation by July 2006.

The TrashMaster system is a lightweight (about 750 lbs.), roto-molded High Density Polyethylene and fiberglass unibody product that is delivered to the site complete and ready to install using available equipment such as a backhoe. With custom-engineered couplings, the system can handle pipe diameters up to 24 inches. The ends, which are formed as part of the roto-molding, are pre-cut and coupled to assure an accurate field fit.

The system measure 8'L x 3.5'W x 3.5'H with a 3-foot-wide top-mounted hatch to provide access for replacing the capture net. All internals, other than the net, are constructed of 316 stainless steel giving the unit an expected 25-year use life.

“After more than two years of research, customer input, development, and testing, we now have our first installation underway,” said Clint Holland, President of Fresh Creek. “This major step forward in handling trash, debris and floatables in low flow rate applications is an evolution of our very successful Netting TrashTrap® technology into an application where our larger units, and even competitive units, were not practical or cost effective.”

Netting TrashTrap® systems capture and remove trash and floatables from stormwater and CSO discharges using the natural energy of the flow to trap trash, floatables and solids in disposable mesh nets.

Knotless, knitted mesh nets are custom manufactured to proprietary standards, and tested independently for strength and performance to ASTM standards. Standard nets are rated for 500 pounds or 25 cubic feet of captured pollutants. A range of special sizes and heavy-duty nets having even larger capacities and handling higher flow and velocities are available. When filled with captured debris, the nets are removed from the system and sent to a sanitary landfill.

The new Trashmaster system is designed for smaller flows such as industrial, commercial, and residential stormwater systems, farm stormwater and run-off, parking lot stormwater trash capture, or small combined sewer overflows.

“This is a rugged unit,” Holland said. “The ribbed design is engineered to withstand the pressure found in underground installations without the expense and delay associated with standard concrete units.”

For additional information about the TrashMasterTM Net Capture System and a copy of a new brochure, contact Fresh Creek Technologies at 800-741-9486 or visit the company’s website: www.freshcreek.com.