Dewatering Bags

Mud Mats

Silt fence

Lee JonesNew England BMP Specialist

Rick FotinoNew England Contractor Focused

Rob Woodman, P.E. C.P.E.S.CSenior Stormwater Engineer

Scott Gorneau, P.E.National Product Manager

Dewatering Bags

Compost Socks

Mud Mats

Silt fence

- 33 Years

- HQ in Richmond VA

- New England – Merrimack NH

- Yards/Offices from Maine to Florida

- Product Distributors, Manufacturers and Innovators

UNIQUE APPROACH – BUT CRITICAL FOR IMPROVING SYSTEM 

DESIGN AND SPEC AND OVERCOMING CHALLENGES IN THE FIELD

DESIGN PERMITTING

BIDDINGINSTALLATION

DESIGN SUPPORT COMPUTATIONS SIZING DESIGN

SKETCHBOOKS

DETAILS LAYOUTS BUDGET COSTS MEETINGS

QUOTES QUALITY SUBMITTALS VALUE ENGINEERING

MATERIAL DELIVERY PRECON CHECKLISTS OVERSIGHT CERTIFICATIONS

COMPREHENSIVE INVOLVEMENT FROM

DESIGN CONCEPTION TO POST

INSTALLATION

THE ACF PROCESS / PROJECT TIMELINE

SPACE EFFICIENT SUBSURFACE

STORAGE

MECHANICAL TREATMENT AND

SCREENING

VEGETATED/ BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT

SYSTEMS

RUNOFF REDUCTION

TECHNIQUES

• Overview of Challenges with traditional vegetated BMPs

• Introduction to High Flow Biofiltration

• Case Studies

• Rain Gardens

• Bioretention

• Bioswales

• Organic Filters 

Maine DEP BMPs

• Underdrain Soil Filter

• Bioretention Cell

• Used widely across the nation

• In almost every stormwater manual

• Considered a solid WQ treatment device

• Used as a benchmark for SW impact fees (e.g. Delaware)

• The most common GI/LID BMP

• If Designed and constructed well – can be a solid BMP

……. BUT……… Most of us have experienced some troubles with these BMPs in design, in construction and or post construction.

WHAT ARE COMMONCHALLENGES WITH VEGETATED BMPS?

(BIORETENTION, RAIN GARDENS, USF)

CHALLENGES WITH VEGETATED BMPS• Space consumption

• Issues with trash and debris accumulation (aesthetics/maintenance)

• Tree health (either proximity of bmps to existing trees or new trees planted) / plantings

• Clogging of filtering medias and fabrics (QA/QC of media and entire bio profile)

• Energy dissipation/erosive forces from pavement

• Need for more reliable stormwater quality treatment

• Maintenance cost, ease and frequency

• Overcoming unexpected utility conflicts in the field

• Poor coordination in field

LACK OF SPACE

• Take up too much space• Eat up developable land• Not suitable for retrofits

• Note enough space – either abandon location or concede on treatment volume

• Large Earthwork and Export late in the project

TRASH AND DEBRIS/ENERGY DISSIPATION/PRETREATMENT

TREE HEALTH

• Trees need deep rich planting soil

• Bioretention media is not always the best for tree health and longevity

• We either plant trees that don’t do as well or we leave trees out of the design –which can hurt site aesthetics.

PLANTINGS

• Civil Engineers plan versus Landscape Architect

• CE plan can be to simple and boring

• LA plan can sometimes be too complex with too many species – looks great – but adds complexity to maintenance.

CLOGGING OF SYSTEM

• Poor spec• Too many fines• softwood

• Poor QC• Mixed in Field• Unreliable WQ • Generic fabric..

• Perf pipe limited openings

• “Washed”

WATER QUALITY TREATMENT – UNKNOWN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE

Bio-Media:Independent 3rd

party research has reported an

increase in Phosphorus

discharges from Traditional Bio-

media cells.

UNEXPECTED UTILITY CONFLICTS

POOR FIELD COORDINATION – LACK OF OVERSIGHT

WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS:

1. IMPROVE QUALITY OF SPECS AND COORDINATION IN THE FIELD ---

BUT WE STILL HAVE SPACE CONSTRAINTS AND RELIABLE PERFORMANCE TO WORRY ABOUT

2. LOOK FOR INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

HIGH PERFORMANCE MODULAR BIOFILTRATION

SYSTEMS

• Goal is to improve the project for:

• Designer• Contractor • Owner/Management

• Many Great Options available to designers:

• Filterra ‐ Contech• StormTree• FocalPoint Biofilter

• Allows you to “go green” when space is limited.

ACF FOCALPOINT – GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

VEGETATED/ BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT

SYSTEMS

LID/GI DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS

APPROVED IN NH, ME, VA, MD, CT, NY, PHILLY,

MA DEP COMPLIANT

(LID) & (GI)

Enhanced PCSM

Larry Coffman developed the basic 1st generation concepts of bioretention during his time at the Prince George’s (PG) County Department of Environmental resources.

Larry Coffman

http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/contact.htm

The original bioretention area was designed to acquire a LEED® Silver Certification, and included a standard media bioswales that fed an underground

water harvesting system.

Completed FocalPoint BioFiltration footprint:

The FocalPoint was able to meet the needs at

70SF what the traditional bioswale unsuccessfully attempted to do in 1200

SF.

With a simple retrofit of the two swales, placing the FocalPoint at the lowest elevation in each, the drainage problem was solved with a simple, quick, cost‐effective retrofit.

FocalPoint footprint provides high efficiency

treatment for storm events

Ponding area will provideattenuation for large peak

volume during storm event.

HIGH FLOW BIOFILTRATION SYSTEM PROFILE

18” High Performance Media:

Flows at 100” Per Hour / 200 ft per dayResistant to Clogging

Pollutant Removal:TSS = 91% Nitrogen = 48%Phosphorus = 66%

6” Bridging Stone & Separation Layer:

Clog-Proof Clean Stone & Micro-Mesh Replace Traditional Geotextile Layer

No geotextile = no clogging

3” Layer of Shredded Hardwood Mulch:

Pre-treatment mechanism.

Removal and Replacement of Mulch Represents the Bulk of System Maintenance!

Vegetated System: Plants process

pollutants removed from run-off and root system maintains drainage and

aeration of media.

BridgingPrevents Clogging

HIGH FLOW BIOFILTRATION SYSTEM PROFILE

18” High Performance Media:

Flows at 100” Per Hour / 200 ft per dayResistant to Clogging

Pollutant Removal:TSS = 91% Nitrogen = 48%Phosphorus = 66%

6” Bridging Stone & Separation Layer:

Clog-Proof Clean Stone & Micro-Mesh Replace Traditional Geotextile Layer

No geotextile = no clogging

High Performance Underdrain:

9.45” Modular Tank, or “Flat Pipe” w/95% Open Surface Collects Water Efficiently.

Optional 2” Low-Profile Panel Addresses Shallow Applications.

Expand into Modular Tanks for Larger Storage Needs.

3” Layer of Shredded Hardwood Mulch:

Pre-treatment mechanism.

Removal and Replacement of Mulch Represents the Bulk of System Maintenance!

Vegetated System: Plants process

pollutants removed from run-off and root system maintains drainage and

aeration of media.

9.45”

2.0”

Maximize Development Opportunity

Maximize Development Opportunity

The System is sold as a bundle toprovide quality control for allcomponents.

MEDIA:(Pre-mixed & Certified)

Bridging Stone:

(Washed)

Mulch:(Shredded& Screened)

Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC):Media, Stone and Mulch are all Bagged to Prevent Field Contamination – material is

generally placed from suspended bag

Rain Guardian

Installation

Installation

Installation

CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT IS

IMPERATIVE

During run-up to peak = Flow thru device.

Inflow From Drainage Area

Discharge From FocalPoint

= FocalPoint Treatment = Volume > WQv to bypass= Water Quality Volume

Peak volume is stored in the surface depression.

After peak = Flow thru device.Excess runoff goes to bypass

High Flow system – scalable - givesdesigners maximum flexibility to leverage theavailable surface footprint in meeting both thewater quality and water volume requirements.

Pre-to-post design examples pictured below are allbased on a common runoff volume of 2,227 cubic ftfrom the a 0.20 acre impervious cover (CN 98)Drainage Area.

Option #1: Large percentage of small availablefootprint is FocalPoint with limited temporary storageavailable.

Scalability

= Media Footprint

190 sq ft17.0’

11’

18’

18’

nts

Option #1:Total

Footprint324 sf

27’

36’

nts

90 sq ft

10’

9’

Option #2: Total

Footprint972 sf

nts

36’

45’

Option #3:Total

Footprint1,620 sf

30 sq ft

6’

5’

= Surface Depression / Temporary Storage

Option #2: Medium percentage of medium availablefootprint is FocalPoint with more temporary storageavailable.

Option #3: Small percentage of large availablefootprint is FocalPoint with most temporary storageavailable.

High-Flow Treatment System

Temporary Surface Storage

= High Flow Footprint

Curb & Gutter “Box Top”

= Ponding Storage

Bioretention Section Comparison

Bio-Media:Independent 3rd

party research has reported an

increase in Phosphorus

discharges from Traditional Bio-

media cells. = Media Treatment Footprint

FocalPoint:3rd party lab

and field tests confirm

Phosphorus reduction

BEFORE

AFTER

LOWIMPACTDEVELOPMENTSOLUTIONS

RELEVANT RECENT PROJECTS

LOWIMPACTDEVELOPMENTSOLUTIONS

KITTERY TRADING POST –FOCALPOINT BIOFILTRATION SYSTEM

–0.68 ACRE TRIB AREA, 0.5 INCH TREATMENT GOAL ----- 75 SF FOCALPOINT

HIGH PROFILE RETAIL–FOCALPOINT BIOFILTRATION SYSTEM

LOWIMPACTDEVELOPMENTSOLUTIONS

–0.68 ACRE TRIB AREA, 0.5 INCH TREATMENT GOAL ----- 75 SF FOCALPOINT

INFILL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTFOCALPOINT, R-TANK, FABCO

SPACEEFFICIENTSUBSURFACESTORAGE

VEGETATED/BIOLOGICALTREATMENTSYSTEMS

RUNOFFREDUCTIONTECHNIQUES

MECHANICALTREATMENTAND

SCREENING

INFILL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTFOCALPOINT, R-TANK, FABCO

SPACEEFFICIENTSUBSURFACESTORAGE

VEGETATED/BIOLOGICALTREATMENTSYSTEMS

RUNOFFREDUCTIONTECHNIQUES

MECHANICALTREATMENTAND

SCREENING

INFILL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTFOCALPOINT, R-TANK, FABCO

SPACEEFFICIENTSUBSURFACESTORAGE

VEGETATED/BIOLOGICALTREATMENTSYSTEMS

RUNOFFREDUCTIONTECHNIQUES

MECHANICALTREATMENTAND

SCREENING

319 GRANT FUNDED RETROFIT

ACCESSORY ITEMS

VEGETATED BMP IN URBAN ROWKey Design Elements

* Energy Dissipation* Collection of sediment/debris

PRETREATMENT FOR BIORETENTION

Rain Guardian: Provides stable inlet & pretreatment, drains and dries between storm events.

Maximize Capacity & Extend Effective Bioretention Cell Life

Grate 

Base & Riser

Grate/Filter/Chamber combination captures sediment and debris.

Overflow points allows bioretention cell to reach capacity prior to bypass.

Filter

Easy Installation:Typical Turret Installation Sequence

• Rain Guardian Turret

WHAT IF THERE IS A SIDEWALK??

• Rain Guardian Casemate/Foxhole

INTRODUCING RAIN GUARDIAN CASEMATE/FOXHOLE

• Rain Guardian Casemate/Foxhole

INTRODUCING RAIN GUARDIAN CASEMATE/FOXHOLE

Example Applications

Pretreatment for Bioretention

Smart Space Efficient Treatment Train

HIGH FLOW MEDIA SYSTEM CAN HELP WITH

• Space consumption – typically 5‐10% of the size

• Issues with trash and debris accumulation – smaller size – options for pretreatment

• Tree health consider smaller shrubs in media and trees in surrounding soils

• Clogging of filtering medias and fabrics Premixed media and complete section not just one component

• Need for more reliable stormwater quality treatment 3rd party testing completed

• Maintenance cost, ease and frequency ‐ smaller footprint

• Overcoming unexpected utility conflicts in the field smaller footprint/modular/field adjustable

• Poor coordination in field needs to be addressed – but do have manufacturer’s rep on site