Surface water cleaning systems and method of their use
Provided herein are systems and methods for cleaning surface water streams. More specifically, surface water is cleaned using the systems and methods described herein wherein the surface water cleaning system comprises sequential aligned basins which are configured to direct water flow through one or a series of filter media such that the filtered water stream is reduced in organic chemicals and/or particles.
1 . An apparatus for purifying contaminated surface water runoff comprising:
an elongate open gutter;
a first elongate removable basin having an open top and an outlet at a bottom thereof;
a second elongate removable basin having an open top and an outlet at a bottom thereof;
wherein, each of the first and second elongate removable basins is disposed within the elongate open gutter, in an end-to-end, linearly aligned fashion, each of the first and second elongate removable basins having at least one filter capable of reducing a concentration of contaminants in the contaminated surface water runoff, wherein the first elongate removable basin is fluidly coupled to the second elongate removable basin such that water flow unable to flow through the outlet of the first elongate removable basin may flow to the second elongate removable basin;
at least one grate enclosing the open tops of both the first and second elongate removable basins, the at least one grate preventing objects or solids above a certain size from entering the first and second elongate removable basins; and
wherein, contaminated surface water runoff flows over the at least one grate and into the first and second removable basins, past the filter where contaminants are removed, with a purified water flowing through the outlets of the first and second elongate removable basins, and into the elongate open gutter, which is in fluid communication with a sewer system.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of each of the first and second elongate removable basins is sloped in a direction toward a respective outlet.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first elongate removable basin and second elongate removable basin has opposing bottom surfaces sloped toward the outlet.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate gutter is defined by concrete walls.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a porous structure having pores sized to capture solid materials above a predetermined size.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a strainer device.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter mat.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter media ball.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter media selected from the group consisting of: activated carbon, catalytic carbon, KDF, polypropylene foam, PVC foam, activated aluminum, manganese dioxide, or combinations thereof.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a comprises a filter media positioned in a filter housing.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one grate comprises a first grate and a second grate and the first elongate removable basin is positioned below the first grate and the second elongate removable basin is positioned below the second grate.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filter forms a wall in each of the first elongate removable basin and in the second elongate removable basin.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third elongate removable basin having an open top and an outlet at the bottom thereof, the at least one grate enclosing the open top of the third elongate removable basin;
wherein the third elongate removable basin is disposed within the elongate open gutter; and
wherein, the third elongate removable basin is fluidically coupled to the second elongate removable basin such that water flow unable to flow to the outlet of the second elongate removable basin may flow to the third elongate removable basin.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the third elongate removable basin comprises a first discharge pipe disposed between the third elongate removable basin and a sewer system.