permeable reactive weir overview
TRANSCRIPT
PERMEABLE REACTIVE WEIR (PRW) Patent pending 2014
Inventors: Erick McWayne and Howard Sprouse Intracep Engineering, LLC [email protected]
Phone: (800) 684-6634
Contaminants in streams, rivers, and other waterways adversely affect aquatic ecosystems by destabilizing the food chain and directly harming aquatic life. Permeable reactive weirs (PRWs) can improve aquatic habitats by removing pollutants from water, and creating upstream pools that allow suspended solids to settle and downstream cascades that increase dissolved oxygen. Engineered streambeds (engineered hyporheic zones) designed to treat surface water can also improve aquatic habitats by removing pollutants from water and reducing temperatures. PRWs are one of the only methods for reducing thermal pollution in surface water, which is the primary cause of surface water impairment in western states. Below is an example configuration of the PRW with openings for fish passage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
The permeable reactive weir is comprised of an outer wall, which defines a chamber that holds reactive filter media or replaceable media cartridges. The filter media removes contaminants from stormwater runoff or surface water and may be renewed or changed to increase the functional lifespan of the permeable reactive weir. The filter media is chosen to address site-specific water quality concerns such as: metals, nutrients, petroleum, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, glycols, pesticides, surfactants, and other toxic organics. Below are two example configurations, one with upper and lower fish bypass, and the other showing the removable media cartridge.
Flow through the permeable reactive weir is controlled by ports on the influent and effluent sides, baffles, valves, and conduits. The permeable reactive weir is completely scalable and configurable to site conditions. It may be installed at stormwater outfalls, within storm sewer systems, surface water canals, ditches, small streams, and rivers. Construction is similar to a concrete weir with optional fish passage measures where necessary. Permeable reactive weirs may be used in series or parallel. Engineered streambeds (i.e., engineered hyporheic zones) may be installed below the permeable reactive weir. Water flow is driven into the streambed by the head difference between the upstream and downstream sides of the device. For more information or to suggest demonstration project sites, please contact Erick McWayne at (800) 684-6634 or [email protected]. For the fish!