Resources

A: Through prior testing, we know that our StormTank Module can support a substantial load – up to 105.87 psi. But we wanted to see how we stack up against other stormwater management systems, so we put them to the test!

A: Yes, the StormTank Pack can be stacked. It does not require cleaning thanks to its cross-flow media that prevents sediment buildup and eliminates the need for maintenance.

Stacking details: In both wastewater and cooling tower applications, structural sheet media packs are actually stacked up to twenty or thirty feet tall. This is because the media packs are retained in a steel or concrete tank with support structures underneath. The only load the products are subjected to is the material dead weight and either biological buildup in wastewater or scale buildup in cooling towers.

In stormwater applications, the packs are buried in a dynamic mixture of soil and are subjected to various types of loads. Soil can move and give, which causes higher loads on the products and allows for increased movement that is not seen in wastewater and cooling tower installations. In conjunction with the higher cover material loads, this is why we do not recommend the StormTank Pack for stacked installations. To compensate for this, the product is designed in both a 12″ and 24″ height to allow for flexibility in design and implementation.

Cleaning details: Maintenance is important to the long-term functionality of an underground system. Debris and material buildup can reduce not only the storage capacity but can reduce or prevent infiltration of the runoff, as well. However, because of the Pack’s cross-flow media design, it promotes even distribution of runoff to the base material, and therefore, utilizes the entire base for infiltration. Additionally, the bioretention application utilizes a layer of material above the Pack to filter the runoff prior to entering the system, making sediment buildup impossible and eliminating the need for maintenance.

A: Yes! A test simulated an installed Debris Row in a testing rig and found that removal efficiencies exceeded 96% based upon a footprint of product calculated by the inflow rate times a coefficient.

The second was computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the StormTank Shield, which showed that 100% of floatables and oils are retained, while removal efficiency depends on inflow rate and size of the structure.

What seems to be more interesting to most engineers is that the system can actually receive credits depending on the application for which it is being installed. So what does that mean? If you are installing the system as an infiltration basin, you can get the credit per your local or state manuals, and in addition, if you are installing it as part of a bio-retention (rain garden) or pervious pavement area, you can also receive the credits for those applications. These application-based credits apply to all StormTank systems.

For more information about water quality credits and the StormTank testing mentioned above, contact your local representative, and we’ll be happy to share the technical details with you.

A: StormTank is an excellent choice to help your municipality achieve MS4 compliance. While we cannot guarantee compliance, our products have helped countless communities achieve these regulations.

You may have noticed the term “MS4” popping up recently in community bulletins or your local news. A Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) is a conveyance system that is owned by a town, city, state or other public entity that discharges to waterways of the United States. MS4s must be designed or used to collect or convey stormwater, via systems like storm drains and pipes, and cannot be combined with any sewers, sewage treatment plants, or publicly owned treatment works.

In 1999, the MS4 program expanded beyond major metropolitan areas and the EPA began utilizing a new census term ─ urbanized areas ─ to classify additional communities that should be regulated by the program. Today, more than 80% of the nation’s population falls within an area regulated as an MS4.

So, as a manufacturer of stormwater management and treatment products, how is Brentwood helping communities meet these regulations?

As stormwater runoff flows over impervious surfaces, it collects contaminants such as trash, oil, and other debris, which are then redistributed into a community’s waterways. Brentwood’s products primarily assist in preventing this problem in post-construction runoff control situations. This control measure was developed to ensure that runoff from development and redevelopment areas can be controlled and treated properly to improve water quality. Brentwood offers two solutions to help communities meet this control measure:

Module: The StormTank Module provides a large, underground storage area for a runoff. This allows the rate of discharge to be decreased to, or below, the natural rate, enables the volume to either infiltrate back into the groundwater or be reused for irrigation. Additionally, the Module’s design provides superior strength, allowing it to be installed under trafficked areas, increasing space utilization for development activities while decreasing the stormwater impact on the community.

Shield: The StormTank Shield is designed to help communities and developers capture contaminants within the stormwater drainage system. Installed over the outflow pipe of the catch basin, the Shield prevents floatables, such as trash and petroleum products, from passing through on the surface of the water and induces particle settling for smaller, more dense objects like stone and debris. Unlike many other treatment devices on the market, the Shield is a low-cost alternative that can be installed by the municipality or developer without the need for heavy equipment.