Stormwater News

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems Tackles Trash at Hickey Run at the National Arboretum

2011-06-24T05:57:00.000-07:00

Hickey Run is a tributary of the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. It enters the National Arboretum via a culvert under New York Avenue. Prior to this the Hickey Run traverses a highly urbanized area in Washington, DC which subjects it to large amounts of non point source pollution such as oil, grease and trash.

The Alice Ferguson Foundation and the Anacostia Riverkeeper have worked tirelessly on trying to solve the trash problem of the Hickey Run and the Anacostia River.

New York Avenue has been identified as a "chronic trash hot spot area". It is at this location that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, District Department of Environment, DC Water and Sewer Authority and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the owner of the National Arboretum, chose the Terre Kleen with specially designed trash boxes, to intercept the massive amounts of trash that are carried by the Hickey Run.

In September 2010, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) , the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland announced a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Trash for the Anacostia River, making the Anacostia River the first river in the nation to have a Trash TMDL under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. } 1251, et.seq. . The TMDL requires the capture of 600 tons of trash from the Anancostia watershed annually. The TMDL helps contribute to attainment of the goal of the Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative and implementation of the Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty and the Anacoatia River Cleanup and Protection Act of 2009.

After a rigorous vetting process the interested parties unanimously chose the Terre Kleen specially modified to contain two large trash boxes. The water from the Hickey Run is directed into the Terre Kleen where oil, grease and sediment are first removed and then the trash is captured in the trash boxes. Terre Kleen's proven sediment removal capabilities, using inclined plates, and its fully enclosed baffled trash boxes provides an optimum solution for the trash plagued Hickey Run tributary to the Anacostia River.

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems receives US Patent for Terre Arch

2010-09-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems received a U.S. Patent, # 7,798,747 B1 for a Stormwater Capture Module known as the Terre Arch. The Terre Arch is a precast concrete multi arched structure used for underground infiltration of stormwater. The Terre Arch greatly enhances the ability to infiltrate and remove stormwater from the the runoff thus improving volume reduction and facilitating the issuance of a NPDES permit.

The Terre Arch is a structural infrastructure product. It has a HS-25 load rating without any cover. This means that there is no need to cover the Terre Kleen with any material other than that needed to complete the finished grade. This means that when there are areas of high ground water tables, you may still be able to install a Terre Arch infiltration system as the lack of need for cover enables the placement of the Terre Arch closer to finished grade and thus, allows the engineer to comply with the separation distance from the ground watter elevation without risking grade subsidence.

The Terre Arch is also cost effective. With a properly prepared excavation with a 6 inch stone base, a Terre Arch system can be delivered and installed for approximately $4 per cubic foot. Adding the cost of backfilling and cover, the total installed cost of the Terre Arch system is equal to or less than most other underground infiltration systems, including plastic and HDPE pipe and proprietary systems.

Terre Kleen Hydrodynamic Separator placed on the MASTEP Database

2010-08-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems announces that the Terre Kleen stacked inclined plate hydrodynamic separator has been listed on the MASTEP University of Massachusetts Amherst Stormwater Technologies Clearinghouse BMP Performance Comparison Table.

MASTEP reviewed independent third party laboratory and field test data to confirm the performance claims for TSS and SSC sediment removal efficiency. Penn State University and Alden laboratory performed laboratory tests under the NJCAT/NJDEP laboratory protocol for hydrodynamic separators.

The Terre Kleen was also field tested under the EPA ETV NSF program. MASTEP also reviewed this data in making its determinations for the BMP Performance Comparison Table.

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems is a division of Terre Hill Concrete Products which is a NPCA certified precast concrete manufacturer for highway, bridge, stormwater, drainage and sanitary sewer infrastructure products.

Stormwater Trash Issues

2010-07-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

The issue of trash as a regulated pollutant in stormwater runoff needs to be considered throughout all agencies having regulatory power over stormwater runoff. An excellent reference source is ASCE Guideline for Monitoring Stormwater Gross Pollutants (January 10, 2007)Presently, most regulatory focus is on sediment removal and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. These pollutants deserve the regulatory attention, but not to the exclusion of trash.

The Maryland Department of the Environment and the District of Columbia Department of the Environment-Natural Resources Administration submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, Water Protection Division a Total Maximum Daily Loads of Trash for the Anacostia River Watershed, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, Maryland and the District of Columbia.(http://www.anacostiariverkeeper.org/)

The photograph shows accumulation of trash on the Hickey Run Creek at the New York Avenue underpass at the National Arboretum. The US Army Corps of Engineers has developed a plan for the capture of 100% of the trash that will be transported during the "first flush". The plan incorporates the use of a Terre Kleen hydrodynamic separator together with an attached trash box into which a flow of 150 cfs will be directed via a wier wall to be constructed from the underpass to the Terre Kleen unit.

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems, working closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers, DDOE, DC Water, USDA and the contractors, Meltech Corp, Inc. and Environmental Design & Construction, LLC designed and engineered a precast concrete structure in substitution for a poured in place design, saving an estimated 5 weeks of construction time.

The Terre Kleen does not require any external by-pass and is constructed in-line, thus, enabling it to capture all trash, debris and non emulsified oil and grease, together with sediment and the nutrients and heavy metals attached to it.

PA EQB Adopts New Stormwater Regulations under 25 Pa Code Chapter 102

2010-06-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

Pennsylvania's Environmental Quality Board has adopted changes to 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102. The proposed regulations impose stringent post construction stormwater management requirements. One of the most significant requirements for the Post Construction Stormwater Management Plan (PCSMP) is a long term operation and maintenance plan which requires inspection and maintenance of PCSM BMPs in perpetuity. All PCSMP must be recorded in the Recorder of Deeds Office and will be a negative covenant which will "run with the land".

PCSMP are elevated to a level that their existence and maintenance will affect the "marketable title" to the real estate.

All parties responsible for long term operations and maintenance must be identified.

Additional items in the proposed regulations are as follows:

} 102.1 Definitions : ABACT = Antidegradation best available combination of technologies are required to manage the Rate, Volume and Quality of stormwater runoff

} 102.8 requires:

use of structural or nonstructural BMPs that prevent or minimize changes in stormwater runoff

PCSM BMPs will meet the volume reduction and water quality requirements in an applicable PADEP approved and current Act 167 watershed plan; or manage the net change for storms up to and including the 2yr/24 hour storm event when compared to the preconstruction runoff volume and quality; with the added criteria that sites with existing impervious surface, 20% of such existing impervious surface must be considered as if it were meadow in good condition

Sedimentation 101: Gravity Settling

2010-06-07T06:56:00.000-07:00

Since 1901, the drinking water industry has relied on proven scientific principles for the removal of sediment particles from water. These scientific principles are based upon the known effects of gravitational force on the settling of sediment particles. There is a clear relationship between the amount of horizontal settling area (A) over which a flow of water (Q) is directed: the greater the A, the greater the amount of sediment removed from any Q.
The drinking water industry has been relying on the "inclined plate" technology to create the greatest amount of A within the smallest structure footprint to create the most efficient method for the removal of sediment particles from any given Q.
The Terre Kleen is the only stormwater hydrodynamic separator that uses the "inclined plate" technology to create the greatest A in smallest structure footprint.
Dr. Shirley Clark of Penn State University has conducted independent third party testing and analysis of the Terre Kleen's performance highlighting the efficiency of the inclined plate technology.
Terre Kleen has been certified for use by NJDEP at a loading rate of 18 gpm/sq ft of A. This certified loading rate results in the following loading rate for each structure footprint as follows:
TK 09: 33 gpm/sf of structure footprint
TK 18: 45 gpm/sf of structure footprint
TK 27: 52 gpm/sf of structure footprint
TK 36: 56 gpm/sf of structure footprint
TK 45: 59 gpm/sf of structure footprint
TK 54: 61 gpm/sf of structure footprint
TK 63: 63 gpm/sf of structure footprint

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems Enhances Low Impact Development

2010-06-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

Low Impact Development seeks to maintain or restore a sites' natural hydrology, maintain natural resource protection while meeting the Clean Water Act environmental regulatory requirements.

Terre Kleen, a hydrodynamic separator that provides up to 176 gpm/sf of treatment flow rate, can be utilized as part of a treatment train site design to obtain a cost efficient pollutant removal result. The small footprint of the Terre Kleen minimizes conflict with the property's natural vegetation and, thus, is useful in helping maintain the natural site features. Terre Kleen is easy to maintain and the annual maintenance costs are less than 5% of the initial capital expense. This annual maintenance expense compares favorably with any stormwater BMP, including any "green" or LID BMP.

Terre Kleen Pretreatment Works

2010-06-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

Terre Kleen removes pollutants from stormwater runoff. Terre Kleen primary chamber permanently removes gross pollutants such as oil, grease, trash, debris and sediment before these pollutants can enter and cause malfunction of an underground infiltration basin such as a Terre Arch system.

Picture shows the primary chamber of a Terre Kleen installed 12 months prior in a shopping center parking lot. If you do not design for pretreatment your BMPs will lose functionality and they will fail because they are clogged and choked up with stormwater runoff pollutants.

Don't risk a malfunction of your underground infiltration basin. Don't subject your LID BMP to gross pollutant and sediment overload.

Preserve the useful life and functionality of your stormwater LID BMPs.

Pretreat with Terre Kleen.

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems = Green Infrastructure and Smart Growth

2010-06-01T08:42:00.000-07:00

Green Infrastructure is defined as: technologies that infiltrate, evapotranspire, capture and reuse stormwater to maintain or restore natural hydrology.
Terre Kleen is a stacked inclined plate hydrodynamic separator that pretreats stormwater by removing oil, grease, trash, debris, sediment, and nutrients and heavy metals that are attached to the sediment. The Terre Kleen does all of this in a very compact structure footprint. A key benefit of using a Terre Kleen in a LID BMP overall design is that the pretreatment of the stormwater runoff will remove the pollutants carried by the runoff before the stormwater enters the LID BMP. Oil, grease, trash, debris and sediment will not enter the LID BMP.
Terre Arch is a multi-arched precast concrete structure that is designed to maximize stormwater infiltration while facilitating use of the surface area above the Terre Arch. Terre Arch promotes Smart Growth by minimizing the land area required for development.

PWD Stormwater Fee Credit Opportunities

2010-05-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), starting July 1, 2010, will begin charging landowners a Stormwater Management Service Charge, as a separate component of a landowners water bill. The charge will be based upon a formula that relates Impervious Area to Gross Area of a parcel of land in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia has a "combined sewer system" and as such, when it rains there is an overload on the sanitary sewer system caused by the large volume of stormwater that enters the system. The goal of the Stormwater Management Service Charge is to bring attention to the landowner of the true burden that its property is placing upon the sanitary sewer system. The inflow and infiltration of stormwater into the "combined sewer system" creates a situation which must be addressed by providing incentives to landowners to retrofit their properties with stormwater management and treatment BMPs that will reduce the volume of stormwater that leaves the property and enters the " combined sewer system".
While the Stormwater Management Service Charge will result in an increase in fees for the PWD, the long term objective must be stormwater runoff volume reduction. The increase in fees generated, no matter how significant they may appear, is not a long term solution. The long term solution requires a systemic change in the way a landowner manages stormwater runoff generated by a particular parcel of land based upon its impervious area.
Previously, a landowners water bill was based upon the type and size of the water service provided to a parcel by PWD.
This charge will begin on July 1, 2010 and will be phased in over over time. It is expected that there will be a dramatic increase in the charges and fees payable to the PWD based upon the Impervious Area calculations.
Terre Hill Stormwater Systems designs, engineers, manufactures, installs and maintains stormwater manufactured BMPs constructed out of precast concrete.
The Terre Kleen is a hydrodynamic separator that removes oil, grease, trash, debris and sediment form stormwater runoff. The Terre Kleen is best used as a pretreatment BMP, which enhances and protects the function of other BMPs in the treatment train. For example, a Terre Kleen placed before an infiltration system prevents pollutants such as trash, debris, oil, grease and sediment from entering the infiltration bed and causing a build up of pollutants which impair the functionality of the system.
Terre Hill Stormwater Systems also manufactures the Terre Arch. The Terre Arch is a precast concrete multi roman arched structure that is ideally suited for urban environments. It is HS-25 load rated and thus, facilitates the use of all surface land area.
Developed parcels in Philadelphia can benefit from the use of a Terre Kleen and/or Terre Arch in applying for Stormwater Management Service Charge Credits and Adjustments.
The Impervious Area Stormwater Credit (IA) requires that the landowner collect and treat and manage the 1st 1" of rainfall. There is no "partial credit" for less than 1" of collection and treatment. The goal of volume reduction set by PWD requires the landowner reduce the runoff from the parcel for the entire 1st 1" of rainfall. The Terre Arch provides a solution which will allow the landowner to continue to use the entire surface area of the parcel and also qualify for the IA Stormwater Credit.
The Gross Area Stormwater Area (GA) requires a landowner to attenuate the peak flow so that the NRCS-CN is equl to or less than 86. For each number reduction below 87 a landowner will receive a 7% reduction in its Stormwater Management Service Charge up to a 100% credit. Terre Hill Stormwater Systems manufactures the Terre Box with a watertight joint seal system which will allow the landowner to reduce the NRCS-CN to 86 or below and still utilize the entire surface area because of the HS-25 load rating of the Terre Box structure.
Placement of a Terre Kleen in front of the Terre Arch retrofit will protect and enhance the life cycle of the Terre Arch infiltration System and will reduce maintenance costs for the system.
Terre Hill Stormwater Systems can provide valuable design, engineering and structures for PWD customers to provide a solution that benefits both the customer and PWD, by reducing stormwater runoff volume and reducing Stormwater Management Service Charges.
Please contact Terre Hill Stormwater Systems www.terrestorm.com, 1 800 242 1509 or 717 445 3100.

EPA Cites 79 PA MS4s for NonCompliance with NPDES Phase II

2010-04-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems, a Pennsylvania manufacturer of NPDES Phase II Stormwater treatment and storage structures is in a unique position to assist the 79 Municipal governments that have been cited by the EPA Region 3 for noncompliance with the NPDES Phase II MS4 requirements.
Terre Hill Stormwater Systems is a division of Terre Hill Concrete Products. Terre Hill Concrete Products has been in existence since 1919, serving the needs of the sanitary sewer, storm sewer, highway, road and bridge industry.
Terre Hill Concrete Products is a NPCA certified manufacturer and is approved as a DOT provider in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.
Terre Hill Stormwater Systems is certified to provide NPDES compliant stormwater structures in PA, VA, NJ, NY, MD, DE, CT, MA, RI, NH,VT, ME, WV, TN. Terre Hill Stormwater Systems can assist each MS4 in identifying the areas that are not in compliance and, can assist in designing solutions in a cost effective and practical way.
Terre Hill Stormwater Systems works closely with PA Conservation Districts and PADEP in providing solutions for stormwater issues.
Terre Hill Stormwater Systems is currently installing its hydrodynamic separator, the Terre Kleen in several locations for local governments that are seeking to comply with MS4 requirements. Some of the municipalities are: Ocean County, NJ; Asbury Park, NJ; Warren County, NY; Essex County, NY; Town of Kent, NY.
Terre Hill Stormwater Systems has received certifications from NJCAT, NJDEP amd EPA-ETV-NSF.

Terre Kleen Hydrodynamic Separator Receives NJDEP Certification

2010-03-04T09:32:00.000-08:00

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems has received Interim Conditional Certification for the Terre Kleen hydrodynamic separator on February 24, 2010. The NJDEP Certification and the NJCAT Verification Report can be found at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/stormwater/treatment.
The NJDEP certification and the related treatment flow rates are as follows:

TK01 0.32cfs
TK02 0.52cfs
TK05 1.28cfs
TK09 2.29cfs
TK18 4.61cfs
TK27 6.90cfs
TK36 9.22cfs
TK45 11.55cfs
TK54 13.88cfs
TK63 16.19cfs

The Terre Kleen is designed to capture all trash in the stormwater runoff flow. The Terre Kleen does not require any external bypass of any stormwater runoff flow. The entire flow enters the Terre Kleen and all trash is captured; oil and grease are captured and TSS is removed at the treatment flow rate and for the portion of the flow in excess of the treatment flow rate TSS is removed at a lower removal rate. The end result is that total pollutant removal is enhanced by using the Terre Kleen.
You can learn more about the Terre Kleen and the other Terre Hill Stormwater Systems treatment products by visiting our web site at http://www.terrestorm.com

Terre Arch 48 Installation at The Enclave at Williamstadt, Montgomery County, PA

2009-12-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems (http://www.terrestorm.com/), with Brubacher Excavating, Inc. delivered and installed the Terre Arch 48 underground stormwater infiltration system at The Enclave at Williamstadt 196 W. Johnson Highway, Norristown, PA. The Terre Arch 48 infiltration system provided 29,000 cubic feet of storage and was delivered, installed and backfilled in 11/2 days.The speed of installation is directly related to the fact that the Terre Arch is a connected multi arch structure which provides 3.98 cubic ft. of storage for each square ft.; thus, under typical designs each Terre Arch 48 provides 638 cubic ft of storage. This translates into the installation of up to 50,000cubic ft. of underground stormwater storage in a day. The HS 25 load rated Terre Arch 48 allowed direct access for all installation equipment, facilitating the fast installation. The precast concrete Terre Arch infiltration system provides a concrete solution for underground stormwater treatment. This concrete option allows for designs when the site engineer is faced with site restrictions such as high ground water tables and minimum separation between the top of the underground structure and the finished grade.

2009-12-14T08:23:00.001-08:00

Terre Hill Stormwater Systems announces the "Stormwater News". THSS intends to bring practical, straightforward information on stormwater treatment and management from the viewpoint of the manufacturer/designer of stormwater treatment products.

For information on Terre Hill Stormwater Systems please click here

The Terre Kleen, an inclined plate hydrodynamic separator has been featured at the Villanova Urban Stormwater Symposium in research papers published by Dr. Shirley Clark of Penn State University. You may read these papers by clicking here and here