This aerospace client had installed an a “patented media filtration system for enhanced industrial stormwater treatment” on their site about 5 years ago. However, it never achieved benchmark compliance and was well known for plugging completely up after a couple of rain events. The filter even overflowed on the first rain event! With that filter manufacturer’s sole solution being to rebed the filter 2 or 3 times each rain year.
Gullywasher was commissioned to re-engineer and refurbish this system into one of its biofilter process designs. The cost to perform this biofilter redesign was in line with the cost of just one rebed charge.
Upon inspection of the original system design, we have made the following improvements:
(This prior filter process was designed to fail!)
Gullywasher Solution: Gullywasher solely uses Sch 80 PVC for pipe and fittings for better UV protection and longer process life.
Gullywasher Solution: Gullywasher uses a unique launder design that ensures even distribution and ensures proper contact time throughout all of the media.
Gullywasher Solution: Gullywasher uses a larger grade size sand which is washed, rinsed, and suitably sized for depth filtration.
Gullywasher Solution: Gullywasher uses a properly graded (certified by AWWA as filter-grade) sand sourced directly from the sand processing sites.
Gullywasher Solution: Gullywasher uses a larger washed/rinsed filter-grade gravel sourced directly from the mine site.
Gullywasher Solution: Gullywasher uses a Sch 80 PVC header collector design (known as our Trident collectors) which allow for the water to flow evenly into collection from the entire filter bed.
It seems that the horrible process design, from our competitor, enhanced the marginal performance of their stormwater filter – allowing their sales force to ignore the base problem and blindly recommend faster bed changeout cycles. Ka-Ching!
We proposed the Gullywasher Solution to the site’s environmental engineer who immediately gave us the go ahead to fix the system. Gullywasher did the work in 3 days. Now the client has a new filter system that has been working and showing great results in obtaining benchmark compliance!!!
This is what we call Success!
Below is the performance for the Gullywasher GullyQuip Retrofit at a 60% increased flow rate! We expect this system will last up to four (4) years before a biochar rebed is necessary. Not like the 2 to 3 times per year experienced with the previous design and medias.
GullyQuip Aluminum Removal Performance at 80 gpm
| Date | Inlet [mg/L] | Outlet [mg/L] | Removal % |
| 10/14/2021 | 9.82 | 0.41 | 95.3% |
| 11/19/2021 | 6.37 | 0.223 | 96.5% |
| 12/22/2021 | 11.40 | 0.0815 | 99.3% |
| Average | 9.20 | 0.26 | 97.0% |
GullyQuip Copper Removal Performance at 80 gpm
| Date | Inlet [mg/L] | Outlet [mg/L] | Removal % |
| 10/14/2021 | 0.062 | 0.005 | 91.9% |
| 11/19/2021 | 0.019 | ND | 100% |
| 12/22/2021 | 0.034 | ND | 100% |
| Average | 0.038 | ND | 97.3% |
GullyQuip Iron Removal Performance at 80 gpm
| Date | Inlet [mg/L] | Outlet [mg/L] | Removal % |
| 10/14/2021 | 34.3 | 0.618 | 98.2% |
| 11/19/2021 | 11 | 0.849 | 92.3% |
| 12/22/2021 | 14.4 | 0.139 | 99.0% |
| Average | 19.9 | 0.54 | 96.5% |
GullyQuip Zinc Removal Performance at 80 gpm
| Date | Inlet [mg/L] | Outlet [mg/L] | Removal % |
| 10/14/2021 | 0.814 | 0.007 | 99.1% |
| 11/19/2021 | 0.356 | ND | 100% |
| 12/22/2021 | 0.519 | 0.007 | 98.6% |
| Average | 0.563 | 0.005 | 99.3% |
Do Not Hesitate – Call Us! We can inspect your system and make it better!