Urban runoff water treatment methods and systems

• US 7,160,441 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clear Creek Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clear Creek Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Gannon, Guy Timothy, Gannon, Joseph Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Cintins; Ivars C.
• Application Number:
  US10/112,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20030024863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 210/663, 210/668, 210/669, 210/747, 210/748, 210/760, 210/143, 210/170, 210/241, 210/266, 210/275, 210/290, 210/134, 210/192, 210/202, 210/259, 210/277
• US Class Current: 210/134
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 36/02 Combinations of filters of different kinds B01D29/50, B01D33/35 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/281 using inorganic sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/001 Runoff or storm water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/008 Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle for biological treatment C02F2203/008
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/40 Liquid flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 using solar energy

Abstract

The apparatus and methods of the present invention enable efficient and appropriate treatment of Urban Water Runoff, so that the treated Urban water Runoff can be can be introduced into public waterways without contaminating such waterways. The system apparatus utilizes adsorptive Organoclay media, mechanical filtration and ultraviolet sterilization. The methods and apparatus of the present invention remove contaminants from Urban Water Runoff to a level which enable the resulting effluent to meet appropriate standards for introducing the treated Urban water Runoff in to public waterways. The method and apparatus of water treatment of the present invention does not utilize chlorine containing compounds which, when combined with organic compounds can produce THM'"'"'s that can become problematic when re-introduced to the downstream environment. The systems of the present invention can be made sufficiently compact so as to enable their use in remote locations.

Claims

1. A system for treating Urban Water Runoff, said system comprising:

a water inlet and a water outlet, said inlet being arranged to allow water under treatment to enter the system, said outlet being arranged to allow treated water to exit the system;

a mixed media bed particulate filter, said mixed media bed particulate filter having a backwash line,

an adsorptive media filter, said adsorptive media filter having a backwash line,

an ozone generator, said ozone generator being arranged in side stream with said adsorptive media filter,

an ultraviolet light disinfectant chamber at the water outlet,

a plurality of electronic control valves, and

a programmable logic unit, said programmable logic unit being electronically connected to said electronic control valves, said electronic control valves and said programmable logic unit being interoperable so as to control the flow of water under treatment through the system.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, the ozone generator oxygenating a portion of the water under treatment, said electronic control valves being interposed between said ozone generator and said adsorptive media filter for controlling flow of oxygenated water under treatment to prevent bio-fouling of said adsorptive media filter.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein an electronic control valve is disposed between said mixed media bed particulate filter and said adsorptive media filter.

4. The system of claim 2, an electronic control valve being positioned in the backwash line of the adsorptive media filter and being interoperable with said programmable logic controller to permit said programmable logic controller to automatically backwash the adsorptive media filter.

5. A system for treating Urban Water Runoff of claim 1, wherein said system is arranged on a trailer to permit periodic use of said system.

6. A system for treating Urban Water Runoff of claim 1, said mixed media bed particulate filter containing a spherical based crystalline silica;

an almandite gemstone high retention garnet; and

a graded support material.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said adsorptive media filter includes an organoclay media.

8. A system for treating Urban Water Runoff for submission into public waterways, comprising:

a water inlet, said inlet being arranged to allow the water to enter the system;

a mechanical filter, said mechanical filter being arranged to reduce any elevated level of particulate matter in the water;

an adsorptive media filter, said adsorptive filter containing an organoclay media and being arranged to reduce any elevated level of hydrocarbon contaminants in the water;

a sterilizer, said sterilizer being arranged to reduce any elevated levels of viral and bacterial contaminants in the water;

a programmable logic unit, said programmable logic unit being arranged to control the actuation of the mechanical filter, adsorptive media filter and sterilizer;

an ozone generator, said ozone generator arranged to operate in side stream with said adsorptive media filter to avoid bio-fouling of said adsorptive media filter; and

a water outlet, said outlet being arranged to allow the treated water to exit the system.

9. The system of claim 8, said mechanical filter being a string filter.

10. The system of claim 8, said mechanical filter being a replaceable bag filter.