The runoff from stormwater can pose a great danger to the environment and affect the groundwater supply, as it is often contaminated by the chemicals, oil, dirt, and debris that gets swept along. Using stormwater filters can make for a simple and easy solution to prevent this pollution.
Stormwater runoff presents a threat because it sweeps up all kinds of contaminants that have been dropped on the ground that forms the catchment of that particular drain. If these are not filtered or screened out of the water, over time, these pollutants and contaminants will reach the surface water sources as well as seep into the ground and affect the quality of groundwater.
Using stormwater filters can help to greatly reduce the pollution of water sources by removing the waste materials from the stormwater before it finds its way into the water system. These filters are simple devices that can fit onto most catch basins and are held in place by a metal grate. These guards or filters remove litter, debris, grease and oil, and other coarse sediments from the water and trap them while allowing relatively clean water to flow through into chambers, basins, retention ponds or other stormwater management systems.
These filters or screens catch the sediment before it enters the drain, trapping it while allowing water to flow through. These filters are easy to install and remove, as they are required to be cleaned periodically so that they continue to function as required and are not clogged. Clogging will prevent stormwater from entering the drain and can lead to flooding. You can also get models of filters and screens that can trap oil and grease, as these are contaminants that are very harmful as pollutants for water. These filter inserts fit onto drain covers or catch basin covers and will not interfere with traffic going over them.
Water can flow through these filters at the rate of 500 gallons per minute, and this rate is good enough to tackle the heaviest of storms and the runoff they cause. They will trap a cubic foot of sediment before they allow the water to bypass them. Stormwater drains or pits will be located in topographical depressions and will collect all the water that falls on the catchment that is served by the drain. So whatever debris, oil, or other pollutants are on the ground during a storm will be washed into the drain, and if there is no filter, all these pollutants will find there way into the water bodies that the drain flows into.
It is very important to regularly maintain these filters used on stormwater drains, and this must be done after every storm of any intensity, and at regular intervals during other periods. They must be cleared of all the debris that has accumulated or replaced if there are any doubts over their efficient functioning. The nature of the pollutants in the area being served by the drain will determine the right kind of filter that needs to be installed.
