Hydro First Defense Stormwater Quality Unit Granted Indianapolis Approval

Hydro International’s First Defense vortex separator has received highly-respected approval from the City of Indianapolis for use as a stormwater quality unit, demonstrating its ability to meet the toughest regulatory design requirements.

“This is great news,” explains Lisa Lemont, Business Development Manager of Hydro’s US Stormwater division. “We know many design engineers throughout Indiana have been waiting to take advantage of the economy and performance of First Defense. Hydro’s Downstream Defender advanced vortex separator has been approved by the City for nearly 9 years enabling it to be specified throughout the state. Now engineers can also leverage the space-saving advantages of the First Defense for sites with small to medium-sized stormwater quality runoff rates.”

Following rigorous third party testing and verification, the First Defense is one of only a few devices approved for use in an online configuration in Indianapolis. This reflects confidence in the internal by-pass arrangement of the First Defense, which can accommodate higher flow rates without the risk of washing out the sediments and pollutants captured in the device, or causing surface water flooding.

Lemont adds: “The City’s requirement for stormwater devices to meet a minimum 75-year design life was a particularly important - underground stormwater devices need to be robust to resist degradation in the extreme temperatures experienced in Indiana. Hydro was able to demonstrate that the First Defense will perform robustly in the extremes of cold and heat experienced in Indiana across the seasons, in common with all the ‘Great Lakes’ states.”

Suitable for both new development and retrofit sites, The First Defense is an enhanced vortex separator that can easily be fitted into standard 4ft and 6ft manholes and configured into an existing drainage line. Its innovative design prevents pollutant washout at up to 500% of its treatment flow, which can eliminate the need to specify more costly “offline” arrangements that use separate junction manholes.

About Hydro International
Hydro International provides cost‑effective solutions for controlling the quantity and improving the quality of water with minimal maintenance. Developed over more than 30 years of research and development, many of Hydro’s award-winning solutions in the water, wastewater and stormwater sectors are based on sustainable vortex technologies. Hydro Americas’ Stormwater division is headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA.