Wet Weather Treatment Using AquaStorm® Cloth Media Filtration

As regulatory pressures mount to reduce untreated discharges during storm events, municipalities are increasingly turning to innovative technologies for wet weather treatment. This application note from Aqua-Aerobic Systems highlights the effectiveness of the AquaStorm® Cloth Media Filter as a flexible, compact, and highly efficient solution for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) events.

Traditional approaches—such as large storage tanks, infiltration repair, and facility expansions—are often costly, slow to implement, or limited in effectiveness. AquaStorm offers a compelling alternative, functioning as both a tertiary filter during dry weather and a robust treatment unit during high-flow storm events. Its unique three-zone design—floatables, filtration, and solids zones—enables high-efficiency solids and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal, even during the “first flush” of a storm.

Field pilots across sites in Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, and Ohio demonstrated the system's ability to achieve TSS and cBOD removal rates above 90%, with minimal chemical input and waste generation. In Rushville, Indiana, for instance, the system's performance led to a full-scale deployment, replacing the need for a holding basin and ensuring regulatory compliance while saving significant costs.

The AquaStorm’s automatic startup, small footprint, and versatility in both main treatment plants and remote installations make it a practical and scalable choice for modern wet weather management—ushering in a new standard for sustainable infrastructure.