Hydro Intl., a provider of products and solutions that control and treat storm water, wastewater and combined sewer overflows, announced it has completed the third stage of a program to supply the city of Ottawa, Canada, with 930 Reg-U-Flo Vortex Valve inlet control devices to reduce incidences of basement flooding in the downtown area.
The city of Ottawa installed 485 Reg-U-Flo devices in early 2009, and recently purchased second and third rounds of valves totaling 445 units. The city uses the inlet control devices as part of a multi-stage project to control historical flooding in the O’Connor Street drainage area, in the heart of the Centretown and Glebe section in Ottawa, Canada’s capital.
The combined sewer area is subject to incidences of basement flooding resulting from overwhelmed combined sewers during extreme rainfall events. Combined sewers carry wastewater and storm water in the same pipes. During an extreme rainfall event, too much storm water is captured at street-side catch basins, and the sewer can quickly reach its capacity. Through a direct connection, relief for the overwhelmed sewer can be provided in nearby basements in low-lying areas of the city.
The city is using the Reg-U-Flo Vortex Valves to control storm water capture into the combined sewers. Under low flow conditions, the Reg-U-Flo acts as a larger orifice where water and debris can pass directly from the inlet to the outlet. As flow increases, a vortex with an air-filled core is formed inside the unit, which starts to throttle the flow. As the head increases, the air core fully stabilizes and the valve discharge is throttled to that of a smaller orifice.
“During large rainfalls, our combined sewers were simply taking in too much runoff through the city’s catch basins, and we needed a reliable, cost-effective solution,” said Darryl Shurb, a senior project manager in the city of Ottawa Public Works and Services Department. “Our first round of Reg-U-Flo valves made a measurable difference in our basement flooding problem, and we’re looking forward to even more improved results with these new shipments of valves.”
“We are proud to have completed this landmark flow control project for the city of Ottawa,” said Neil Raymond, general manager of Hydro Intl.’s wet weather operations based in Portland, Maine. “The Reg-U-Flo Vortex Valve has been a worldwide success, with more than 18,000 installations. We think the performance in Ottawa will serve as blueprint for other communities looking to reduce flows into their combined sewer systems.”
