Recent studies by the University of Florida (UF) and University of Minnesota (UM) indicate the potential of some of our cities' expensive storm water treatment systems to release previously captured pollutants directly into our waterways. These treatment systems capture sediment, oil and other pollutants during some storms, but based on these studies, they often fail to retain these pollutants during high-intensity storms.
UF's Environmental Engineering Sciences Department and UM performed tests on a number of brands of storm water treatment systems. Both studies found that only one brand, Stormceptor, was able to effectively prevent pollutant resuspension during simulated high-intensity storm circumstances. All other brands released an unacceptable volume of material when subjected to these high water loadings.
