Surface Water Mitigation Structure

Abstract

A surface water mitigation structure suitable for use in the storage and treatment of contaminated surface water runoff. The runoff is processed through a multi-layered filtration and treatment system wherein the first layer is a permeable composite capstone that can support substantial loads yet is pervious enough to allow runoff to pass through it and into a porous storage medium second layer that includes one or more remediating agents, and wherein the effluent from the surface water mitigation structure can be discharged to the ground, the surface, and/or a drainage system reduced or free of contaminants.

Claims

1. A surface water mitigation structure comprising: a permeable composite capstone layer, said permeable composite capstone layer is pervious and porous, said permeable composite capstone layer has a composition and thickness to support a load on a top surface of said permeable composite capstone layer of at least 50 lbs./ft..sup.2 without breaking under such load; and, a porous storage medium layer positioned beneath said permeable composite capstone layer, said porous storage medium layer comprising a first storage medium layer component that is a water-absorbent material, and void spaces; wherein at least a portion of a top surface of said permeable composite capstone layer is in fluid communication with said porous storage medium layer to allow water on a top surface of said permeable composite capstone to flow into said porous storage medium layer.

2. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 1, wherein said permeable composite capstone layer is comprised of a first base material and resin.

3. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 2, wherein said first base material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of limestone, shale, slate, sandstone, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, obsidian, mica, diorite, flint, granite, glass, rubber, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, expanded shale, expanded slate, and recycled plastic.

4. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 2, wherein said permeable composite capstone layer includes a second base material, said second base material is different from said first base material.

5. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 4, wherein said second base material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of limestone, shale, slate, sandstone, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, obsidian, mica, diorite, flint, granite, glass, rubber, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, expanded shale, expanded slate, and recycled plastic.

6. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 2, wherein said resin includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of epoxy, urethane, acrylic, styrene, butadiene, and silicone.

7. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 1, wherein said first storage medium layer component includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of shale, slate, expanded shale, expanded slate, and other synthetic material.

8. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 1, wherein said porous storage medium layer includes one or more remediating agents.

9. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 8, wherein said remediating agents includes one or more microbes selected from the group consisting of Micrococcus, Arthrobacter, Rhodococcus, Pantoea aggiomerans, Microbacterium laevaniformans, Pseudomonas putida, Achromobacter, Aspergillys, Bacillus, Candida, Cladosporium, Corynebacterium, Myrothecium, Punicillium, Phialophora, Phodothorula, Streptomyces, and Trichoderma.

10. The surface water mitigation structure of claim 8, wherein said one or more remediating agents are 0.1 vol. % to 40 vol. % of said porous storage medium layer.

11. A method for at least partially removing contaminates in surface water comprising the steps of: a. providing a surface water mitigation structure, said surface water mitigation structure comprising: a permeable composite capstone layer, said permeable composite capstone layer is pervious and porous, said permeable composite capstone layer has a composition and thickness to support a load on a top surface of said permeable composite capstone layer of at least 50 lbs./ft..sup.2 without breaking under such load; and, a porous storage medium layer positioned beneath said permeable composite capstone layer, said porous storage medium layer comprising a first storage medium layer component that is a water-absorbent material, and void spaces; wherein at least a portion of a top surface of said permeable composite capstone layer is in fluid communication with said porous storage medium layer to allow water on a top surface of said permeable composite capstone to flow into said porous storage medium layer; b. inserting said surface water mitigation structure on a surface; c. exposing said surface water mitigation structure to surface water such that water contacts said top surface of said permeable composite capstone layer and then flows through said permeable composite capstone layer and into said porous storage medium layer; and, d. at least partially treating said surface water in said permeable composite capstone layer to reduce or eliminate one or more contaminates in said surface water.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said permeable composite capstone layer is comprised of a first base material and resin.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first base material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of limestone, shale, slate, sandstone, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, obsidian, mica, diorite, flint, granite, glass, rubber, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, expanded shale, expanded slate, and recycled plastic.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said permeable composite capstone layer includes a second base material, said second base material is different from said first base material.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said second base material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of limestone, shale, slate, sandstone, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, obsidian, mica, diorite, flint, granite, glass, rubber, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, expanded shale, expanded slate, and recycled plastic.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said resin includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of epoxy, urethane, acrylic, styrene, butadiene, and silicone.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said first storage medium layer component includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of shale, slate, expanded shale, expanded slate, and other synthetic material.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said porous storage medium layer includes one or more remediating agents.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said remediating agents includes one or more microbes selected from the group consisting of Micrococcus, Arthrobacter, Rhodococcus, Pantoea aggiomerans, Microbacterium laevaniformans, Pseudomonas putida, Achromobacter, Aspergillys, Bacillus, Candida, Cladosporium, Corynebacterium, Myrothecium, Punicillium, Phialophora, Phodothorula, Streptomyces, and Trichoderma.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said one or more remediating agents are 0.1 vol. % to 40 vol. % of said porous storage medium layer.

21. A method for forming a surface water mitigation structure on a ground surface comprising: a. depositing a porous storage medium layer on the ground surface, said porous storage medium layer comprising first storage medium layer component that is a water-absorbent material, and void spaces; and, b. inserting a permeable composite capstone layer on a top surface of said porous storage medium layer, said permeable composite capstone layer formed of a mixture of a first base material and a resin, said permeable composite capstone layer porous to water to enable surface water on a top surface of said permeable composite capstone layer to flow through said permeable composite capstone layer and into said porous storage medium layer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of inserting said permeable composite capstone layer on a top surface of said porous storage medium layer includes applying a mixture of said first base material and said resin on to said top surface of said porous storage medium layer prior to said resin being fully cured.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said porous storage medium layer includes one or more remediating agents.

24. The method of claim 23, further including the step of inserting said one or more remediating agents into said porous storage medium layer after said permeable composite capstone layer has been applied to said top surface of said porous storage medium layer, said step of inserting said one or more remediating agents including preparing a liquid mixture of said one or more remediating agents, and pour said mixture onto said top surface of said permeable composite capstone layer to cause said liquid mixture to flow through said permeable composite capstone layer and to be deposited in said porous storage medium layer.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said first base material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of limestone, shale, slate, sandstone, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, obsidian, mica, diorite, flint, granite, glass, rubber, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, expanded shale, expanded slate, and recycled plastic.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said permeable composite capstone layer includes a second base material, said second base material is different from said first base material.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said second base material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of limestone, shale, slate, sandstone, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, obsidian, mica, diorite, flint, granite, glass, rubber, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, expanded shale, expanded slate, and recycled plastic.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein said resin includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of epoxy, urethane, acrylic, styrene, butadiene, and silicone.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein said first storage medium layer component includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of shale, slate, expanded shale, expanded slate, and other synthetic material.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said remediating agents includes one or more microbes selected from the group consisting of Micrococcus, Arthrobacter, Rhodococcus, Pantoea aggiomerans, Microbacterium laevaniformans, Pseudomonas putida, Achromobacter, Aspergillys, Bacillus, Candida, Cladosporium, Corynebacterium, Myrothecium, Punicillium, Phialophora, Phodothorula, Streptomyces, and Trichoderma.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein said one or more remediating agents are 0.1 vol. % to 40 vol. % of said porous storage medium layer.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein said remediating agents includes one or more remediating agents selected from the group consisting of chemical remediating agent, physical remediating agent and biological remediating agent.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] Reference may now be made to the drawings, which illustrate various non-limiting embodiments that the invention may take in physical form and in certain parts and arrangement of parts wherein:

[0056] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional perspective illustration of the surface water mitigation structure according to one non-limiting aspect of the present invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a section of the permeable composite capstone layer of FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of one non-limiting base material that can be used to at least partially form the permeable composite capstone layer of FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a comparison of rain fall on a prior art paved surface and the surface water mitigation structure of FIG. 1; and,

[0060] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a sidewalk or path formed by the surface water mitigation structure of the present invention and also illustrates an optional curb structure along the outer perimeter of the top surface of the surface water mitigation structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS

[0061] Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating at least one non-limiting embodiment of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a surface water mitigation structure in accordance with the present invention.

[0062] The present invention is directed to a surface water mitigation structure that can be used as a water treatment and/or filtration system which is durable enough to be used in outdoor applications (e.g., roadways, parking lots, sidewalks, cart paths, bicycle paths, urban tree surrounds, horse stalls, drainage basins, etc.), and which surface water mitigation structure and/or topping has a multi-layered structure that includes remediating agents used to at least partially treat contaminants that flow through the surface water mitigation structure.

[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the surface water mitigation structure 10 includes at least two layers, namely a) a permeable composite capstone layer 20 and b) a porous storage medium layer 30. The permeable composite capstone layer 20 is positioned above the porous storage medium layer 30, and the porous storage medium layer 30 is positioned above a ground surface G. The permeable composite capstone layer 20 is configured so that it can support substantial loads while also being pervious enough to allow top water runoff to pass through the permeable composite capstone layer. The porous storage medium layer 30 is configured to absorb and/or hold water that has passed through the permeable composite capstone layer 20. The porous storage medium layer is designed to at least contain and/or be inoculated with one or more remediating agents that are designed to break down contaminants in the runoff that has passed through the permeable composite capstone layer. The porous storage medium layer is also typically designed to retain and/or absorb the runoff for a period of time (e.g., 2 minutes to 10 days and all values and ranges therebetween) to allow the remediating agents to break down the contaminants before the runoff enters the surrounding environment. In one non-limiting embodiment, the average residence time of the runoff in the porous storage medium layer is at least about 5 minutes, and typically at least about 10 minutes.

[0064] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the permeable composite capstone layer 20 can be formed from a base material formed of particles of natural materials (e.g., limestone, shale, slate, sandstone, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, obsidian, mica, diorite, flint, granite, etc.) and/or one or more man-made materials (e.g., glass, rubber, recycled concrete, recycled asphalt, expanded shale, expanded slate, recycled plastic, etc.) 22 which are bonded together with a resin (e.g., epoxy, urethane, acrylic, styrene butadiene, silicone, etc.). FIG. 3 illustrates granules of base material that can be used to form the permeable composite capstone layer 20. FIG. 2 illustrates a sample of a permeable composite capstone layer 20 wherein the base materials bonded together by a resin to form a porous and durable structure. In one specific, non-limiting example, the permeable composite capstone layer includes recycled concrete and recycled rubber bonded together with urethane. The average particle size of the base material is 0.5 mm to 100 mm (and all values and ranges therebetween) based on ISO 14688-1:2002, and typically about 1 mm to 60 mm based on ISO 14688-1:2002, and more typically 3 mm-30 mm based on ISO 14688-1:2002 based on ISO 14688-1:2002. The base material generally constitutes 55 wt. %-99.5 wt. % (and all values and ranges therebetween) of the permeable composite capstone layer, and the binder generally constitutes 0.5 wt. %-45 wt. % (and all values and ranges therebetween) of the permeable composite capstone layer. The permeable composite capstone layer can also include one or more additives.

[0065] Generally, the permeable composite capstone layer is relatively thin compared to its surface area. In one non-limiting embodiment, the ratio of depth of the permeable composite capstone layer to the surface area of the permeable composite capstone layer is at least 1:50, and has an average thickness of at least 1 inch, and typically about 1-8 inches. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the thickness of the permeable composite capstone layer 20 is less than the thickness of the porous storage medium layer 30. The thickness ratio of the permeable composite capstone layer to the porous storage medium layer is generally 1:1.2-500, and typically 1:3-15.

[0066] The permeable composite capstone layer is typically configured to be abrasion resistant, freeze/thaw resistant, and/or strong enough to support major loads (e.g., the weight of a person, car, truck, train, bus, etc.). In one non-limiting embodiment, the permeable composite capstone layer has a composition and thickness to support a load on a top surface of the permeable composite capstone layer of at least 50 lbs./ft..sup.2 without breaking under such load, typically at least 100 lbs./ft..sup.2, more typically at least 500 lbs./ft..sup.2 without breaking under such load, and still more typically at least 1000 lbs./ft..sup.2 without breaking under such load.

[0067] The ratio of resin to base material in the permeable composite capstone layer is typically about 1:2 to about 1:16. In one specific embodiment, the ratio of resin to base material is 1:4-10. The permeable composite capstone layer is configured to allow water to pass through the permeable composite capstone layer at a rate of at least 1 inch of water per square foot per hour, and typically at least 2 inches of water per square foot per hour.

[0068] The porous storage medium layer 30 is configured to retain sufficient amounts of fluid to support remediating agent activity, yet durable enough to support loads of the permeable composite capstone layer. The porous storage medium layer can be made from one or more materials and associated void spaces. In non-limiting embodiments, the porous storage medium layer can include one or more storage medium layer components selected from the group consisting of shale, slate, expanded shale, and/or expanded slate. The one or more storage medium layer components used to at least partially form the porous storage medium layer is about 0.10 mm to about 100 mm (and all values and ranges therebetween). The amount of storage medium layer components included in the porous storage medium layer is generally selected based on the amount of water to be stored or retained for a period of time in the porous storage medium layer.

[0069] Water and other liquids that enter the porous storage medium layer after passing through the permeable composite capstone layer is designed to be temporarily retained within the porous storage medium layer. The porous storage medium layer generally is designed to retain water and other liquids for at least about 0.1 days.

[0070] In one non-limiting arrangement, the thickness of the permeable composite capstone layer 20 is about 0.1-5 inches, typically 0.5-3 inches, and more typically 1-2 inches, and can with loads without cracking of 500-200,000 lbs./ft..sup.2, typically 1000-100,000 lbs./ft..sup.2, more typically 5000-50,000 lbs./ft..sup.2, and still more typically 7500-20,000 lbs./ft..sup.2. In another or alternative non-limiting arrangement, the thickness of the porous storage medium layer 30 is about 0.25-100 ft., typically 0.5-50 ft., and more typically about 1-20 ft. The composition of the porous storage medium layer 30 is generally selected such that each ton (i.e., 2000 lbs.) of the porous storage medium layer can store about 10-200 gal. of water, typically 25-100 gal. of water, and more typically about 40-75 gal. of water.

[0071] The permeable composite capstone layer and/or the porous storage medium layer can optionally include a watertight and/or impermeable material 40 on one or more sides of the permeable composite capstone layer and/or the porous storage medium layer. The watertight and/or impermeable material can prevent the flow of water and other liquids from flowing out the sides of the permeable composite capstone layer and/or porous storage medium layer and only allow the water and other liquids to flow through the permeable composite capstone layer and into the top of the porous storage medium layer and out the bottom of the porous storage medium layer and out any controlled side openings in the porous storage medium layer; however, this is not required. The porous storage medium layer can serve the purpose of a support layer and/or a collection basin. The porous storage medium layer can optionally support the growth of remediating agents in the form of microbes. The porous storage medium layer can optionally include water and/or nutrients for the purpose of supporting and/or encouraging the growth and activity of the one or more microbes in the porous storage medium layer.

[0072] The porous storage medium layer can include a mixture of one or more expanded lightweight storage medium layer components and one or more remediating agents. In one non-limiting configuration, the porous storage medium layer includes about 10 to about 99.9 wt. % of a first storage medium layer component, about 0 to about 89.9 wt. % of a second storage medium layer component, about 0.1 to about 30 wt. % of a first remediating agent, about 0 to about 30 wt. % of a second remediating agent, and less than about 10 wt. % of an additive. The dry porous storage medium layer is composed of approximately 65-98 vol. % storage medium layer components. The average particle size of the storage medium layer component is at least 0.2 mm in diameter; however, this is not required. The microbes in the porous storage medium layer constitute about 2-18 vol. % of the dry porous storage medium layer. The porous storage medium layer provides a flow rate of the runoff in the porous storage medium layer of about 0.001-1 feet per second per square foot of surface area (and all values and ranges therebetween).

[0073] Referring now to FIG. 4, there is a side-by-side comparison of a how surface water is treated when contacting the top surface of a prior art paved surface (as shown on the right side of FIG. 4) and when contacting the top surface of the surface water mitigation structure 10 of the present invention (as illustrated on the left side of FIG. 4). When a liquid contacts the top surface of the prior art paved surface, the liquid stays on the top surface of the prior art paved surface until it is washed away, such as by rain. The runoff from the prior art paved surface either drains into a drain or runs off into the surrounding environment. If the drain is not connected to a sewer system, the runoff enters into the surrounding environment. Runoff that includes contaminants that flow into the surrounding environment can potentially damage the surrounding environment. In contrast, when a liquid such contacts the top surface of the permeable composite capstone layer 20 of the surface water mitigation structure 10, the liquid may partially or fully pass through the permeable composite capstone layer. If the liquid only partially passes through the permeable composite capstone layer, when a significant amount of surface water such as from a rain storm falls on the permeable composite capstone layer, such surface water will eventually cause some or all of the liquid to pass through the permeable composite capstone layer. Once the liquid passes through the permeable composite capstone layer, the liquid contacts and is temporarily retained and/or absorbed in the one or more materials and/or voids in the porous storage medium layer. One or more contaminants in the liquid can be partially or fully broken down or eliminated by one or more remediating agents that are located in the porous storage medium layer. As such, when water exits the porous storage medium layer and into ground G, the amount of contaminates in the water are typically reduced. As such, the surface water mitigation structure of the present invention is capable of removing contaminants and/or pollutants from water (e.g., storm water runoff, waste water runoff, etc.) by subjecting the water to a multi-layered filtration and treatment system. After the water has been treated by the surface water mitigation structure, the treated water can be discharged to the ground, the surface, and/or a drainage system.

[0074] Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a path P that is formed of a surface water mitigation structure 10 in accordance with the present invention and an optional curb or border parameter C that is positioned between the top surface of the surface water mitigation structure 10 and the surface of ground G. The curb or border parameter can be used to partially or fully retain surface water on the top surface of the surface water mitigation structure until the surface water passes through permeable composite capstone layer 20 of the surface water mitigation structure 10.

[0075] During construction of the surface water mitigation structure, the porous storage medium layer is inserted onto the top of the ground surface. It is not uncommon that a portion of a ground surface is removed prior to the porous storage medium layer being inserted onto the top of the ground surface; however, this is not required. The one or more remediating agents in the porous storage medium layer can be included in the porous storage medium layer at the time that the porous storage medium layer is inserted on the ground surface and/or at some later time. After the porous storage medium layer has been applied to the ground surface, the permeable composite capstone layer is applied to the top of the porous storage medium layer. Generally, the permeable composite capstone layer is formed on the porous storage medium layer by applying a mixture of base material and uncured or partially cured resin to the top surface of the porous storage medium layer. After the resin in the permeable composite capstone layer has sufficiently cured, the surface water mitigation structure can be used. The one or more remediating agents for use in the porous storage medium layer can be initially inserted into the porous storage medium layer and/or the porous storage medium layer can be recharged with one or more remediating agents by pouring a solution of the one or more remediating agents onto the top surface of the permeable composite capstone layer; however, this is not required.

[0076] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment and alternatives thereof. It is believed that many modifications and alterations to the embodiment disclosed will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed description of the invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the present invention.