SWAF, Inc

SWAF, Inc. developed the AquaLogic™ system as a more effective, more efficient, lower life-cycle cost alternative to implementing conventional sand basins for the treatment of storm water runoff.  SWAF, Inc., founded in 1997, developed patents for a unique AquaLogic™ storm water runoff processing system. In addition to holding these patents, SWAF, Inc., dba AquaLogic™, provides in-depth developmental/technical coordination during your design stage and installs the AquaLogic™ system. The property owner has the option of entering into a Lease and Maintenance agreement with AquaLogic™, or purchasing and maintaining theAquaLogic™ system themselves. AquaLogic™ can provide a maintenance/services contract for purchased systems if desired.

SWAF, Inc., developed the AquaLogic™ Storm Water Abatement Filter system as a more effective, more efficient, lower life-cycle cost to the conventional sand basins for treating storm water runoff. SWAF, Inc., founded in 1997, developed two separate patents for the unique AquaLogic™ storm water runoff processing system. In addition to holding these patents, SWAF, Inc., dba AquaLogic™ provides in-depth developmental and technical coordination during the design stage and installs the AquaLogic™ system. The property owner has the option of entering into a Lease and Maintenance agreement with AquaLogic™, or purchasing and maintaining the AquaLogic™ system themselves. AquaLogic™ can provide a maintenance/services contract on purchased systems.

SWAF, Inc. developed the AquaLogic™ filtration system because, in selected areas of Texas, state and local regulations require capturing the “first flush” (approximate ½-inch) of storm water drainage from parking lots and other impervious areas that are built over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone and treating the captured runoff to remove pollutants prior to release from the property. The state regulates these activities through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

After research and development, the AquaLogic™ system was scrutinized under several exhaustive testing protocols to evaluate the effectiveness of the AquaLogic™ system as a permanent structural Best Management Practice (BMP) catch basin filtration system. The protocols were approved by the TCEQ and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). Based on the outcome of the test programs, on August 21, 2000, TCEQ granted unconditional approval of the innovative AquaLogic™ storm water processing system as a permanent structural BMP catch basin within the State of Texas; and at a later date, SAWS granted unconditional approval in the City of San Antonio.

In general, permanent structural BMP catch basin technologies are the preferred methods of storm water runoff treatment over drain inlet and hydrodynamic devices because of their capacity to treat low and high velocity and high volume “first flush” storm events. They also have the ability to store large volumes of suspended solids, metals and other pollutants that are filtered out of the “first flush”.

Prior to AquaLogic™, the only approved permanent structural BMP catch basin technology used within Texas was sedimentation/filtration basins that contain the runoff, and then utilize a sand bed to filter the water to underlying perforated drains. Sand filter basins require large, bulky permanent structural controls such as rock gabion walls, perforated trash draw down stacks and concrete baffle walls to prevent larger solids and floatable debris from clogging the sand filter media. Historically, these types of basins have been found to be prone to failure and are expensive to maintain.

The AquaLogic™ basin is uniquely different from sand filter basins because it uses computer technology to logically control sedimentation, separation, and filtration within the storm water filtration basin. The AquaLogic™ system only uses replaceable filter cartridges with a self-contained computer assisted switching system to efficiently remove contaminants.

TCEQ certified the AquaLogic™ system with total suspended solid (TSS) removal efficiencies in excess of 95%; whereas they certified the sand basin technology with only 89% efficiency. In part because of this, an AquaLogic™ basin is substantially smaller in volume than a sand basin for the same contributing area, and the space required for the vertically placed AquaLogic™ cartridge filters is less than that required for the horizontally placed sand filter media. The AquaLogic™ system can also be installed completely underground, freeing valuable real estate for parking or landscaping.

These efficient design features, result in AquaLogic™ basins being significantly less expensive to construct, operate, and maintain than sand filter basins. In addition, its cartridge filters can be removed, replaced, and discarded in a matter of minutes resulting in a new media set that is ready for additional rainfall events.

Since its approval in 2000, numerous AquaLogic™ systems have been constructed in the San Antonio and Austin areas. The unique design and method of treating “first flush” makes AquaLogic™ ideally suited for new basins as well as retrofits of existing sand filter basins.

During a storm, rainwater runoff from impervious surfaces is gathered in a splitter box or diversion chamber to separate “first flush” flows. This chamber is adjacent to a primary sedimentation chamber which is generally sized to accommodate the full “first flush” volume. The filter cartridges are located within a filtration chamber down grade from the primary sedimentation chamber. In the wall separating these two chambers is connecting pipe that houses a non-fouling, polybutylene bladder valve. Solar and battery powered electronic controls inflate and deflate the bladder valve which acts to isolate and control when sedimentation, separation and filtration commence. Once the water is filtered, it is then discharged back into the environment. 

FEATURES

• 95% TSS removal efficiency 
  
• Cumulative blinding of the filter media is eliminated 
  
• Reduced draw down times 
  
• Greater filtration capabilities of successive rainfall events
  
• Drainage problems are mitigated as a result of the increased draw down
  
• Reduced Vector problems with no unacceptable or unsightly vegetative growth
  
• Reduced health and public safety risks by installing system underground
  
• Reduced impervious cover 
  
• Reduced initial construction costs 
  
• Reduced maintenance costs 
  
• Greater design flexibility
  
• Land reclamation capabilities
  
• Solar battery powered electronic controls
  
• 10 Micron ANSI-NSF 61 certified filter cartridges

The AquaLogic system allows the following methods of lease, sale and maintenance:

• Lease (includes AquaLogic maintenance)
• Purchase with Owner-provided maintenance
• Purchase with AquaLogic-provided maintenance

There are numerous benefits to both owners and developers when implementing the AquaLogic stormwater abatement filtration system compared to sand filter basins for treating stormwater runoff:

• Applying the requirements in TCEQ Technical Guidance manual RG-348 results in the AquaLogic basin having a reduced basin size of approximately 30 to 45 percent when compared to a sand filter basin handling the same water volume
• The smaller required size of the AquaLogic basin results in a reduced initial construction cost when compared to a sand filter basin
• TCEQ-documented total suspended solid (TSS) removal efficiency is greater than the removal efficiency for a sand filter basin (95 vs. 89)
• The AquaLogic design methodology and size results in added flexibility of land use
• Because an AquaLogic basin requires less volume than a sand filter basin based on the TCEQ design guidelines, the option exists to convert an earlier designed sand filter basin to an AquaLogic basin thereby increasing the available impervious area on a property without the need to increase the size of the storm water filtration basin, or the need to add an additional basin
• The TCEQ design guidelines do not require an access ramp into the AquaLogic basin due to the ability to manually perform maintenance without the need for heavy construction equipment; TCEQ guidelines require access ramps for sand filter basins
• The TCEQ design guidelines do not require the designer provide a maintenance staging area for AquaLogic basins, whereas they require an 800 square foot staging area for sand filter basins because of the same general need to periodically perform maintenance with heavy construction equipment
• For this same reason, the TCEQ guidelines only require a minimum 8 foot wide maintenance access road for AquaLogic basins, whereas they require a 12 foot wide access road for sand filter basins
• The AquaLogic design methodology allows it to be functionally place underground thereby providing additional usable surface landscaping and/or parking space
• The ease of maintenance of the AquaLogic basin results in reduced annual maintenance cost when compared to a sand filter basin
• The AquaLogic design methodology results in reduced health and public safety risks when compared to a sand filter basin