HYDROCON PERMEABLE CONCRETE PIPES
Introduction
HydroCon pipes provide an innovative approach to the treatment and management of stormwater. In addition to the water quality benefits that HydroCon pipes provide, their greatest benefit is their ability to deliver pre-treated stormwater to the subsurface of a bioretention or stormwater filter system, preventing clogging, allowing easy maintenance by conventional methods, and significantly reducing life cycle costs.
Extensive research and ongoing performance monitoring have proven that HydroCon pipes can be used to:
- harvest and treat stormwater on site
- reduce untreated stormwater runoff
- provide underground water storage
- replenish groundwater and aquifers
- control local flooding
- reduce infrastructure cost in new industrial and residential developments
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HydroCon pipe systems:
- are low maintenance
- have no health & safety concerns
- are suitable for water infiltration, harvesting and re-use
- are suitable for use in sensitive environments
- are a cost-effective solution with sustainable development principles
- have a high level of performance
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HydroCon pipe systems are located underground and usually consist of pit and porous concrete pipes. HydroCon pipes improve the operation of bioretention systems and can be used in conjunction with vegetated swales, pavements and roads, for groundwater/aquifer recharge by infiltration and controlled discharge.
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Advantages of HydroCon pipe systems
- large diameter (500mm internal)
- large water storage capacity (196 litres per linear metre of pipe with additional storage in surrounding media)
- containment of contaminants within pipes, allowing easy cleaning and removal
- turpidity reduction
- settling of sediments and other fine material on the sealed base of the pipe
- rapid infiltration of treated water into surrounding media and to groundwater and/or waterways
- installation underground, thus not restricting land use
- easy installation
- long life
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HydroCon pipes are modular lengths of pipe that are porous except for the bottom of the pipe which is sealed. Sediment and pollutants from stormwater settle to the base of the pipe and are further trapped as the water exfiltrates though the walls of the pipe.
HydroCon pipe systems are able to remove most stormwater pollutants. Pipe systems remove particles and dissolved substances, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and phosphorus. Pollutants are removed by sedimentation, absorption and chemical precipitation (enhanced through ion oxides added to the pipes during manufacture).
Research in Germany and Australia (University of Technology Sydney study 2004-2007 funded by Australian Research Council grant) has shown the following removal rates for particulate associated contaminants.
| Contaminant |
Removal Efficiency |
| Lead |
>98% |
| Copper |
>98% |
| Zinc |
>95% |
| Cadmium |
>95% |
| Phosphorus |
90-98% |
| Nitrates |
Removed in sand filled trench through biological degradation. Removal rate depends on length of time water remains in trench. |
| Sediments |
Sediment removal takes place in both inlet pit (pre-filtering chamber) and within pipes. |
Brochure
Download HydroCon pipe brochure.
Expanded Range of HydroCon Pipes
HydroCon has expanded its range of permeable concrete pipes and is now able to supply pipes with internal diameters (DN) of 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 400, as well as the Australian manufactured DN500 pipe. DN100 to DN400 pipes are available with round or flat bases, either fully porous or with base partly sealed.
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HydroCon is now able to supply, for the first time, heavy duty pipes which allow extreme pressure loading. Innovative exterior design enables installation at greater than normal depths and in vehicle traffic situations with only 500mm cover. |
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Fully porous half pipes are now available for rail corridor and other infrastructure drain seepage purposes. Standard size DN400 with other sizes (DN100-500) manufactured to order. Photo on left shows concrete cover plates being used as side walk. |
See basic specifications for expanded pipe range.
 DN150 Drainage Pipes – available also in DN100 and DN200 |
 DN400 Infiltration Pipes – available also in DN100, 125, 150, 200, 250 and 300 |
 DN600 Heavy Duty Infiltration Pipes – available also in DN800 and DN1000 |
 DN400 Heavy Duty Infiltration Pipes – available also in DN100, 150, 200 and 300 |
The expanded range of HydroCon pipes includes permeable half pipes, which can be used as drain seepage systems. Half pipes can be supplied with or without permeable or non permeable covers as shown below:
 Surface drains without covers |
 Surface drains with covers |
Technical Information
Technical information includes guidelines on design, construction and maintenance of HydroCon pipe systems.
Research & Publications
HydroCon undertakes continual product development and research activities.
View research papers relating to HydroCon Permeable Pipes.
Awards & Recognition
HydroCon permeable pipes have been used in numerous projects that have received awards and recognitions, including:
Winner: 2008 Stormwater Industry Association Award for Excellence in a Stormwater Quality Device or Measure – Exfiltration Stormwater Treatment Systems
Storm Consulting in partnership with HydroCon, Hornsby Shire Council, Kiama Council, CABP & UTS
View other awards and recognitions.
Selected Installations
2008: Powells Creek Reserve, Concord West NSW – Stormwater Harvesting
2008: Heritage Park Subdivision, Castle Hill NSW
2007; Gerringong Headland Subdivision NSW
2007: Pemberton Park Reserve, Ramsgate NSW – Infiltration
2006: Ashgrove Residential Subdivision, Regents Park NSW
2006: Rockdale LGA NSW – Drainage
2005: Weathertex Factory & Kinross Industrial Subdivision, Heatherbrae NSW – Infiltration
2005: Camden Grove Subdivision, Grasmere NSW – Drainage
2005: Tania Park, Balgowlah Heights NSW – Water Quality
2004: Elambra Residential Subdivision, Gerringong NSW
2003: Hindmarsh Park, Kiama NSW – Stormwater Harvesting
2003: Mills Park Tennis Centre, Asquith NSW- Infiltration
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Read more about this highly innovative award winning WSUD stormwater harvesting project … and about the installation of HydroCon pipes and pits. |
| Project: |
Powells Creek Reserve Stormwater Harvesting |
| Location: |
Powells Creek Reserve, Concord West NSW |
| Date: |
2008 |
| Design: |
City of Canada Bay Council & HydroCon |
| Award: |
IPWEA 2010 Engineering Excellence Award (Highly Commended) in the Environmental Enhancement or Initiative Category |
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Stormwater runoff is managed and treated at the site primarily with HydroCon pipe systems. In addition to enhanced water quality control, the system provides large storage volumes for on-site detention of stormwater. The system is a cost effective and sustainable alternative to traditional drainage systems. Conference paper on the Castle Hill development |
| Project: |
Heritage Park Subdivision |
| Location: |
Chelsea Gardens, Heritage Park Drive, Castle Hill NSW |
| Date: |
2008 |
| Design: |
Bowdens Group & Mirvac Homes |
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HydroCon pipe systems treat stormwater runoff from a small subdivision at Gerringong Headland to prevent contamination of popular Werri Beach. The systems are an excellent example of the use of HydroCon pipes in conjunction with separate gravel and sand filter layers as water quality treatment measures. More images of installation. |
| Project: |
Gerringong Headland Subdivision |
| Location: |
Gerringong NSW |
| Date: |
2007 |
| Design: |
Storm Consulting & Kiama Council |
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Much of the Rockdale Council area is low lying sandy terrain draining directly into the Botany Sand Bed Aquifer. Council used a standard HydroCon pipeline system in Pemberton Park to drain stormwater from the surrounding street catchment in a highly cost effective manner. |
| Project: |
Pemberton Park Reserve |
| Location: |
Chuter Street, Ramsgate NSW |
| Date: |
2007 |
| Design: |
Rockdale Council |
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WSUD measures incorporated in this development have resulted in several prestiguous awards. Read more about this award winning WSUD project involving HydroCon pipes. |
| Project: |
Ashgrove Residential Subdivision |
| Location: |
Regents Park NSW |
| Date: |
2006 |
| Design: |
Storm Consulting & Mirvac Homes |
| Award: |
2008 Green Globe Award and the 2008 Stormwater Industry Association Award for Excellence in Stormwater Management |
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Much of the Rockdale Council area is low lying sandy terrain draining directly into the Botany Sand Bed Aquifer. Council has developed a number of innovative approaches to road drainage using HydroCon pipes to infiltrate stormwater directly into the sand subgrade. |
| Project: |
Miscellaneous Drainage |
| Location: |
Rockdale Council local government area, NSW |
| Date: |
Since 2006 |
| Design: |
Rockdale Council |
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This HydroCon pipe system trial was established by the University of Technology Sydney at the Weathertex factory, Heatherbrae. The trial’s success was partly responsible for development approval being given for the Kinross Business & Industrial Estate, which is situated over the Tomaga Sand Bed Aquifer, a major source of drinking water for Newcastle. Read more Fact Sheet and ICUD – Copenhagen. |
| Project: |
Kinross Business & Industrial Subdivision |
| Location: |
Heatherbrae NSW |
| Date: |
2004-2005 |
| Design: |
Storm Consulting |
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Camden Grove Estate provides sem-rural living just minutes from Camden. Double lines of HydroCon pipes were installed in two sand filter basins to treat stormwater runoff from the Estate prior to storage in detention ponds within a drainage reserve. |
| Project: |
Camden Grove Subdivision |
| Location: |
Grasmere NSW |
| Date: |
2005 |
| Design: |
Storm Consulting |
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The project aimed to improve the quality and quantity of stormwater flows from Tania Park to Crater Cove National Park. With limited space available, Council was able to show that HydroCon pipes and underground filtration is a viable option for treating stormwater to a high quality appropriate for discharge to sensitive waterways or non-potable use. Read more about this award winning project. |
| Project: |
Tania Park Water Quality and Flow Improvement |
| Location: |
Tania Park, Balgowlah Heights NSW |
| Date: |
2005 |
| Design: |
Manly Council |
| Award: |
NSW Sustainable Water Challenge 2005
Award (Highly Commended) |
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Standard HydroCon pipe system with sand media discharging into Union Creek from 10,000 m2 catchment. Winner of 2004 Sustainable Water Challenge (Greenfield Category) and also winner in 2004, with Kiama CBD project, of SIA National Award for WSUD. |
| Project: |
Elambra Residential Subdivision |
| Location: |
Gerringong NSW |
| Date: |
2004-5 |
| Design: |
Storm Consulting |
| Award: |
2004 Sustainable Water Challenge (Greenfield Category) and 2004 SIA National Award for WSUD |
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This highly successful and multi-award winning installation was the first fully functional HydroCon pipe/sand filter system in Australia. The system was designed as a two stage project: Stage 1 – treatment of stormwater flows from Kiama CBD preventing contamination of the main town beach (Black Beach); Stage 2 – harvesting of treated water for irrigation of adjacent public parks and gardens. Read more … |
| Project: |
Kiama CBD – Stormwater Treatment & Reuse |
| Location: |
Hindmarsh Park, Kiama NSW |
| Date: |
2003 |
| Design: |
Storm Consulting & Kiama Council |
| Award: |
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Hornsby Council was the first to trial a HydoCon pipe system in Australia. The trial treated runoff from the Mills Park Tennis Centre carpark. Two types of media – sand and gravel – were tested. The project was one of three sites intensively studied by the University of Technology Sydney with funding from the Australian Research Council Linkages Program. Read more … |
| Project: |
HydroCon Stormwater Infiltration System |
| Location: |
Mills Park Tennis Centre, Asquith NSW |
| Date: |
2003 |
| Design: |
Hornsby Shire Council & HydroCon |
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HydroCon Permeable Pipes – Selected Installations by Application
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| A. |
Stormwater Harvesting |
D. |
Aquifer Recharge |
G. |
Water Quality |
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Drainage / Street Ponding |
E. |
Infiltration |
H. |
Private Residential |
| C. |
Retention / Detention |
F. |
Biofiltration |
I. |
Industrial |
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Installation
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| Powells Creek Reserve, Concord West NSW |
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| Castle Hill Residential Estate, Castle Hill NSW |
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| Gerringong Headlands Subdivision NSW |
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| Pemberton Park Reserve, Ramsgate NSW |
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| Ashgrove Residential Estate, Regents Park NSW |
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| Rockdale Local Government Area, NSW |
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| Camden Grove Residential Estate, Grasmere NSW |
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| Tania Park, Balgowlah NSW |
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| Kinross Business & Industrial Estate, Heatherbrae NSW |
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| Elambra Residential Estate, Gerringong NSW |
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| Kiama CBD (Hindmarsh Park) NSW |
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| Mills Park Tennis Centre, Asquith NSW |
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