RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

Introduction

HydroCon undertakes extensive research and testing to provide products which are both practical and economic to use whilst contributing to the provision of solutions for Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), innovative water management and environmental protection.

Permeable Pavers

HydroCon’s associates have been conducting research into permeable pavements for many years. Work has included development, manufacture and testing of new types of permeable paving, cleaning devices and installation methods. In 2006, associates were granted Technical Approval (fitness for use) by the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt) for a new two layer porous paver (geoSTON™), which is able to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff. [The German Institute for Construction Technology is the official approval body in Germany for construction products and methods.] The Approval sets the standard for the treatment and infiltration of runoff from trafficable surfaces using permeable pavement.

HydroCon Australasia was an industry partner in a successful application (LP110100222) for funding under the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Projects Grants Program (Linkage Projects Round 1 – 2011). Participants in the 3 year project are the University of South Australia (UNiSA), University of Adelaide, SA Water, City of Salisbury and Zero Waste SA. The project aims to develop new models for flow of stormwater through permeable pavements.  The project is studying clogging and the impact of various cleaning techniques and find optimal configurations for different materials and microstructures that enable more efficient design.

Permeable Pipes

HydroCon participated as an Industry Partner in a 3 year Australian Research Council Linkage Project entitled The Development of Confined Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Stormwater Filtration/Infiltration Systems for Australian Conditions (LP0454374). The project was led by the University of Technology Sydney and included Kiama Municipal Council, Hornsby Shire Council, Residual Pty Ltd (Weathertex) and Storm Consulting. The project produced a highly rated PhD thesis (see Dunphy [2007] in HydroCon Permeable Pipes section below) and a number of papers, which were presented at various conferences in Australia and overseas, notably the International Conference on Urban Drainage (ICUD).

Stormwater Filters

HydroCon’s associates in Germany have been actively researching and developing stormwater treatment devices for several decades. In 2004, associates received a grant from the German Environment Foundation (DBU), which led to the development of the stormwater filter device, HydroFilter, the marketing and distribution of which in Australia, NZ and Asia/Pacific has been licenced by HydroCon Australasia to Humes Water Solutions.

In 2009, Humes commissioned NSW Public Works’ Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL) to undertake prototype testing of HydroFilter under laboratory conditions. The HydroFilter was supplied and installed by Humes at MHL. MHL provided and installed the facilities to enable testing, including the installation of tanks, instrumentation, pump and pipe work. MHL staff undertook the testing and interpretation of results (Report 1948, July 2010).

The testing, which arguably has been the most rigorous testing undertaken in Australia of a proprietary stormwater device, aimed to determine the hydraulic performance of the HydroFilter at bypass flows (flows above the maximum treatable flow), and the efficacy of the device in the removal of suspended sediments, nitrogen and phosphorus. The device at bypass flows was determined to have hydraulic loss with a k-value of 4.0.

The HydroFilter was tested for the removal of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Nitrogen (TN), Organic Nitrogen, Ammonia as N, Nitrate and Nitrite, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Total Phosphorus (TP) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Removal efficiency calculated using event mean concentrations (EMC) and removal of outliers across six flows from 1L/s to 4L/s showed an average of 62% removal of TSS, 75% removal of TP and 14% removal of TN. This showed strong results for removal of suspended solids and phosphorus, and moderate results for nitrogen removal.

(View nitrogen element relationships and transformation process.)

The following research and publications relate to HydroCon products:

Research & Publications

General

Wiese, R., Failures in WSUD – Key learnings or current issues??, NSW Stormwater Industry Association Workshop, November 2008

Beecham, S., Improving Water Quality Through Total Water Cycle Management, SA Water Centre for Water Science & Systems, University of South Australia, Research Day 2006 [PDF 508KB]

Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Gobel, P., Wells, J. (2002): Next Generation Water Sensitive Stormwater Management Techniques, 2nd National Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design, Brisbane 2-4 September 2002 [PDF 1.1MB]

Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Wells, J. (2002): Sustainable Urban Drainage and Pollutant Source Control by Infiltration. 6th Regional Conference on Urban Stormwater, Stormwater Industry Association, Orange, 22-26 April 2002. Reprinted in Waterfall – Journal of the Stormwater Industry Association, Issue 16, Spring 2002, pp 14-18 [PDF 2.5MB]

Dierkes, C., Geiger, W.F., (2000): Pollutant retention in roadside soils of motorways and federal highways. Water Management, No.6, 276-281

Geiger, W.F., Dierkes, C., Kutzner, R., Rödder, A., Ustohal, P. (1999): Influence of different roof surfaces on dynamic and pollutant concentrations of runoff in urban areas. Report for the Federal German Environmental Foundation, Az 04118; Essen

Dierkes, C., Geiger, W.F. (1999): Pollution retention capabilities of roadside soils. Water, Science and Technology 39: 201-208 [PDF 571KB]

Dierkes, C., Geiger, W.F. (1998): Decontaminating effects of greened highway embankments. 3rd International Conference on Innovative Technologies in urban storm drainage NOVATECH; May 4-6, Proceedings II: 497-504; Lyon [PDF 426KB]

Dierkes, C., Geiger, W.F. (1998): Decontaminating effects of soil passages for the infiltration of highway runoff. 12th European Junior Workshop, Runoff Pollution and Stormwater Infiltration, March 12-15; Prefailles [PDF 427KB]
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Research & Publications

HydroCON Permeable Pavers – HydroSTON

Göbel, P., Starke, P., Coldewey, W.G. (2008): Evaporation measurements on enhanced water-permeable paving in urban areas, 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2008 [PDF 207KB]

Dierkes, C., Lohmann, M., Becker, M., Raasch, U. (2005): Pollution retention of different permeable pavements with reservoir structure at high hydraulic loads, 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Copenhagen 21-26 August 2005 [PDF 240KB]

Dierkes, C., Angelis, G., Kandasamy, J., Kuhlmann, L., (2002): Pollution Retention Capability and Maintenance of Permeable Pavements, 9th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Portland, Oregon 8-13 September 2002 [PDF 2.6MB]

Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Gobel, P., Wells, J. (2002): Next Generation Water Sensitive Stormwater Management Techniques, 2nd National Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design, Brisbane 2-4 September 2002 [PDF 1.1MB]

Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Wells, J. (2002): Sustainable Urban Drainage and Pollutant Source Control by Infiltration. 6th Regional Conference on Urban Stormwater, Stormwater Industry Association, Orange, 22-26 April 2002 [PDF 2.5MB]. Reprinted in Waterfall – Journal of the Stormwater Industry Association, Issue 16, Spring 2002, pp 14-18

Dierkes, C., Holte, A., Geiger, W.F. (1999): Heavy metal retention within a porous pavement structure. 8th International Conference on Urban Storm Drainage, 30 Aug-3 September 1999, Proceedings IV: 1955-1962; Sydney [PDF 267KB]

Dierkes, C. (1999): Behaviour of heavy metals at the infiltration of runoff from traffic surfaces over permeable pavements. Dissertation am Fachgebiet Siedlungswasserwirtschaft der Universität-GH Essen; Essen
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See also:

Lucke, T., Johnson, T., Beecham, S., Cameron, D., Moore, G., (2011): Using permeable pavements to promote street tree health to minimise pavement damage and to reduce stormwater flows, 12th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Brazil, September 2011 [PDF 760KB]

Research & Publications

HydroCon Permeable Pipes

Liebman, M.B., Jonasson, O.J. (2009): How sustainable are stormwater management practices with respect to heavy metals? A multinational perspective, 6th International Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference, Perth, Australia, May 2009 [PDF 76KB]

Dunphy, A., Beecham, S. (2008b): Protecting Groundwater Quality Using Porous Pipe and Engineered Soil Systems, 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, IAHR/IWA, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 2008

Dunphy, A., Beecham, S. (2008a): Use of Concrete Additives to Improve the Quality of Storm Water Runoff from a Car Park, 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, IAHR/IWA, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 2008 [PDF 105KB]

Wiese, R., (2008b): Workshop E6: WSUD Will it work. Prepared for the Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (HCCREMS) and presented at Workshop E6, 28 August 2008 [PDF 7.24MB]

Wiese, R., Brown, M., Liebman, M., (2008a): Using WSUD To Resolve Competing Objectives: A Case Study of a Sustainable Industrial Development, Stormwater Industry Association Conference, Gold Coast, July 2008

Brown, M., Liebman, M., Wiese, R., (2008b): Water Constraints Driving Advanced WSUD in Regents Park, Sydney , Stormwater Industry Association Conference, Gold Coast, July 2008 [PDF 584KB]

Brown, M., Liebman, M., Dunphy, A., Beecham, S. (2008a): Exfiltration Stormwater Treatment Systems – Versatile WSUD Devices, Stormwater Industry Association Conference, Gold Coast, July 2008 [PDF 270KB]

Kandasamy, J., Beecham, S., Dunphy, A (2008): Effectiveness of Stormwater Sand Filters in Water Sensitive Urban Design, Journal of Water Management, Institution of Civil Engineers UK, 161(2), pp55-64 March 2008  Extract

Dunphy A J.,(2007): The Development of Confined Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Stormwater Filtration/Infiltration Systems for Australian Conditions. A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, December 2007. [PDF 8.67MB]

Regional Urban IWCM Program (2006): WSUD Demonstration Site Fact Sheet – Kinross Business & Industrial Estate [PDF 2.4MB]

Dunphy A J., Beecham S C., Vigneswaran S., Ngo H H., McLaughlan R G., Collins A., (2006): Development of a Confined Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) System using Engineered Soils, 4th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design, Melbourne 4-6 April 2006 [PDF 138KB]. Also in Water Science & Technology, Vol 55 No.4 pp 211-218, IWA Publishing 2007

Dunphy, A., Beecham, S., Jones, C., Collins, A., Liebman, M., Wells, J., Michael, P. (2005): Confined water sensitive urban design (WSUD) stormwater filtration/infiltration systems for Australian conditions, 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Copenhagen 21-26 August 2005 [PDF 282KB]  Presentation

Liebman, M., Brown, M., Garraway, E., Jones, C., (2004): Kiama CBD’s stormwater treatment and reuse project, Stormwater Industry Association Regional Conference, Shoalhaven, 21-22 April 2004 [PDF 502KB]

Bond, A., Liebman, M., Garraway, E., Brown, M., (2004): Lessons from a Water Sensitive Subdivision – Elambra Estate, Gerringong, Stormwater Industry Association Regional Conference, Shoalhaven, 21-22 April 2004 [PDF 127KB]

Beecham, S., Hourigan, P., Wells, J., and Brisbin, S., (2004): Estimating the Treatment Performance and OSD Characteristics of both Proprietary and Non-proprietary WSUD Systems at Castle Hill in Sydney, 3rd International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design, Adelaide, South Australia, 2004 [PDF 1.02MB]

Dickson, S., (2003): WSUD – Analysis and Design of Biofiltration Systems at Heritage Mews, Castle Hill, Thesis for B.Eng., University of Technology Sydney, November 2003 [PDF 3.7MB]. Case study of modelling HydroCon systems in MUSIC. Appendices available on request:

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HydroCon Permeable Pipes – Publications by Project
A.	Mills Park Tennis Centre, Asquith NSW
B.	Kiama CBD (Hindmarsh Park) NSW
C.	Elambra Residential Estate, Gerringong NSW
D.	Weathertex Industrial Site, Heatherbrae NSW
E.	Camden Grove Residential Estate, Grasmere NSW
F.	Ashgrove Residential Estate, Regents Park NSW
G.	Kinross Business & Industrial Estate, Heatherbrae NSW
H.	Castle Hill Residential Estate, Castle Hill NSW

Publication	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Liebman (2009)	o	o
Dunphy (2008a)	o	o
Wiese (2008) in particular pp 49-64	o	o	o	o	o	o	o
Brown (2008)	o	o	o	o	o	o
Brown (2008a)						o
Dunphy PhD thesis (2007)	o	o		o
Regional Urban IWCM Program (2006)							o
Dunphy (2006)				o
Dunphy (2005)   Presentation	o	o		o
Liebman (2004)		o
Bond (2004)			o
Beecham (2004)								o
Dickson (2003)								o

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Research & Publications

HydroCon Stormwater Filters – HydroFilter

Swil, R., Wells, J., Druitt, M., (2008) Harvesting of Carpark Runoff for Boat Washing and Irrigation – Sustainable, “Green” Credentials for Clarkes Point Sailing Club, Hunters Hill, Stormwater Industry Association Conference, Gold Coast 2008

Dierkes, C., (2007) Investigations of a treatment system for road runoff in Hamburg-Harburg. Report on the performance of a dual HydroFilter PE 1000 installation containing a heavy duty traffic filter. Copy available on request:

Dierkes, C., (2007) Assessment basis for the 3P HydroSystem for rainwater treatment, Report on the performance of HydroFilter PE 1000 & 400 [PDF 157KB]

Dierkes, C., Gobel, P., Coldewey, W.G., Fleischanderl, T., Mothersbaugh, J.I., Dier-Ackley, L., Mothersbaugh, J.E., Stark, (2006): Passive Filter – Sustainable BMP for permanent stormwater treatment of heavy metals, nutrients, hydrocarbons and sediment, StormCon2006 [PDF 140KB]

Dierkes, C., Gobel, P., Lohmann, M., Coldewey, W.G. (2005): Development and Investigation of a Pollution Control Pit for Treatment of Stormwater from Metal Roofs and Traffic Areas, 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Copenhagen 21-26 August 2005 [PDF 160KB]

Athanasiadis K., Helmreich B., Wilderer P.A., (2006): Infiltration of a copper roof runoff through artificial barriers, 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Copenhagen 21-26 August 2005 [PDF 791KB]

Göbel, P., Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Coldewey, W.G. (2005): Underground Infiltration System for Treatment of Stormwater from Metal Roofs; Investigation on Laboratory Rigs, 5th International Symposium on Management of Aquifer Recharge, Berlin, 11-16 June 2005 Extract

Dierkes, C, Gobel, P, Coldewey, W.G, (2005): Final Report to Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) February

Dierkes, C. (2004): Report on investigations into retention of pollutants in rainfall runoff from a concrete plant using a HydroCon filter pit. Copy available on request:

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Product Supporting Articles & News

The Precast Concrete Paving and Kerb Association (Interpave) in the UK strongly promotes permeable pavement and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS). Publications available for download include:

• Permeable paving for amenity – case studies in Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS)
• Paving for rain – meeting the new rules for paving around the home
• Understanding permeable paving – guidance for designers, developers, planners and local authorities
• Permeable paving for adoption – guidance for achieving successful local authority adoption of permeable pavements

Water saving in the north-east: Trees grow in Brooklyn The Economist 11 Nov 2010

Lucke, T., Johnson, T., Beecham, S., Cameron, D., Moore, G., (2011): Using permeable pavements to promote street tree health to minimise pavement damage and to reduce stormwater flows, 12th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Brazil, September 2011 [PDF 760KB]

Click on ABC TV Catalyst logo below to view program of 3 June 2010 on Toxic Sediments in Sydney Harbour. Activate video (8 mins 23 secs) – view in particular 0.00 to 4.54 mins and 7.00 to 8.23 mins. Episode highlights effect of stormwater runoff on water quality.
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