• Hydro International supplies second and third rounds of Reg-U-Flo Vortex Valves to project designed to control stormwater flows into city's combined sewer system
PORTLAND, ME, March 2, 2010 -- Hydro International, a leading provider of environmentally sustainable products and innovative solutions that control and treat stormwater, wastewater and combined sewer overflows, today announced it has completed the third stage of a program to supply the City of Ottawa, Canada, with 930 Reg-U-Flo® Vortex Valve inlet control devices to reduce incidences of basement flooding in the downtown area.
The City of Ottawa installed 485 Reg-U-Flo devices in early 2009, and recently purchased second and third rounds of valves totaling 445 units. The city uses the inlet control devices as part of a multi-stage project to control historical flooding in the O'Connor Street drainage area, in the heart of the Centretown and Glebe section in Ottawa, Canada's capital.
The combined sewer area is subject to incidences of basement flooding resulting from overwhelmed combined sewers during extreme rainfall events. Combined sewers carry wastewater and stormwater in the same pipes. During an extreme rainfall event, too much stormwater is captured at streetside catch basins, and the sewer can quickly reach its capacity. Through a direct connection, relief for the overwhelmed sewer can be provided in nearby basements in low-lying areas of the City.
The City is using the Reg-U-Flo Vortex Valves to control stormwater capture into the combined sewers. Under low-flow conditions, the Reg-U-Flo acts as a larger orifice where water and debris can pass directly from the inlet to the outlet. As flow increases a vortex with an air-filled core is formed inside the unit which starts to throttle the flow. As the head increases, the air core fully stabilizes and the valve discharge is throttled to that of a smaller orifice.
"During large rainfalls, our combined sewers were simply taking in too much run-off through the city's catchbasins, and we needed a reliable, cost-effective solution," said Darryl Shurb, a Senior Project Manager in the City of Ottawa Public Works and Services Department. "Our first round of Reg-U-Flo valves made a measurable difference in our basement flooding problem, and we're looking forward to even more improved results with these new shipments of valves."
"We are proud to have completed this landmark flow-control project for the City of Ottawa," said Neil Raymond, General Manager of Hydro International's wet weather operations based in Portland, Maine. "The Reg-U-Flo Vortex Valve has been a worldwide success, with more than 18,000 installations. We think the performance in Ottawa will serve as blueprint for other communities looking to reduce flows into their combined sewer systems."
About Hydro International
Hydro International plc is a global supplier of environmentally sustainable products and innovative solutions that control and treat stormwater, wastewater and combined sewer overflows, utilizing award-winning advanced vortex and complementary technologies. Hydro International's U.S .Wet weather operation, based in Portland, Maine is the leading provider of CSO/wet weather management products to control and treat flows within collection systems and wastewater treatment plants. The U.S. Wastewater office in Hillsboro, Oregon, offers municipal grit removal solutions. Hydro International also has U.S. Stormwater operations based in Portland, Maine, and has international offices in Dublin, Ireland, and Clevedon and Ely in the U.K. The company is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM market ticker: HYD).
###
