Approved by both the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the
Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Stormceptor provides
continuous positive treatment of total suspended solids (TSS) and
containment of dangerous spills under even the harshest conditions.
In addition to its stormwater treatment capabilities, Stormceptor is also
uniquely cost-effective. Unlike treatment ponds or swales, Stormceptor
systems do not require additional capital outlay for land or right-of-way
expenditures. By utilizing Stormceptor treatment systems, municipalities do
not need to acquire additional land, like that would for land based treatment
systems. In one project for a local county, for example, the use of Stormceptor
technology reduced the cost of obtaining an additional right-of-way by $4
million.
Covering over 4,350 square miles and 11 counties, the Edwards Aquifer is
the sole source of drinking water for over 1.7 million residents in this growing
region of south-central Texas. Stormceptor was found to be ideal for protecting
the Aquifer’s recharge zone (the area where surface water enters the aquifer).
“In addition to being the drinking water source for San Antonio, the Edwards Aquifer springs are also habitats for several
endangered species, so we’re trying to protect both drinking water quality and threatened species,” said Dr. Michael Barrett
of the Center for Research in Water Resources, University of Texas, who assisted the TCEQ in reviewing and approving the
Stormceptor technology.
Stormceptor protects the region by maintaining continuous positive treatment of total
suspended solids (TSS), regardless of flow rate. They capture and contain a wide range of
particles, as well as free oils, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and nutrients that attach to fine
sediment.
Many counties and cities within the Texas’ Edwards Aquifer region have either installed or included Stormceptor units when
permitting their new transportation projects. The Cities of San Antonio and Austin have both purchased Stormceptors for
numerous highway and road projects, preferring Stormceptor over other technologies due to several design features. These
include: AASHTO HS-20 highway live loading, its use as a junction structure, and the Stormceptor’s small, compact footprint.
For these municipalities, cost-effectiveness and sustainable performance have been a key factor. Indeed, planners have found
that the Stormceptor’s design features integrate with the geography of the region to provide consistently high performance
under all conditions.
Stormceptor units have been installed along I-35 at the San Marcus River to protect against hazardous materials spills.
Stormceptor has a proven record of capturing pollutants at the source, during traffic accidents, as well as ordinary spills that
occur each day along heavily-traveled routes. Its ability to meet water quality standards while capturing free hydrocarbons make
Stormceptor an ideal choice for spill containment, and since hydrocarbons are trapped in a secondary containment system, the
cost of clean-up is minimized.
Residents across Texas are keenly aware of environmental issues surrounding transportation projects. In regions such as the
Edwards Aquifer, drinking water quality is on the line. In other areas, ecological integrity, quality of life and water-based tourist
economies are crucial to any development decisions. And more and more, economic issues are at the forefront of infrastructure
projects as well.
The challenge? To protect the environment while keeping the costs of infrastructure projects in check. With Stormceptor, Texans
can rest assured that spills and urban runoff are being controlled – and thanks to the design features of the Stormwater
Treatment System, costs are also being kept in check.
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