On July 15, 2004, the City of Peterborough’s streets turned into rivers as a record-breaking
storm dumped over 220 mm (8.7 inches) of rain on the region. Estimated to be a 200-year
storm, thousands of homes and businesses filled with six to eight feet of water, forcing
residents to evacuate and the city to declare a State of Emergency. At the peak of the
event, storm sewer flow rates were five times higher than typically expected, surging with
stormwater filled with harmful pollutants. Emergency crews worked frantically to minimize
the damage that was initially estimated at over $80 million. In fact, the cost to the city could
have been much greater, both economically and environmentally, had it not been for the
city’s 46 Stormceptor units that effectively prevented pollutants from entering nearby lakes
and streams.
In 2001, Peterborough chose the Stormceptor oil and sediment separator (OGS) because it
had been tested and verified to remove and retain more pollutants from stormwater than
any other OGS separator, treating the broadest range of sediment particle sizes, as well as
harmful hydrocarbons. To ensure optimum performance, a maintenance and inspection plan supplied by Hanson Pipe & Precast
for the Stormceptor units followed installation. Each of the region’s 46 Stormceptor units was inspected by Minotaur Guardian
Services shortly before the storm.
A week after the flood, Minotaur returned to inspect the Stormceptor units and found they performed exceptionally well during
the heavy rain event. The average amount of sediment found in the units was 165 mm (6.5 inches). Considering the average
sediment level was 100 mm (4 inches) in the months leading up to the storm, the sheer volume of pollutants captured and
retained during the storm was remarkable. The Stormceptor’s patented scour prevention technology and verified performance
successfully retained oils and sediment despite the enormous flow and volume of stormwater, reducing the dangers of releasing
harmful pollutants.
While extensive laboratory and field-testing had already proven the Stormceptor’s effectiveness, the Peterborough flood
demonstrated just how well the Stormceptor works under real-world, extreme conditions.
Minotaur’s inspection service and report reinforces the exceptional performance of
Stormceptor, specifically, its ability to prevent scouring during the most intense rainfall. With
units operating worldwide, Stormceptor performs and protects every day, in every storm.
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