Stormwater & Road Runoff Treatment
Wet-weather flows arrive suddenly and with a highly variable load. Pile cloth filtration absorbs these peaks — compact, fast to start and as a final solids stage before discharge.
The Challenge of Wet-Weather Flows
Wet-weather flows are intermittent and highly variable: long dry periods are followed by sudden, high-volume peaks carrying a heavy, fluctuating solids load. During a combined sewer overflow, diluted wastewater and washed-in debris can reach the receiving water almost untreated.
Any treatment stage therefore has to start quickly, absorb strong flow and load peaks, and still deliver reliable solids removal — a demanding duty at which conventional filters often reach their limits.
Why Pile Cloth Filtration Fits
A submerged pile cloth filter is made for stop-start operation: it can rest through dry weather and come into service quickly when a storm arrives. The three-dimensional pile provides a large filtration area in a compact tank and retains solids by depth filtration, while suction cleaning keeps it working through the load peak.
The filter typically acts as the final solids-removal stage before discharge — downstream of coarse screening and grit or sediment removal. By retaining the fine suspended solids and the pollutants bound to them, it protects the receiving water during wet-weather events.
Road & Highway Runoff: Sticky Particles, Cleaning Is Decisive
Road runoff carries a characteristic mix of fine particles from tyre and road-surface wear, brake dust and bituminous material, often with adhering hydrocarbons. Some of these particles are sticky and tend to adhere firmly to filter surfaces.
For this application the cleaning behaviour of the filter therefore matters as much as its retention. A pile cloth with effective suction cleaning is designed to release captured solids and stay open — making cleaning intensity a key design point.
Operational Advantages at a Glance
Fast availability
A submerged pile cloth filter can rest through dry weather and come into service quickly when a storm arrives.
Absorbs load peaks
Large filtration area in a compact tank plus continuous self-cleaning absorb strong flow and load peaks.
Fine depth filtration
The three-dimensional pile retains fine suspended solids — and the pollutants bound to them — throughout the fibre volume.
Compact & retrofittable
The small footprint allows retrofitting into existing overflow structures or retention basins.
Already running a disc or drum filter for stormwater or overflow treatment? We supply matching replacement pile cloth media. Our cross-reference tool helps identify the right R+F equivalent for your current cloth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Stormwater or Runoff Treatment
We support media selection and sizing based on the runoff characteristics and the discharge target — for new build, retrofit or replacement cloth.