Product name: Meridian Aquatic Technology, LLC

Type: Bio-filtration

Location: Maryland

Products: SDF AquaMats® Models 15000, 15001, 15004 & 15006 ; BDF AquaMats® Models 20920, 20534, 20535, 20536 ; SDF AquaMats® Models 25000, 25001, 25004 & 25006

Illustration: Eurika, MS

AquaMats® biofiltration curtains provide surface area to increase biomass concentrations for enhanced BOD5, ammonia and TSS reduction. AquaMats® are high surface area media that are supported on the water surface with ballast tubes. Each AquaMat® provides surfaces designed for biofiltration that extend into the water column. The units readily form into an array that extends across the width of the cell, parallel to and straddling the aeration system. This formation allows all water, which is being vertically mixed by the ADS aeration system to pass by the AquaMats® resulting in maximum wastewater contact with the biological communities growing on the AquaMats®. AquaMats® also function as hydraulic barriers that substantially increase the settlement of suspended solids for bacterial fixation in benthic sludge.

Treatment Process:

The principal of operation is to generate concentrated biomass (aerobic or anaerobic) and accelerated biological treatment in a dynamic process similar to the activities in attached growth systems such as trickling filters or rotating biological contactors (RBC).

The key to the success of AquaMats® is that they are specifically engineered to provide an ideal location for the beneficial microbial life forms that naturally clean and purify water. AquaMats® allow those communities to be successful in a wide range of temperature and load conditions in the presence of oxygen and favorable water circulation patterns.

UltraWeave® Technology optimizes biological niche space to promote:

Effective reduction of BOD5 and TSS.
Phosphorus fixation/removal.
Enhanced nitrification even in cold temperatures.
Reduction of excess minerals like copper & aluminum.

Design Features:

High effective surface area: 5,100 sq.ft. (Model SDF-15001) or 9,500 sq.ft. (Model SDF-15004).
Easy to install in new or existing pond systems without dewatering, substantial labor or heavy equipment.
Requires NO power or housing.

Lake restoration & biofiltration

In Lake Management applications, AquaMats® for Flow Control are used in conjunction with AquaMats® for Lakes to combine the effects of improved flow dispersion and high performance biofiltration.

AquaMats® for Flow Control are deployed in inflow areas to improve flow distribution. AquaMats® for Lakes are installed in other suitable locations in the lake or pond, and may include a concentrated biofiltration field as shown below. AquaMats® for Lakes supply the vast amount of supplemental surface area required for natural biofiltration in problem lakes.

This AquaMats® product tandem reduces the turbidity of inflow waters and improves mass transfer characteristics throughout the lake or pond. The reduction in turbidity and improved dispersion of flow increases overall photosynthetic activity and the effectiveness of AquaMats? for Lakes as the primary natural biofilter for the system.

Benefits:

Creates a semi-permeable barrier for improved flow distribution
Enhances the performance of AquaMats® for Lakes in areas of high flow
No heavy or specialized equipment required

Flow control

AquaMats® for Flow Control function in an aquatic environment much like a bed of kelp. AquaMats® create a quiescent zone that supports indigenous plant and animal aquatic life while reducing undesirable suspended sediments. AquaMats® for Flow Control rely on principles of disrupted laminar flow and viscous drag to slow the velocity of water current and control resuspension of solids already present in benthos. Soils and sediment suspended in the water are precipitated as water velocity is slowed. SAV communities thrive in these conditions, aided by increased sunlight penetration through the water column and lower flow rates. Optimal spacing of AquaMats® for Flow Control may vary based on water velocity conditions and the average particle size of the local sediments.

Design Benefits

Durability: AquaMats® for Flow Control are highly durable and will function effectively for years in demanding aquatic environments. Measured by ASTM D751, AquaMats® for Flow Control products have a minimum tensile strength in both warp and weft of 200 pounds.

Reactive Intelligence: The flexible and permeable hydraulic barrier provided by AquaMats® for Flow Control displays what we refer to as “reactive intelligence”. AquaMats® for Flow Control bend and flex to allow high wave energy events to pass without damaging the product, unlike other solid barriers that may be destroyed or displaced in storm conditions.