Removal of the organic surface layer in combined sewer sediment using a flushing gate

Recent research identified the different sources of pollution of wet weather Combined Sewers Overflows (CSOs): it appeared that the deposits in sewers, and especially an organic layer situated at the water-sediment interface, may contribute 40-70% to the total pollution load of CSOs. Using the cyclic flush Hydrass gate, we generated increased water flows during dry weather. The effects of flushing the deposits have been analysed: the eroded particles sampled during the first flush wave show pollutant characteristics similar to characteristics measured in the organic layer. The organic layer that has formed on the surface of deposits can thus be washed off before rainstorms occur using the cyclic flushing technique.