Articles »

Flo-Tote Is Critical Component In Vortechnics' State-of-the-Art Lab

The market for stormwater treatment solutions has exploded in the past few years as the EPA's strict stormwater guidelines have come on line. Vortechnics, Inc., founded in Portland, Maine, in 1988, made a commitment to lead the market through a program of rigorous product testing and aggressive product development. So when the company built its new headquarters (pictured at left) in Scarborough, it included state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor lab facilities to accommodate full-scale testing of stormwater treatment systems.

"Over the past few years, we have been working to convey to our market the importance of reliable data as a means for evaluating stormwater treatment systems," said David Miley, CEO of Vortechnics. "Our new facility is tangible evidence of that commitment. Entering our building you encounter a wave-like corridor that leads through the marketing and sales department to the 3,500 square foot lab. This architectural metaphor really reflects the soul of our company."

The new Vortechnics lab is the cornerstone for testing new products to bring to market, including a trash removal product that was recently funded by the Maine Technology Institute. "Municipalities and developers around the country are looking for ways to meet EPA's NPDES requirements for treating and managing stormwater runoff," he said. "The market is really still emerging, but has already proven to be fast growth."

The outdoor testing facility that has been constructed at the new location will allow Vortechnics to install and monitor the next generation of stormwater treatment systems in-situ. These new designs will be deployed downstream of the existing Vortechs' System to improve water quality to an even higher standard than currently required by stormwater regulations.

Prior to the move, Vortechnics' research and development efforts relied on a single area-velocity flow meter to accommodate critical field and laboratory testing projects. Plans for the new lab facility included expanding, as well as accelerating research and development efforts. In order to meet the research and development objectives for the new facility, which included concurrent field and lab testing, an additional flow meter became an essential purchase.

When the Vortechnics R&D team began researching new flowmeters in the spring of 2002 there were several key functions they wanted a new flowmeter to be capable of. First, the flowmeter would need to perform under varying conditions including full-pipe flow, partially full-pipe flow, and occasional surcharged pipe flow. It was also important for the flowmeter to be capable of being installed in different diameter pipes relatively quickly. An additional requirement was the capability to connect the flow meter to automatic sampling equipment. Field-testing at Vortechnics typically includes flow weighted composite sampling, which utilizes a flow meter to activate automatic samplers. Finally, the team also wanted a flowmeter that had been used for stormwater applications before and had a reputation for accuracy and reliability.

"After researching numerous flowmeter options from various manufactures, we decided that a Marsh-McBirney Flo-Tote II would best suit our needs," said Derek Berg of the Vortechnics R&D team. Vortechnics contacted a Marsh-McBirney sales representative and explained the functional requirements they were looking for. The sales representative walked them through the specification process to ensure the flowmeter was tailored to meet their particular needs. The result was a Flo-Tote II Model 260-C with an A/C power option for use in the lab, and fully capable of meeting the specified performance requirements.

"For more than a year now, we have been using the Flo-Tote primarily to monitor flow in the laboratory, and it has been utilized under a variety of flow conditions including clean flow, sediment-laden flow, and flow containing gross pollutants and debris," Berg explained. "The Flo-Tote has done the job flawlessly, and the Flo-Ware software package has simplified data management, saving valuable time."

About Vortechnics, Inc.

As the leading provider of engineered stormwater management solutions, Vortechnics has set the industry standard with its emphasis on research and development, customization and ease of installation and maintenance. The company's flagship product, the Vortechs' System, captures pollutants from runoff and protects waterways from damaging, contaminated stormwater flows. With the most comprehensive lab, field and third party testing in the industry, Vortechnics delivers proven results and site-specific solutions for all applications and rainfall conditions. Founded in 1988 and based in Scarborough, Maine, the company has installed more than 3,000 systems throughout the U.S. and Canada, ensuring that millions of people are able to enjoy the benefits of cleaner, safer water.

For more information about Vortechnics and its products, visit the company's web site at www.vortechnics.com, e-mail vortechnics@vortechnics.com, or call 877-907-8676.