Structures that use physical mechanisms to collect solid waste, such as litter and coarse sediment, are known as “gross pollutant traps.” They are effective at removing large, non-biodegradable pollutants. These traps are often used as the first line of defense. If you want to know more about gross pollutant traps, then this article is for you.
Introduction To Gross Pollutant Traps
Gross pollutants is anything that is bigger than 5 millimeters, like trash and garbage. A GPT is basically a device that filters stormwater for the debris larger. These are big items like plastic bags, water bottles, chip bags, and so on. This kind of trash threatens not only the water supply system but also the aquatic life and their homes as a whole. Gross Pollutant Traps filter these things out of the water systems. Some examples of gross pollutant traps that can be used in an urban setting are gully baskets, pipe nets, in-ground GPTs, as well as trash racks.
Main Purpose Of GPTs
The main job of GPT is to control the quality of water. These traps are used to get rid of pollutants and large sediments that come from all kinds of construction and land use. Some GPTs are only good at getting rid of sediment or pollution, but most can also do both. GPTs are not meant to stop flooding, but instead, they are part of water-sensitive urban design and provide primary water treatment.
Choosing A GPT
Many factors must be considered when choosing a gross pollutant trap for stormwater projects. Each system, ideally, would undergo its own separate verification process by the manufacturer. Manufacturer claims, such as those made specifically for nutrient removal, must be verified before a system because these can be evaluated.
The two main setups for GPTs are localized and wide-area. The localized GPT is used in neighborhoods and communities. Water from different blocks would flow into a network of smaller GPTs, which would then filter the water. These traps are used to protect the waterways downstream or add them to a larger treatment system. By getting rid of the largest contaminants, GPTs in stormwater treatment help keep the treatments further down in satisfactory shape.
Pros and Cons of Using GPTs
Gross pollutant traps have plenty of benefits. They have a small lateral footprint and are mostly hidden from view. But you also have to consider the limitations of gross pollutant traps. First, provide very limited help in the removal of fine sediment and dissolved pollutants. They may also be expensive to build and complex to install. Also, they can be a bit complicated and require regular cleaning. So before you buy and install one, make sure that you consider all this.
