FocalPointEMR
Developed by the US Navy, FocalPointEMR is a green stormwater infrastructure system that eliminates harmful metals, nutrients, TSS, oil, and grease from industrial site runoff. Most industrial facilities are under increasing pressure from regulators and local communities to protect harbors, bays, lakes, and streams by reducing the elevated concentrations of environmental pollutants commonly found within their facility’s stormwater runoff. Facilities are challenged due to intense operations with heavy equipment, multiple pollutant sources, nonporous paved surfaces and buildings, storage areas, and aging drainage and stormwater management technologies. To help solve this challenge, US Navy engineers spent 10 years and tested dozens of optional media options to develop FocalPointEMR, a LID/BMP hybrid system that decreases the concentration of toxic contaminants to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements.
FocalPointEMR is a modular system that combines several types of filtration media to remove pollutants from NPDES stormwater discharges. This system combines technologies to meet stringent water quality standards while also reducing the processing times, footprint, and cost required for treatment. The FocalPointEMR system is comprised of three main parts:
- Gabion Barrier – This prevents larger debris from entering the system’s filter media beds.
- FocalPoint High Performance Modular Biofiltration System – This high-flow biofiltration system acts as a pretreatment LID chamber, reducing pollutants from discharges before entering the Navy’s structural BMP. In addition, the plants in this system remove pollutants from stormwater by adsorption. Pollutants addressed include bacteria, TSS, nutrients, oil & grease, phosphorus, metals, as well as other pollutants.
- Structural BMP – Patented by the Navy, this chamber is made up of a configuration of bone char (a granular form of calcined cattle bones), which absorbs heavy metals, fluorides, iron and organic molecules, and FS-50 (iron-enhanced activated alumina), which reduces dissolved contaminants.
The first installation of this system was in 2018 at the Point Loma Naval Weapons Station in Point Loma, California. FocalPointEMR has full-scale field verification under the Department of Defense, Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). In addition, the NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditional Warfare Center performed all testing and sampling protocols per the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Technology Assessment Protocol (TAPE) – Ecology and Naval Base Point Loma NPDES permit.
Demonstration of this technology shows a sustainable method to reduce particulate and heavy metal contaminant concentrations. Each system can be customized for variable site conditions. If interested in using the FocalPointEMR for a retrofit or on a new construction project, please contact California Filtration Specialists for a site visit and design assistance.
- Industrial General Permit Facilities
- New Construction Industrial Sites
- Port Facilities
- Navy Facilities
- Shallow profile – As shallow as 4 ft
- Small footprint and rapid processing times
- Gravity-Driven – No pumps required
- No electrical needed
- Low Maintenance – Replace mulch annually, media designed with factors of safety
Key Components:
- Gabion
- High-Flow Biofiltration System
- Modular Box Underdrain
- 2″ Gravel w/ Mesh
- 6″ Bone Char
- 9″ AA FS-50
- 4″ Underdrain w/ Stone
Serving the entire United States!