Have you ever considered how the runoff from highways is managed in your area?
With increasing urbanisation and the expansion of road networks, managing surface water runoff has become a critical environmental challenge.
Contaminants from vehicles, such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons, can easily find their way into our water systems, posing significant risks to both human health and aquatic life.
In this article, we explore how SDS Aqua-Xchange™ offers an innovative solution to this pressing issue, ensuring cleaner and safer water for our communities. Let's delve into how this technology can transform the way we handle highway runoff and protect our environment.
How SDS Aqua-Xchange™ Works
SDS Aqua-Xchange™ employs a combination of ionic exchange and filtration processes to effectively remove both soluble and solid pollutants. The system uses naturally occurring, loose granular materials that maximise the adsorption of pollutants. As stormwater percolates through the large surface area of the Aqua-Xchange™ media, pollutants are captured and retained, preventing them from entering natural water bodies
Proven Effectiveness
The effectiveness of SDS Aqua-Xchange™ is well-documented. It has been proven to capture and retain between 99.5% and 100% of toxic metal pollutants such as copper and zinc
This makes it particularly beneficial in areas with high risks of metal pollution, such as road and rail networks, industrial estates, and even residential developments where additional removal of soluble metals is required
Versatile Applications
One of the key advantages of SDS Aqua-Xchange™ is its versatility. It can be installed as part of new construction projects or retrofitted into existing sites. The system is supplied in 1 cubic metre bags and can be deployed in various stormwater treatment applications, including filter drains, dry swales, bio-remediation devices, infiltration basins, and catch pits
This flexibility allows it to be used in a wide range of environments, from urban areas to highways.
Environmental and Practical Benefits
The environmental benefits of SDS Aqua-Xchange™ are significant. By removing harmful pollutants from surface water runoff, it helps protect aquatic ecosystems and improves the quality of water entering rivers and streams. Additionally, the system's design helps prevent surcharging and flooding by providing attenuation capacity, which reduces downstream flood risks
From a practical standpoint, the installation of SDS Aqua-Xchange™ is straightforward. It requires a minimum depth of 250mm to ensure optimal performance and can be integrated with other sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to enhance overall water management
To Conclude

SDS Aqua-Xchange™ represents a significant advancement in the field of environmental protection. Its ability to effectively remove toxic metals and other pollutants from surface water runoff makes it an invaluable tool in the fight against water pollution.
By incorporating this technology into our water management practices, we can take a substantial step towards safeguarding our environment for future generations.
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