Virginia State University Relies on Imbrium Systems' SorbtiveFILTER Technology to Protect Appomattox River

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ - In developing its new Howard Quad Complex, a $20 million, 458-bed residence hall, Virginia State University (VSU) relied on Imbrium Systems' SorbtiveFILTER technology to treat stormwater runoff from adjacent parking lots. The Quad Phase I is the first of two projects consisting of four, L-shaped residence halls that will eventually cover the area now occupied by Howard Hall. The University is situated in Chesterfield County at Ettrick on a bluff across the Appomattox River from the city of Petersburg. Founded in 1882, Virginia State University (VSU) is the nation's first fully state-assisted four-year, historically black college or university.

The original engineering site plans called for three small parking lots, each designed with a sandfilter to treat stormwater runoff. A re-examination of the plans by ACF Environmental offered a better solution that achieved a better water quality for the stormwater runoff and saved Virginia State University precious construction dollars. "Once we reviewed the site plan with the engineering and constructions firms, we understood the challenge was to find a more innovative stormwater technology that produced a better water quality and reduced project costs", stated Corey Simonpietri, Market Development Manager at ACF Environmental in Richmond, Virginia.

"The solution involving the Sorbtive technology was truly a win-win situation for all parties", said Taso Iraclidis, Regional Manager for Imbrium Systems. "VSU is adjacent to the Appomattox River in a sub-basin of the James River, which ultimately empties into the lower Chesapeake Bay. The Bay TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) which targets both sediment and nutrients like phosphorus has consequences for upstream communities and land development. The Appomattox River contributes about one-percent of the phosphorus load to the Chesapeake Bay. Everyone needs to protect the Chesapeake Bay from stormwater runoff that contains sediment and nutrients and VSU takes this obligation seriously", added Iraclidis.

By substituting the three SorbtiveFILTER systems with accompanying RainTank systems for the original sand filters, the project installation moved forward more quickly and material costs were dramatically reduced. "Using the SorbtiveFILTER was a creative solution that eliminated the need for large cranes to set the sand filters", stated Lynn J. Rogien, Senior Project Manager of W. M. Jordan Company. "At W. M. Jordan Company, we believe in Green Building Principles and their undeniable benefits to our customers, the environment and the communities we serve", added Rogien.

"Sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus are the primary pollutants of concern for the Chesapeake. VSU is a terrific example of environmental designers and a "Green" contractor looking for innovative technologies that reduce stormwater nutrient loads that enter the Chesapeake Bay. The SorbtiveFILTER is an industry leader and our field testing shows that under real world conditions the SorbtiveFILTER removed over 80-percent of sediment, 77-percent of Total Phosphorus and over 44-percent of Dissolved Phosphorus. Virginia is one of the key States in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and should take every opportunity to reduce the phosphorus from stormwater runoff", added Imbrium Systems' Taso Iraclidis.

"There is a real sense of urgency involving the rehabilitation and future life of the Bay. Field-tested stormwater technologies - like SorbtiveFILTER and SorbtiveMEDIA - already exist and have been proven to capture high volumes of dissolved and total phosphorus. At Imbrium Systems, we are proud that our products offer genuine solutions that will reduce phosphorus and sediment in the Chesapeake Bay", added Iraclidis.

About Imbrium

Imbrium (www.imbriumsystems.com) is a green-tech company that designs, develops and manufactures stormwater treatment technologies to protect water resources from pollutants. Imbrium has a strong record of environmental innovation in the industry as the creator of the Stormceptor(R) oil and sediment separator, the Jellyfish filter, Sorbtive(TM)MEDIA and Sorbtive(TM)FILTER.

SOURCE Imbrium