Storm drain filter system and method.

Abstract

A storm drain filter system (10, 100) includes a closure (31, 131) for selectively closing a filter (26, 122) when the latter is filled with sediments (13) or when water flow (11) into the storm drain filter system (10, 100) exceeds a filtering capacity of the filter (26, 122). When the filter (26, 122) is closed, water (11) incoming at the storm drain filter system (10, 100) is diverted to a portion thereof allowing water (11) to enter a storm drain (12) without filtration. In some embodiments, any sediments (13) already collected in the filter (26, 122) are prevented from exiting the filter (26, 122) when the filter (26, 122) is closed.

1 . A storm drain filter system for installation in a storm drain operable for collecting sediment-laden water, the storm drain defining a water collecting aperture leading into a storm drain cavity, the storm drain including an outlet in fluid communication with the storm drain cavity and spaced apart from the water collecting aperture, the storm drain filter system comprising:
 a system support mountable to the storm drain;   a filter for filtering at least part of the water and collecting at least part of the sediments, the filter being mounted to the system support and defining a filter top aperture leading into the filter, the filter extending between the water collecting aperture and the outlet and only partially obstructing the storm drain when the system support is operatively mounted in the storm drain so that the storm drain includes an unobstructed portion between the water collecting aperture and the outlet; and   a closure system operatively coupled to the filter for selectively obstructing at least part of the filter top aperture, the closure system being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the closure system obstructing a larger portion of the filter top aperture in the closed configuration than in the open configuration;   the filter top aperture being configured, sized and positioned for receiving at least part of the water collected by the storm drain when the closure system is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the storm drain includes a storm drain bottom wall and a storm drain peripheral wall extending therefrom both peripherally relative to the storm drain cavity, the filter being adjacent the storm drain peripheral wall when operatively positioned in the storm drain and delimiting a central aperture spaced apart from the storm drain peripheral wall to create the unobstructed portion of the storm drain. 
     
     
         3 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a substantially annular deflector concentric with the central aperture, the deflector being positioned above the filter top aperture and obstructing a radially inwardly located portion thereof, the deflector having at least a portion thereof sloping downwardly towards the filter. 
     
     
         4 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the closure system substantially completely obstructs the filter top aperture in the closed configuration and wherein the closure system is substantially completely retracted from the filter top aperture in the open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the closure system includes a door pivotable about a pivot axis adjacent the filter top aperture, the door being substantially parallel to the filter top aperture in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the door is substantially impermeable and floatable. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the door includes a float provided at a free edge of the door opposed to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the filter defines a filter peripheral wall extending substantially downwardly from the filter top aperture, the door being substantially parallel to the filter peripheral wall in the open configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a filtering element and a filtering element support mounted thereto, the filtering element support being mountable to the system support, and wherein the filtering element has a substantially annular configuration. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a plurality of filter components each including a filtering element and a filtering element support mounted thereto, the filtering element supports being mountable to the system support, and wherein the filter components are each individually removable from the system support independently from each other. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a geotextile and defines a cavity for collecting the sediments. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a handle and is removable from the system support by pulling upwardly on the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the system support includes at least one of legs supportable at a bottom of the storm drain cavity and a flange supportable by a ledge of the storm drain provided at the storm drain top aperture. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The storm drain filter system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a seal positionable between the storm drain and at least one of the system support and filter. 
     
     
         23 . A method of filtering sediment-laden water in a storm drain, the method comprising:
 (a) filtering at least part of the water incoming at the storm drain using a filter and collecting at least part of the sediments in the filter, the filter occupying only part of the storm drain so that the storm drain includes an unobstructed portion unobstructed by the filter;   (b) once a maximal filtering capacity of the filter has been reached, closing access to the filter and redirecting substantially all the water incoming at the storm drain to the unobstructed portion.   
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the maximal filtering capacity is reached when the filter is filled with the sediments. 
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the maximal filtering capacity is reached when the water flows into the filter at a rate large enough that water accumulates in the filter and fills the latter. 
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein, at step (b), the sediments already accumulated in the filter are substantially prevented from exiting the filter while the water is redirected. 
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , further comprising (c) emptying the filter after step (b), reopening the filter to allow access thereto, and resuming the method at step (a). 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A storm drain filter system for installation in a storm drain operable for collecting sediment water, the storm drain defining a water collecting aperture and an outlet, the storm drain filter system comprising:
 a support mountable to the storm drain;   a filter mounted to the support and defining a filter top aperture leading into the filter, the filter extending between the water collecting aperture and the outlet and only partially obstructing the storm drain when the support is operatively mounted in the storm drain; and   a closure system operatively coupled to the filter for selectively obstructing at least part of the filter top aperture, the closure system being movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the closure system obstructing a larger portion of the filter top aperture in the closed configuration than in the open configuration.