BMP SNOUT Helping South Florida Cities Keep Beaches and Waterways Clean.

Coastal Florida cities see great value in using the SNOUT to keep their beaches and waterways clean. Mike Giardullo, of Weiler Engineering in Marathon on the Florida Keys, chose the SNOUT for more than one thousand stormwater inlets as a part of a major project to upgrade the city’s sewer and stormwater system. The goal of the system is to reduce trash, floatables, oils and sediment from draining into the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The SNOUTs were factory installed in 30” diameter Nyloplast structures covering perforated 18” ADS N-12 pipe. Giardullo says that the system is cost-effective and installation has been trouble free. Several hundred more SNOUTs may be added to new inlets as additional phases of the seven-phase project proceed while others still are planned for projects elsewhere in the Keys.

In North Miami Beach hundreds of SNOUTs are being used for new construction and for retrofit in the city’s drainage network. Jose Casio, the city stormwater engineer, requires the SNOUT on most projects. The product is specified to reduce the trash, oil and sediment discharged by the stormwater system as well as to preserve the infiltration capacity of the “French drains”. It is typical in Florida for much of the runoff to be infiltrated back into the soils through perforated pipe, to reduce runoff. Casio particularly appreciates the durable gel-coated fiberglass construction that gives the product a long service life even in the difficult warm temperature saltwater environment found in south Florida. An additional benefit is the water-resistant access port that allows city crews easy access to the “French drain” or piping system for maintenance.

As budgets for public works projects shrink while requirements for cleaner stormwater runoff expand, engineering designers are continually reaching for cost-effective solutions to solve problems. Best Management Products, Inc. has been working to meet the needs for affordable yet effective stormwater quality systems since 1999. All of BMP’s products are proudly made in the USA.