STORMWATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT DEVICE EVALUATION PROTOCOL
What is SQIDEP?
Stormwater Australia (www.stormwater.asn.au) is the custodian of both a field testing and laboratory testing methodology, that provide a uniform, robust set of criteria against which stormwater treatment devices can be tested to deliver repeatable, reliable and transferable performance data. These Protocols were developed in consultation with Industry to provide a level playing field and increase confidence for end users and asset managers.
Why Lab test stormwater treatment measures?
The lab protocol released in December 2023, provides a quicker pathway to market than field testing because it isn't reliant on naturally-occurring rainfall events. Field testing can take 12 - 24 months to gather enough storms and data to satisfy the SQIDEP field test requirements. Lab testing doesn't replace field testing, but will give some certainty to product developers and asset managers that when trialed in the field, it will perform to requirements. Lab testing can also provide results in half the time.
What's involved?
Lab testing of a stormwater treatment measure to the Protocol requires a minimum of 7 tests. Depending on the device, these tests are either all at the full design treatment flowrate (100% TFR), or 2 at 33%, 2 at 66% and 2 at 100% TFR, with one Scour test at 125% TFR.
Each test run is dosed with a synthetic stormwater, we create to reflect the observed concentrations of typical stormwater pollutants (eg. suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus). Particular attention is paid to the dissolved and particulate nutrient forms. We also sieve the sediment to known diameter ranges, and then re-build the Particle Size Distribution to mimic the MUSIC specifications (D50 ~75 microns). Why? Because solids suspended in stormwater are very small, and testing with larger sediment will over-estimate performance.
Eight (8) water samples are collected at the inlet, and another eight (8) water samples are collected at the outlet and tested in the laboratory for pollutant removal and Particle Size Distribution (PSD).
How long does lab testing take?
This very much depends on the tested device, and its prototype development journey. Some prototypes have been successfully tested and reports delivered in 6 - 8 weeks. Others have found opportunities for innovation and improvement during the testing process, so have taken longer to allow time for refinements. We allow for Hold Points in our schedule to ensure our clients are happy with each step before taking the next one.
How much does it cost?
There are some fixed costs in lab testing (facility hire, analytical pollutant testing, dose mix, etc) and quite a few variable costs. We recommend a quick meeting first, to identify your needs, your desired outcomes and what level of investment is appropriate at your stage of the prototype development.
Will the results be accepted by Regulators?
We cannot speak for your local Regulator, but more and more of them are accepting the SQIDEP verification process. Our experience has been that customers with compliant testing have been favourably received by key Industry Regulators both in Australia and New Zealand.