Self cleaning debris screen for runoff water separation apparatus

Abstract

A runoff water vault may be divided into an input chamber which receives runoff water and a second chamber which also separates and stores buoyant and non-buoyant materials separated from the runoff water stream. While the separators in such systems remove particles of different densities than water quite well, they have difficulty in removing neutrally buoyant debris. Screens are added into the water flow stream to catch and remove particles of neutral buoyancy. The screens are mounted in a manner which permits lateral movement of the screen relative to the water flow, such as shaking and/or flexing. Screen movement imparts pressure differential across the screen perforations releasing debris trapped against the screen, so that the debris will fall into an entrainment area and allow increased flow through the screen. The screens may also include one or more turbulator fins for intersecting the water flow and transferring energy to the screen, imparting lateral movement to the screen.