About HydroCon the Company
HydroCon offers solutions for Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), innovative water management and environmental protection by providing effective, high quality and sustainable products, which improve water quality, treat stormwater at source, facilitate infiltration, on-site retention and reuse, control drainage and reduce flooding. HydroCon products and systems have been installed in a wide range of applications in Australia, and have won numerous WSUD and stormwater industry awards.
HydroSTON pavers are manufactured in Cowra (NSW) to a special permeable concrete formulation.
HydroCon pipes are made in Germany and imported to Australia.
Quartz and basalt aggregates for HydroCon products are sourced from local quarries.
While the use of cement in HydroCon products is beneficial in neutralising contaminants such as heavy metals and phosphorus, lower impact material inputs are under constant assessment. HydroCon is investigating the use of lower carbon footprint binders as an alternative to cement and the substitution of sand with recycled glass sand.
HydroCon’s technology is unique in Australia. Our products and systems:
- are researched, designed and manufactured to provide outstanding results;
- provide substantial savings in infrastructure costs;
- easy to install;
- require relatively little maintenance;
- are strong and durable;
- have long life spans.
HydroSTON permeable concrete paving units offer distinct advantages over other permeable paving forms. Unlike resin or other synthetic materials, permeable concrete continues to gain strength over time.
HydroSTON permeable concrete pavers are rated as ‘free draining’ and are permeable across the full face and body of the paver. This feature distinguishes HydroSTON from other segmental permeable pavers, which generally rely for permeability on gaps in an otherwise solid paving unit.
HydroCon permeable concrete pipe systems are mainly used to manage and treat stormwater at source. The pipes allow stormwater pollutants to be captured and removed using conventional industrial cleaning equipment. HydroCon pipes are increasingly being specified to infiltrate stormwater in environmentally sensitive greenfield developments and to improve the performance of bioretention systems. By delivering pre-treated stormwater to the subsurface of bioretention or stormwater filter systems, common concerns over surface crusting and clogging of filtration media can be avoided, thus considerably extending service life.
PAVERS
HydroSTON has been used in the following award winning projects:
Winner: 2009 Local Government & Shires Association Awards for Excellence in the Environment (Water Conservation Category)
Bronte Gully Stormwater Harvesting System, Waverley Council NSW
Winner: 2010 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Award for Urban Design in Landscape Architecture
Main Street Extension, Broadmeadows, Hume City Council, Outlines Landscape Architecture
Merit Award: 2010 Stormwater Victoria Award for Excellence in Infrastructure
Main Street Extension, Broadmeadows, Hume City Council, Storm Consulting
PIPES
HydroCon permeable pipes have been used in numerous projects that have received awards and recognitions.
HydroCon pipe systems were recognised in their own right in 2008 as Winner of the Stormwater Industry Association (SIA) Award for Excellence in a Stormwater Quality Device or Measure – Exfiltration Stormwater Treatment Systems.
Highly Commended: 2010 IPWEA (Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia – NSW) Engineering Excellence Awards (Environmental Enhancement Project or Initiative Category)
Powells Creek Reserve Stormwater Harvesting System, Concord West NSW
City of Canada Bay Council
2008 Green Globe Award – Business Awards: Industry: Water: awarded to Mirvac for Ashgrove Water Efficient Housing
Ashgrove Residential Estate, Regents Park NSW
Winner: 2008 Stormwater Industry Association Award for Excellence in Stormwater Management
Ashgrove Residential Estate, Regents Park NSW
Mirvac in partnership with Storm Consulting
Winner: 2007 Stormwater Industry Association Award for Surface and Groundwater Management
Kinross Business & Industrial Estate
Heatherbrae (Raymond Terrace) NSW
CABP in partnership with Storm Consulting
Merit Award: 2007 Stormwater Industry Association Award for Stormwater Excellence in Stormwater Harvesting and Re-Use
Ashgrove Residential Estate, Regents Park NSW
Mirvac in partnership with Storm Consulting
Finalist: Institution of Engineers, 2005 Australia Awards for Excellence
Kiama CBD sand filter
Kiama Council & Storm Consulting
Highly Commended: 2005 Sustainable Water Challenge (Retrofit Category)
Kiama CBD stormwater harvesting and reuse
Kiama Council & Storm Consulting
Winner: 2004 Stormwater Industry Association National Award – Water Sensitive Urban Design
Elambra Residential Estate, Gerringong NSW & Kiama CBD stormwater treatment and reuse
Storm Consulting & Kiama Council
Winner: 2004 Sustainable Water Challenge (Greenfield Category)
Elambra Residential Estate, Gerringong NSW
Storm Consulting & Kiama Council
Winner: 2003 Keep Australia Beautiful National Clean Beach Challenge Award
Kiama Catchment Caretakers Project
Kiama Council
Winner: 2003 Local Government Association Award
Black Beach and Elambra Residential Estate ESD Initiative
Kiama Council
PAVERS
Sounthararajah, D., Loganathan, P., Kandasamy, J., Vigneswaran, S., (2017): Removing heavy metals using permeable pavement system with a titanate nano-fibrous adsorbent column as a post treatment, Chemosphere 168 (2017) 467-473
Dierkes, C., Lucke, T., Helmreich, B. (2015): General Technical Approvals for Decentralised Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) – The Current Situation in Germany, Sustainability 2015, 7, 3031-3051
Göbel, P., Starke, P., Coldewey, W.G., (2008): Evaporation measurements on enhanced water-permeable paving in urban areas, 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Edinburgh, Scotland
Beecham, S., (2006) Improving Water Quality Through Total Water Cycle Management, SA Water Centre for Water Science & Systems, University of South Australia, Research Day
Dierkes, C., Lohmann, M., Becker, M., Raasch, U., (2005): Pollution retention of different permeable pavements with reservoir structure at high hydraulic loads, 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Copenhagen 21-26 August 2005
Dierkes, C., Angelis, G., Kandasamy, J., Kuhlmann, L., (2002): Pollution Retention Capability and Maintenance of Permeable Pavements, 9th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Portland, Oregon 8-13 September 2002
Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Gobel, P., Wells, J. (2002): Next Generation Water Sensitive Stormwater Management Techniques, 2nd National Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design, Brisbane 2-4 September 2002
Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Wells, J. (2002): Sustainable Urban Drainage and Pollutant Source Control by Infiltration. 6th Regional Conference on Urban Stormwater, Stormwater Industry Association, Orange, 22-26 April 2002. Reprinted in Waterfall – Journal of the Stormwater Industry Association, Issue 16, Spring 2002, pp 14-18
Dierkes, C., Holte, A., Geiger, W.F. (1999): Heavy metal retention within a porous pavement structure. 8th International Conference on Urban Storm Drainage, 30 Aug-3 September 1999, Proceedings IV: 1955-1962; Sydney
Beecham, S. (2012): Trees as essential infrastructure: Engineering and design considerations, 13the National Street Tree Symposium
Lucke, T., Johnson, T., Beecham, S., Cameron, D., Moore, G., (2011): Using permeable pavements to promote street tree health to minimise pavement damage and to reduce stormwater flows, 12th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Brazil, September 2011
PIPES
HydroCon pipe systems are arguably the most researched WSUD systems on the market. The performance of HydroCon pipe systems has been intensively studied in Australia during a three year project funded by the Australian Research Council, involving the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) with five industry partners, including two local government councils.
The study was undertaken by a PhD student, Alison Dunphy, under the supervision of Professor Simon Beecham, now Pro Vice Chancellor: Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment at the University of South Australia. The aim of the project was to study the performance of both confined and unconfined WSUD stormwater systems and to develop a predictive model that describes the treatment effectiveness of confined WSUD systems. In a confined system, primary, secondary and tertiary stormwater treatment takes place wholly within the system prior to the release of the stormwater into the surrounding soil matrix and to groundwater. Hence, the system effectively functions in isolation to that of the surrounding soil and vegetative landscapes.
The study involved three HydroCon pipe systems at Hindmarsh Park, Kiama, Mills Park Tennis Centre, Asquith and the Weathertex Industrial Site, Heatherbrae. Significantly, these three sites represent different land uses. The Kiama site drains a major residential, commercial and park area. The Asquith site consists entirely of a heavily used car park area, while the Heatherbrae site is industrial.
While relatively new in Australia, the HydroCon technology has been studied extensively in Germany, where investigations have generated positive results (Dierkes et al., 2002). Australia and Germany are very different in terms of rainfall intensities, soil types and consequently average residence times. Many Australian clay-based soil areas also suffer salinity problems.
The results from this research have allowed the adaptation of porous pipe technologies to confined systems that can be safely used in sensitive soil and groundwater conditions in Australia. The project is of wide interest since it demonstrates how to adapt WSUD systems to very difficult site conditions.
The papers below report on research into HydroCon pipe systems and related aspects. Some papers have been presented at international conferences, including International Conferences on Urban Drainage (ICUD).
Liebman, M.B., Jonasson, O.J. (2009): How Sustainable are Stormwater Management Practices with respect to Heavy Metals? A Multinational Perspective, 6th International Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference, Perth, Australia, May 2009
Dunphy, A., Beecham, S. (2008b): Protecting Groundwater Quality Using Porous Pipe and Engineered Soil Systems, 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, IAHR/IWA, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 2008
Dunphy, A., Beecham, S. (2008a): Use of Concrete Additives to Improve the Quality of Storm Water Runoff from a Car Park, 11th International Conference on Urban Drainage, IAHR/IWA, Edinburgh, Scotland, September 2008
Wiese, R., (2008b): Workshop E6: WSUD Will it work. Prepared for the Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (HCCREMS) and presented at Workshop E6, 28 August 2008
Wiese, R., Brown, M., Liebman, M., (2008a): Using WSUD To Resolve Competing Objectives: A Case Study of a Sustainable Industrial Development, Stormwater Industry Association Conference, Gold Coast, July 2008
Brown, M., Liebman, M., Wiese, R., (2008b): Water Constraints Driving Advanced WSUD in Regents Park, Sydney , Stormwater Industry Association Conference, Gold Coast, July 2008
Brown, M., Liebman, M., Dunphy, A., Beecham, S. (2008a): Exfiltration Stormwater Treatment Systems – Versatile WSUD Devices, Stormwater Industry Association Conference, Gold Coast, July 2008
Kandasamy, J., Beecham, S., Dunphy, A (2008): Effectiveness of Stormwater Sand Filters in Water Sensitive Urban Design, Journal of Water Management, Institution of Civil Engineers UK, 161(2), pp55-64 March 2008
Dunphy A J.,(2007): The Development of Confined Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) Stormwater Filtration/Infiltration Systems for Australian Conditions. A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, December 2007
Regional Urban IWCM Program (2006): WSUD Demonstration Site Fact Sheet – Kinross Business & Industrial Estate
Dunphy A J., Beecham S C., Vigneswaran S., Ngo H H., McLaughlan R G., Collins A., (2006): Development of a Confined Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) System using Engineered Soils, 4th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design, Melbourne 4-6 April 2006. Also in Water Science & Technology, Vol 55 No.4 pp 211-218, IWA Publishing 2007
Dunphy, A., Beecham, S., Jones, C., Collins, A., Liebman, M., Wells, J., Michael, P. (2005): Confined water sensitive urban design (WSUD) stormwater filtration/infiltration systems for Australian conditions, 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Copenhagen 21-26 August 2005
Dierkes, C., Göbel, P., Lohmann, M., Coldewey, W.G., (2005): Development and investigation of a pollution control pit for treatment of stormwater from metal roofs and traffic areas, 10th International Conference on Urban Drainage, Copenhagen, 21-26 August 2005
Liebman, M., Brown, M., Garraway, E., Jones, C., (2004): Kiama CBD’s stormwater treatment and reuse project, Stormwater Industry Association Regional Conference, Shoalhaven, 21-22 April 2004
Bond, A., Liebman, M., Garraway, E., Brown, M., (2004): Lessons from a Water Sensitive Subdivision – Elambra Estate, Gerringong, Stormwater Industry Association Regional Conference, Shoalhaven, 21-22 April 2004
Beecham, S., Hourigan, P., Wells, J., and Brisbin, S., (2004): Estimating the Treatment Performance and OSD Characteristics of both Proprietary and Non-proprietary WSUD Systems at Castle Hill in Sydney, 3rd International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design, Adelaide, South Australia, 2004
Dickson, S., (2003): WSUD – Analysis and Design of Biofiltration Systems at Heritage Mews, Castle Hill, Thesis for B.Eng., University of Technology Sydney, November 2003 [PDF 3.7MB]. Case study of modelling HydroCon systems in MUSIC.
General
Wiese, R., Failures in WSUD – Key learnings or current issues??, NSW Stormwater Industry Association Workshop, November 2008
Beecham, S., Improving Water Quality Through Total Water Cycle Management, SA Water Centre for Water Science & Systems, University of South Australia, Research Day 2006
Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Gobel, P., Wells, J. (2002): Next Generation Water Sensitive Stormwater Management Techniques, 2nd National Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design, Brisbane 2-4 September 2002
Dierkes, C., Benze, W., Wells, J. (2002): Sustainable Urban Drainage and Pollutant Source Control by Infiltration. 6th Regional Conference on Urban Stormwater, Stormwater Industry Association, Orange, 22-26 April 2002. Reprinted in Waterfall – Journal of the Stormwater Industry Association, Issue 16, Spring 2002, pp 14-18
Dierkes, C., Geiger, W.F., (2000): Pollutant retention in roadside soils of motorways and federal highways. Water Management, No.6, 276-281
Geiger, W.F., Dierkes, C., Kutzner, R., Rödder, A., Ustohal, P. (1999): Influence of different roof surfaces on dynamic and pollutant concentrations of runoff in urban areas. Report for the Federal German Environmental Foundation, Az 04118; Essen
Dierkes, C., Geiger, W.F. (1999): Pollution retention capabilities of roadside soils. Water, Science and Technology 39: 201-208
Dierkes, C., Geiger, W.F. (1998): Decontaminating effects of greened highway embankments. 3rd International Conference on Innovative Technologies in urban storm drainage NOVATECH; May 4-6, Proceedings II: 497-504; Lyon
Dierkes, C., Geiger, W.F. (1998): Decontaminating effects of soil passages for the infiltration of highway runoff. 12th European Junior Workshop, Runoff Pollution and Stormwater Infiltration, March 12-15; Prefailles
