February 05, 2009
Press Release
Sweeper Test Results Highlight Impact of Sweeping on Reducing Storm Water Pollution
Giles said Elgin Sweeper encourages other sweeper manufacturers to take this independent test and see what results their sweepers achieve. “We would like the sweeper industry to consider making this a standard test to measure the efficiency of all sweepers on the market.”
As part of the field test, five controlled pick-up performance tests were conducted by PWR on the four Elgin Sweeper models over a three-day period at a curbed test track. Giles said the controlled street dirt accumulations were formulated to simulate average street dirt. Each test was based on initial street dirt accumulation of approximately 792 pounds per curb mile – 7.5 pounds (3405 g) spread evenly over a 50-foot by 2-foot track. The street dirt loadings used for these tests were well within the range of both accumulated mass and particle size distributions (PSDs) observed as part of the Nationwide Urban Runoff Program conducted more than 20 years ago.
The average forward sweeping speeds for these tests were specified at 5 mph and were measured from 4.7 to 5.1 mph. The use of water spray for dust suppression was not used in five of the six tests. One test with the Eagle Waterless FW sweeper was conducted with the use of water spray. The same unit was also tested without the use of water.
Overall pick-up efficiency for each sweeper tested was computed as a percentage of the initial weight removed and was based on the weight of the remaining material collected after the sweeping operation, compared to the known weight of stimulant spread evenly among the test track. A sieve analysis was conducted by a certified third-party soils lab on each of the six remaining material samples collected after each test and on a single sample of the stimulant itself. The results of these analyses allowed PWR to estimate the overall pick-up efficiency of each sweeper test and the pick-up efficiencies for each of the eight particle size groups used in the sieve analysis.
“Elgin Sweeper is committed to providing municipalities with environmental solutions that reduce storm water and air pollution,” Giles said. “From our alternative fuel-powered sweepers and waterless dust control sweepers, to our regenerative filtration systems, Elgin Sweeper is a technology leader in developing innovative products that result in cleaner streets, water and air.”