Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long have you been in business?

• Over 20 years, since 1996
• Over 30,000 installations
• Installed in most states & 15 countries

Where are your products manufactured?

Our products are manufactured locally in the U.S.

Do you have any local representation?

Yes, we have local representation as well as regional representation. Visit us at www.abtechindustries.com/external-reps to find your key contact.

Where can you deliver your products to?

AbTech supplies its solutions domestically as well as internationally.

How fast can you deliver your products?

1. Standard products typically ship within 48-hours

2. Engineering solutions typically ship within 3-6 weeks

Do you do lunch and learns?

Yes, we offer frequent on-site and virtual lunch & learns and webinars on a continuous basis. Contact us to schedule your next lunch & learn or webinar today.

Do you have financing options?

Yes. AbTech has capability of financing and providing full turnkey services.

Why is Smart Sponge media considered cost-effective?

• Smaller footprint
• Low headloss & high absorption capacity
• Long life-cycle
• Adaptable into existing infrastructure

How do you dispose of spent media?

• Non-hazardous for landfill disposal
• Viable alternative energy source for cement kilns or waste energy facilities

How long does your media last?

1. Varies, typically 2-3 years
2. Inspect media while servicing products
3. Media change-out is dependent on contaminant loading

Does your media have approvals?

Smart Sponge Plus:

• EPA Registered
• California DPR
• Registered in most states

Can I target more than one contaminant.

Yes, Smart Vaults can be supplied with different Smart Sponge variants which can target, for example, bacteria and heavy metals. It is more difficult to do with UUF given the volume of media is limited but Smart Sponge Plus, for example, will remove bacteria, hydrocarbons and particulate forms of nutrients and heavy metals.

How can I tell when Smart Sponge is spent?

Visually by how much debris is captured and if blinding is occurring. And, by its color and weight.

Does the latest Smart Sponge that works with emerging contaminants remove PFOA and PFOS?

Unknown at this time. AbTech is developing media for PFOS remediation.

How do you appropriately size a UUF for a drop-in catch basin?

The size of the catch basin determines the size of UUF.

How do you appropriately size a UUF for a curb-opening catch basin?

Sized to treat a specific water quality flow and to fit within the existing curb-opening.

What are your warranty terms?

• All our products come with a standard 12-month warranty.
  • Our stainless-steel UUF Chester series come with a 20-year warranty.

Do you provide engineered solutions?

Yes, our experienced engineering staff is capable of doing full turn-key solutions to standard engineered process designs.

Do your products have approvals?

• Utra-Urban® Filter (UUF) Chester: CA Water Board Certified for FTC
  • UUF TSS: NJCAT Verification and FTC

What contaminants do your solutions target?

Hydrocarbons, Heavy metals, Bacteria, Emerging contaminants, Nutrients, TSS (including trash & debris).

How do you maintain your products? Does the company serve the products?

• UUFs & Smart Vaults:
  • Remove trash and debris
  • Check smart sponge media
  • Check structure integrity
  • Replace media when it’s dark brown or black
• Smart Drums:
  • Check for pressure drops and/or carry out effluent testing
  • Replace media or order new smart drum
• Skimmers:
  • Replace when dark brown or black
  • Does the company service the products?
• Does the company service the products?
  • We connect customers with AbTech approved service partners

Do you have a rep to help me with my maintenance & replacement needs?

Yes, please call our Aftermarket Sales Manager at 480-970-6966.

How often do your products need to be maintained?

• UUFs & Smart Vaults:
  • Every 4-6 months
• Smart Drums:
  • Depends on influent concentrations
• Skimmers:
  • Typically replaced after 1 year of installation
  • Visually inspect regularly and replace when spent

Can you use your products for industrial process water?

Yes, that is the most common application for our Smart Drum filters.

How long does a DI or CO UUF maintenance take?

Depending on set-up time, about 10 to 15 minutes.

How long does maintenance take for Smart Vault?

Different Smart vault sizes, the amount of media and volume of liquids and solids will determine the time needed to clean the vault and replace the media. There is also set-up and tear down time that differs depending on the location and traffic to be managed. Depending on the access method smart vault are classified as confined space entry. Depending on vault size the amount of media, volumes of trash sediment and debris captured, clean out time can vary significantly. There is also prep and tear down time depending on location of installation. For reference, a 4-ft by 6-ft vault with 1-ft of media depth can be cleaned and media replaced in less than an hour.

What is the difference between UUF CO and DI?

The UUF “Curb Opening” or CO is a filter sleeve designed to fit into a catch basin that is used to accept surface runoff through a curb opening. The UUF “Drain Insert” or DI is a filter sleeve designed to fit into a catch basin that is used to accept surface flow directly from above through an inlet grate. The sleeves are very similar but the DI is suspended from a collar that fits into the frame. The CO sleeve is attached to a bracket that is attached to the side of the catch basin. Once attached to the bracket, the sleeve is positioned directly beneath the curb opening.

What is the difference between UUF TSS and Chester?

The primary difference between an UUF Chester and UUF TSS is that the TSS models do not include Smart Pak® media and are designed, tested and verified (by NJCAT) to remove, via physically screening, trash, debris and any particulates larger than about 53 microns. Many contaminants, like nutrients and heavy metals, are removed as a result of capturing this particulate material. The UUF Chester has a slightly different enclosure that will capture any particle greater than 5 mm and contains Smart Pak filtration media that is used to target fine particulate, trash, debris as well as sorption of hydrocarbons, metals and phosphates.

What certifications/verifications do your products and media have?

- Smart Sponge® Plus - EPA registration as well as many states - UUF TSS - NJCAT verification - All UUF's - PADEP, CA Water Board registration for Full Trash Capture - Smart Pak - PADEP - Smart Vault - PADEP