LET'S TALK FLOC: A Three Part Flocculant Series from the Company that brought Flocculant (Floc) Logs and Polymer Enhanced BMPs to the Industry

Presented by: Seva Bray, Kyla Wood, PhD and Eddie Snell
Level: Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced
Duration: 2 hours
Type of Course: On-Demand

Flocculants are powerful tools that have been used for decades to control erosion, stabilize soil, and remove harmful contaminants from water. Flocculant treatments can meet very low discharge limits, allowing sites to stay in compliance, meet regulations and improve stormwater quality and clarity.  Applied Polymer Systems introduced flocculants to the erosion and stormwater industries in the 1990s, drawing from decades of research and use in mining effluent treatment. Anionic polyacrylamide is the most widely accepted and commonly used flocculant due to being both safe for aquatic life, and highly effective.

PAM use is rapidly expanding across the US and world thanks to its safety for environmental applications and effectiveness at targeting and removing difficult and common pollutants like clay, sediments, and metals. In our Let’s Talk Floc Part 1 webinar we detailed the movement and growth of PAM use for erosion and sediment control from its introduction in the 1990s to its widespread and growing adoption in the US today. We also spoke about the important factors that influence how we use flocculants safely and effectively. In Let’s Talk Floc Part 2, we will build on this important information and focus on case studies and examples of how PAMs were, and currently are being utilized to successfully manage erosion, sediment, metals, and stormwater on multiple projects across the United States and Canada. Join Applied Polymer Systems, the company who brought flocculant technologies to this industry 25 years ago, in the second part of our two series Let’s Talk Floc webinar, as we cover how to effectively, safely, and efficiently use flocculants in the field to meet stormwater and erosion and sediment control goals and requirements.

Thanks to years of education and concerted effort by universities, companies, and organizations like the IECA, flocculant use has evolved from sparse use of what many deemed mysterious “fairy dust”, to widespread adoption and a push towards standardized flocculant training, use and application. With many states recently adopting, preparing to adopt, or considering adopting anionic polyacrylamide into their toolboxes (i.e. pre-approved flocculant lists, QPLs/APLS, or erosion control and stormwater manuals) interest in flocculants and demand for training and information has reached levels never seen before in our industry.  Despite expanded use and interest, confusion and questions still exist, and education is needed to ensure flocculants are used safely and effectively. Join Applied Polymer Systems, the company who brought flocculant technologies to this industry 25 years ago, as we cover how to effectively, safely, and efficiently use flocculants to enhance traditional best management practices to meet stormwater and erosion and sediment control goals and requirements.

In the first parts of our Let’s Talk Floc webinar series we provided participants a foundation on how to select safe and effective flocculants and polyacrylamides and introduced their many uses for improving erosion and sediment control and stormwater quality. In the second part of this series we built on this information and focused on completed projects including robust dewatering and mainstream theme park applications to provide examples of how PAMs were, and currently are being utilized to successfully manage erosion, sediment, and water clarification. In our third and final Let’s Talk Floc Webinar we will use this foundation and apply the acquired skills and knowledge to work through projects that have a need for flocculant use from start to finish. Participants who have not yet had the opportunity to view Let’s Talk Floc 1 or 2, but have a basic understanding of how polymer flocculants work, and their various E&SC and stormwater applications can still benefit from this upcoming presentation and learn the process of proper flocculant planning and use. This interactive webinar will use example sites and give an opportunity for participant participation to work through the flocculant process including planning, regulations, sampling for product matching and selection, application, troubleshooting, maintenance, and disposal.

Part One Learning Objectives:

1. Understanding the basics of flocculant technologies and how to select safe and effective flocculants for treatment systems
2. Understand what anionic polyacrylamide is, how it works, and why it is the standard flocculant used for erosion and sediment control and stormwater treatment in the industry
3. Gain a basic knowledge and understanding of the steps needed to apply, maintain, and troubleshoot flocculants in field applications
4. Recognize how traditional BMPs may be enhanced using anionic PAM to improve sediment control and water treatment 

Part Two Learning Objectives: 

1. Review how to select appropriate flocculants for projects based on specific project goals and site characteristics. 
2. Learn components needed to plan and implement effective PAM treatments for Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management. 
3. Understand common management and use requirements for PAM applications through real world examples and case studies of PAM treatments. 

Sponsored By:

Each webinar in this series is worth One (1) Professional Development Hour. A total of Two (2) Professional Development Hours are available in this series.