Name
When maintenance matters: Evaluating CDS unit performance in an urban lake watershed
Date & Time
Thursday, August 27, 2026, 10:30 AM - 11:10 AM
Description
Powderhorn Lake is an 11-acre lake in Minneapolis that receives stormwater runoff from 323 acres of urban land, including a busy commercial corridor. In the early 2000s, the City of Minneapolis installed continuous deflective separation units in stormwater pipes around the lake to intercept pollutants and debris before they reached the lake.
From 2019 to 2023, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board monitored stormwater flow and chemistry in four of the largest contributing watersheds. Results suggested the CDS units were not performing as designed. In 2024, three units were selected for a maintenance study: one held as a control, two subjected to different maintenance schedules. Results indicated two units may have been underperforming due to undersizing or clogging of the external separation screen.
In 2025, a retrofit allowing access to the external screen for cleaning was applied to one unit. Data showed the retrofit, combined with maintenance, reduced bypass frequency. Results will inform maintenance scheduling for hundreds of CDS units citywide.
Location Name
M100 H-I
Full Address
Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 2nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
United States
1301 2nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
United States