Patent ID: 7820054

Claim:
A method for dewatering slurry that contains soil as it is removed from a construction site comprising the steps of: a) forming first and second treatment zones comprising walls of filter bags and floors of filter skirts, said first zone having a series of baffles disposed therein, said zones being so arranged that water discharged over or through an entrance baffle can flow into the first zone, through or over the baffle in the first zone and can flow into the second zone through or over a connecting baffle; said second zone having a discharged baffle from which water can exit; said baffles in said first zone being spaced apart and comprising filter bags, said baffles extending across said first zone so that the direction of the flow of water and slurry through the zone will be substantially perpendicular to the baffles; b) discharging slurry to be dewatered into said first zone so that it passes across and through said first zone baffles, over and through a connecting baffle that is an interface between the first and second zone, and flows into the second zone; and, c) discharging water from the second zone after it has traversed the second zone, solids having been substantially removed from the water.