Patent ID: 7011743

Claim:
A water trap for separating pollutants from water run-off, comprising: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet; and one or more baffles disposed in the chamber between the inlet and the outlet to prevent water flowing through the chamber from flowing straight through from the inlet to the outlet, but instead to deflect the water flowing in from the inlet to force the water to take a non-linear path to the outlet, wherein each one of the baffles is configured and positioned in the chamber forming at least one gap through which the liquid may flow around the baffle in a longer flow route and each one of the baffles comprises a panel with apertures defined therein that permit at least some of the liquid and pollutants to pass therethrough for dispersing the liquid, wherein the longer flow route and the dispersal of the liquid increase liquid residence time in the chamber to encourage settling of some of the pollutants, wherein the chamber has a floor, a maximum liquid level when the liquid is flowing through the chamber at a predetermined maximum liquid flow rate, and an at-rest liquid level when none of the fluid is flowing into the chamber, and wherein a first one of the baffles has a top disposed below the at-rest liquid level to form a gap at the baffle top and a bottom disposed at the chamber floor, and a second one of the baffles has a bottom disposed above the chamber floor to form a gap at the baffle bottom and a top disposed at or above the maximum liquid level.