Patent ID: 7833424

Claim:
A method for backwashing cloth filter media attached to a frame comprising the steps of: introducing untreated influent into a treatment basin and distributing said influent into a filtration region of said basin; filtering said influent through cloth filter media supported on at least two substantially linear, opposingly spaced filter plate frames, an interior of said at least two adjacent filter plate frames in fluid communication with at least one basin outlet; periodically cleaning said cloth filter media on said at least two adjacent filter plate frames by backwashing using a linearly moving backwash assembly including a source of suction and at least one substantially cylindrical rotating backwash arm communicating with a source of suction, said rotating backwash arm adapted to backwash opposing filter plate frame cloth filter media surfaces consecutively; and selectively rotating said backwash arm assembly to enable the backwashing of an adjacent cloth filter media surface consecutively, as desired.