Patent ID: 7005064

Claim:
An apparatus for removing sludge from wastewater holding areas and the like comprising: a cutter head adapted to be positioned adjacent the bottom of a wastewater holding area, and configured to draw therethrough sludge and adjacent water in the form of a sludge slurry; a dewatering membrane having a closed interior with a foraminous construction adapted to dewater sludge slurry deposited therein; a pump operably connected with said cutter head and said dewatering membrane, whereby sludge slurry is drawn from the bottom of the wastewater holding area and is transported into the interior of said dewatering membrane, wherein gravitational forces flow water in the sludge slurry through the dewatering membrane to create a dewatered sludge which can be transported in generally solid form to an appropriate site; and a floating dredge, operably connected with said cutter head, and adapted to be positioned at a plurality of different locations above the bottom of the wastewater holding area.