Patent ID: 8343343

Claim:
An underdrain apparatus for placement on a floor surface of a filter comprising: an anchor assembly, the anchor assembly comprising one or more support members; and one or more underdrain blocks configured to be disposed on the floor surface, each of the one or more underdrain blocks comprising: a top wall; a bottom wall defining a bottom surface configured to be placed on the floor surface; a pair of opposing side walls; a pair of opposing end walls, the pair of opposing side walls and the pair of opposing end walls together connecting the top wall and the bottom wall; a center separation wall that extends substantially vertically between the top wall and the bottom wall and between the pair of opposing end walls, the center separation wall dividing the underdrain block into two longitudinal halves, the center separation wall further protruding upwardly beyond a top surface of the top wall to define a top end of the center separation wall; and one or more apertures that extend substantially vertically through the underdrain block from the top end of the center separation wall to the bottom surface of the bottom wall, at least one of the apertures structurally configured to receive at least one of the support members, the one or more support members being configured to be secured to the floor surface on which each of the underdrain blocks are disposed.