PYRAMAT® A key ingredient in Perth’s biofiltration basins

The Challenge

The WA Department of Water’s (DWER) integrated land and water planning is based on the principle of total water cycle management. This means that all aspects of water are considered holistically, resulting in better water-sensitive urban design. In recent years this has been expanded to integrate land planning with water planning, so that better urban water management is being adopted as part of all new metropolitan design and development projects.

In light of this, engineers and environmental planners from the City of Gosnells have a progressive rehabilitation and biofiltration policy for stormwater basins in their jurisdiction. Bioretention systems are usually 'greened' swales which promote filtration through water treatment media. These systems are often lined with specialised geotextiles.

The Australian Guidelines For Urban Stormwater Management also recommend the use of a transition layer and/or a suitable purposed designed geotextile when constructing bioretention systems.

­­Our Solution

PYRAMAT® from Global Synthetics was specified as a critical component in the City’s biofiltration schemes. PYRAMAT® is a high-performance erosion control blanket with exceptional remedial functions.

PYRAMAT® erosion control blankets are an ideal geosynthetic for moderate-flow stormwater channels, banks and steep slopes where both immediate and long-term erosion c­ontrol is required.

Using patented X3® fibre technology, PYRAMAT® erosion control blankets trap more seed, soil and water in place than traditional hard armour products. Ultimately, this yields faster and fuller vegetation development. The X3® fibres also provide reinforcement to the vegetation, with twice the erosion protection of other erosion control blankets.

PYRAMAT® offers high interlock and reinforcement capacity with both soil and root systems, exhibits extreme UV resistance, and enhances seedling emergence. PYRAMAT® carries a functional life of up to 100 years fully exposed in the most demanding arid conditions due to its high initial strength and antioxidant enhancements.

The Results

For this project, PYRAMAT® successfully withstood aggressive hydraulic stresses through the pre-vegetal phases thanks to its high tensile and shear strength. The generous open fibre weave accommodated rapid establishment and ongoing growth of vegetation. This unique 3D weave profile served to reinforce root structures whilst averting strangulation of stems and trunks, thus allowing uninhibited progress to maturity.

PYRAMAT® is the reliable choice to protect and maintain bioretention and open stormwater systems for the life of these structures.