WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

FOCALPOINT EARNS GENERAL USE LEVEL DESIGNATION (GULD)

Basic Treatment Approval Through the TAPE Program

Tape BcFocalPoint® High Performance Modular Biofiltration System has received a General Use Level Designation for Basic (TSS) Treatment from the Washington State Department of Ecology under the Technology Assessment Protocol – Ecology (TAPE) program.

The designation establishes an approved hydraulic loading rate of 1.6 gallons per minute per square foot and gives engineers, municipalities, developers and project teams a Washington Ecology-reviewed biofiltration option for Basic Treatment applications.

BASIC TREATMENT

TAPE DESIGNATION

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GPM/SF
APPROVED HYDRAULIC LOADING RATE
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STORM EVENTS MONITORED
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QUALIFYING TAPE EVENTS

WHAT THE DESIGNATION MEANS

The Washington State Department of Ecology’s TAPE program provides a formal evaluation pathway for stormwater treatment technologies.

FocalPoint’s General Use Level Designation gives engineers, municipalities, developers and project teams a Washington Ecology-reviewed biofiltration option for Basic Treatment applications.

For Washington projects, the designation establishes a clearer regulatory pathway for specifying FocalPoint where Ecology-approved Basic Treatment is required.

Approved hydraulic loading rate: 1.6 gpm/sf.

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HOW APPROVAL WAS EARNED

Washington Ecology’s designation followed field testing in the Pacific Northwest through the TAPE evaluation process.

Monitoring conducted at the Stormwater Testing Technology Center in Portland included 19 separate storm events, with 15 qualifying events meeting TAPE influent-range requirements used in the final evaluation.

The result is a General Use Level Designation for Basic Treatment at an approved hydraulic loading rate of 1.6 gpm per square foot.

For project teams, the important outcome is straightforward: FocalPoint now has a Washington Ecology-reviewed pathway for Basic Treatment applications.

THE REGULATORY PATHWAY IS NEW. THE ENGINEERING ADVANTAGES ARE NOT.

FocalPoint has long helped engineers solve stormwater challenges where conventional bioretention consumes too much space or rigid proprietary systems limit design flexibility.

The Washington Ecology designation creates a new regulatory pathway while preserving the same FocalPoint advantages project teams already rely on.

  • Compact treatment footprint – up to 30× smaller than traditional bioretention for comparable flow or volume.
  • More usable site area – less land dedicated to stormwater treatment means more flexibility for development.
  • Lower construction requirements – reduced excavation, underdrain, bridging stone and media.
  • Boxless, modular design – adapts to irregular footprints and constrained sites.
  • Integrated pretreatment – helps protect media, simplify maintenance and extend service life.
  • Technical design support – Convergent assists with sizing, layout, pretreatment, specifications and project integration.

WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED

SMALLER FOOTPRINT

Treat comparable flow or volume in substantially less space than traditional bioretention.

DESIGN FLEXIBILITY

Boxless modular construction adapts to constrained sites, irregular shapes and project-specific layouts.

LOWER SITE COST

A smaller footprint can reduce excavation, media, stone, underdrain and associated construction requirements.

EASIER MAINTENANCE

Traditional bioretention maintenance practices are performed on a much smaller treatment area.

ENGINEER-READY RESOURCES

OFFICIAL GULD

Review the Washington State Department of Ecology designation and approved conditions.

DESIGN WORKSHEETS

Access free design worksheets and preliminary sizing resources for the FocalPoint modular biofiltration system.

DRAWINGS & GUIDES

Download CAD drawings, construction details, installation guides and O&M resources.

DESIGN SUPPORT

Talk with Convergent about sizing, layout, pretreatment, specifications or a specific project.

HAVE A PROJECT WHERE TAPE GULD MATTERS?

The approval is new. The FocalPoint design advantages are proven.

Send us your drainage area, required treatment flow, preliminary plan or site constraints. Convergent’s technical team can help determine whether FocalPoint is a fit and assist with sizing, configuration, pretreatment and specification support.

Bring us the constraint. We’ll help engineer the solution.

PROJECT-SPECIFIC TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Convergent can assist with:

  • Preliminary sizing
  • System layout
  • Pretreatment selection
  • Bypass configuration
  • CAD drawings and details
  • Specifications
  • Installation considerations
  • Maintenance planning