January 6, 2026
Revolutionizing Wastewater Treatment with Advanced Grit Management Solutions
The story of Hydro International, now a part of Oldcastle Infrastructure, began over 50 years ago with a simple, yet groundbreaking, idea: harnessing the natural energy of water flow to separate solids without relying on moving parts or high energy consumption. This concept gave birth to vortex technology, a solution that has transformed water and wastewater treatment worldwide.
In the 1960s, Hydro International founder Bernard Smisson faced a challenge while constructing a conventional side weir overflow in England. Space constraints led him to design a circular weir overflow configuration based on a vortex flow regime. This first-generation separator retained 70% of the pollution load, marking the birth of hydrodynamic vortex separation technology.
From Concept to Global Impact
By the early 1970s, Smisson’s expertise brought him to the United States as an advisor to the APWA and EPA. His work led to the development of swirl and helical-bend flow regulators, settleable-solids concentrators, and the swirl degritter.
Returning to the UK, Smisson refined vortex designs to address issues like high headloss and solids deposition, creating a patented low-energy rotary flow separator that became the foundation for Hydro International.
In 1980, Hydro International was officially formed to promote vortex separator and vortex flow control technology globally. Around the same time, Eutek Systems (later acquired by Hydro International, which is now a part of Oldcastle Infrastructure) founder George E. Wilson, PE, PhD, Diplomat ASME. Wilson adapted vortex principles to create the TeaCup®. By accelerating flow velocity and inverting the swirl concentrator design, Wilson developed a high-energy rotary flow separator capable of removing fine sand particles with exceptional efficiency.
Why Vortex Technology Matters
The significance of vortex technology lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. These systems use hydraulic energy within the flow stream to separate solids, eliminating the need for mechanical components and reducing maintenance.
Today, vortex technology is used in a variety of applications, including:
- Municipal wastewater grit separation and washing
- Surface water pretreatment
- Drinking water intake sand removal
- Solids/liquid separation across industrial processes
Grit removal systems including the HeadCell®, Grit King®, TeaCup®, and Grit Snail® are widely recognized on the market as high-performing solutions that deliver high removal efficiency for even the smallest particles.
Leading the Industry
Oldcastle Infrastructure continues to lead the industry through research, testing, and advanced modeling. With two state-of-the-art hydraulic testing facilities and decades of expertise in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Oldcastle Infrastructure optimizes vortex flow regimes and validates performance through rigorous lab and field testing. This commitment ensures that every product meets or exceeds removal efficiency standards while maintaining low energy consumption and minimal maintenance requirements.
Our collaboration with universities and regulatory agencies worldwide has helped shape performance standards for stormwater and wastewater treatment. Today, Oldcastle Infrastructure’s technologies are trusted globally for their reliability, efficiency, and proven results.
The Proof Is in the Performance
From the first vortex overflow in the 1960s to today’s advanced grit removal systems, we have remained at the forefront of water management innovation.
Our solutions deliver measurable benefits:
- High removal efficiency for fine particles
- Low energy consumption with all-hydraulic designs
- Minimal maintenance and long-term reliability
For municipalities, engineers, and operators seeking sustainable, cost-effective water treatment solutions, we offer a proven track record backed by decades of expertise.
Conclusion
For more than 50 years, we have delivered innovative water treatment technologies to the water and wastewater community, and our presence in the market continues to grow.
As Oldcastle we have taken this legacy to the next level with expanded hydraulic laboratory facilities and a significantly larger team of experts, remaining committed to advancing the science behind grit removal. This investment allows us to continually refine our products, enhance performance, and scale our solutions to meet the evolving needs of the wastewater industry.
Our goal is simple: deliver proven, high-efficiency technologies that protect infrastructure, optimize operations, and set the standard for long-term reliability.
Learn more
- Discover our Advanced Grit Management® solutions
- Learn more about our HeadCell® solution
- Read our HeadCell® product brochure
- See the benefits of our TeaCup® and Grit Snail® systems
- View the Grit Snail® product brochure
- Learn more about the Grit King®
- Read our Grit King® product brochure
- Contact us today to learn how our grit removal technologies can help you cut energy costs, protect your equipment, and optimize your operations
