Wedgewater™ Stainless Steel Filter Bed

Name: Wedgewater™ Stainless Steel Filter Bed
Brand: GFSS

The original gravity dewatering system — 50 years of proven stainless steel wedgewire performance.

What It Is

The Wedgewater™ Stainless Steel Filter Bed System is the original GFSS product, dating to the early 1970s. It uses precision-manufactured stainless steel wedgewire media to dewater sludge by gravity alone — no moving parts, no mechanical energy, no operator expertise required. For over 50 years, this system has provided municipalities and industrial facilities with a simple, proven alternative to sand drying beds and mechanical dewatering equipment.

How It Works

1

Apply Sludge

Flocculated sludge is pumped onto the bed surface.
2

Gravity Drains Water

Gravity pulls water through the stainless steel wedgewire media.
3

Sludge Dewaters

Sludge dewaters to a liftable, truckable state in 2–5 days.
4

Remove Cake

Dewatered sludge cake is removed with a small front-end loader.
5

Rinse & Reset

Bed is washed down with a hose and is ready for the next cycle.

Key Benefits

Dewaters sludge in 2–5 days not weeks
No media loss — zero replacement cost
Extremely clean filtrate (< 30 ppm SS)
No special operator skills required
Low energy — only auxiliary pumping and polymer equipment
High solids capture rates
No moving parts

Applications

Municipal WWTP sludge
Water treatment plant sludge
Industrial process sludge
Lagoon dredging operations
Aerobically and anaerobically digested sludge

Wedgewater™ Filter Bed vs. Sand Drying Bed

Factor	Wedgewater™ Filter Bed	Sand Drying Bed
Dewatering Time	2–5 days	Weeks to months
Footprint Required	Fraction of sand bed	Very large
Media Loss	None	Ongoing sand replacement
Energy Use	Minimal (aux pump only)	Minimal
Operator Skill	Minimal	Minimal
Maintenance	Hose wash-down	Regrading, media replacement
Indoor/Outdoor	Both	Outdoor only
Weather Dependence	Low	High

Want a deeper dive? Read our complete comparison guide.

Technical Specifications

Filtrate Quality	< 30 ppm suspended solids
Media Material	Stainless steel wedgewire
Typical Cycle Time	2–5 days
Installation	Indoor or outdoor
Sizing	Custom — based on sludge volume and loading rate

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to dewater sludge with a Wedgewater™ filter bed?

Typical water and wastewater treatment plant sludges dewater to a liftable, truckable state in 2–5 days with the Wedgewater™ system, compared to weeks or months with conventional sand drying beds.

What kind of maintenance does the Wedgewater™ filter bed require?

Maintenance is minimal. After sludge cake is removed with a front-end loader, the bed is simply washed down with a hose. No special tools, skills, or chemicals are required for cleaning.

Can the Wedgewater™ filter bed be installed indoors?

Yes. Unlike sand drying beds which rely on sun and wind, Wedgewater™ filter beds work entirely by gravity drainage and can be installed in enclosed buildings, making them ideal for northern climates.

What filtrate quality can I expect?

The Wedgewater™ system typically produces filtrate with less than 30 ppm suspended solids — clean enough to return directly to the head of the plant.