Enhancing runoff treatment with OSMORIA Geoclean at a logistics site

Overview 

As sustainability and environmental responsibility take center stage in infrastructure development, engineers and developers face increasing pressure to integrate eco-effective stormwater management systems into their designs. In Ayguemorte-les-Graves, near the A62 freeway that links Bordeaux and Toulouse, a new 29,000 m² logistics platform exemplifies this shift. The platform was developed with a particular focus on treating runoff from impervious surfaces, including access roads and parking areas, which typically carry a high load of hydrocarbon pollution. 

The solution implemented combines vegetated infiltration structures with OSMORIA® Geoclean® – an active oleo-depolluting aquatextile engineered to bind hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), then activate and enhance their natural biodegradation. This integration supports long-term pollutant mitigation and aligns with sustainable development principles, as validated by the Gironde DREAL. The project stands as a model for the application of geosynthetics in decentralized, nature-based water depollution systems. 

Challenge 

Logistics platforms are critical nodes in modern supply chains, yet their expansive areas generate significant volumes of contaminated runoff. The Ayguemorte-les-Graves site faced the dual challenge of managing both chronic and accidental hydrocarbon pollution, including high-risk substances like PAHs, while also complying with stringent environmental regulations. The use of Oil/Water separators was not desirable, and traditional stormwater systems – based solely on soil infiltration – often fall short in ensuring consistent pollutant removal due to the heterogeneity of natural soil conditions. 

In this case, the site presented variable soil profiles with inconsistent permeability, pH levels, organic matter content, and nutrient distribution. These characteristics result in uneven and insufficient treatment performance when relying solely on native soil for infiltration-based purification. Moreover, the risk of accidental pollution posed an additional environmental threat that required a robust treatment mechanism capable of functioning without ongoing maintenance. 

Given the platform’s size and its adjacency to a major freeway, a solution was required that not only mitigated the environmental risks but also harmonized with the landscape and remained cost-effective over time.  

Solution 

To meet the complex requirements of the Ayguemorte-les-Graves logistics platform, OSMORIA Geoclean was installed beneath open-air vegetated infiltration structures, or “valleys,” created around the facility’s building and car parks. These valleys were designed to capture, infiltrate, and treat runoff water from impervious surfaces. The integration of OSMORIA Geoclean as a hydrocarbon pollution control solution optimizes and systematizes the fixation and biodegradation processes. 

OSMORIA Geoclean is a specialized geosynthetic engineered to provide active oleo-depollution. It features continuous filaments that slowly release natural mineral nutrients, encouraging rapid colonization by microorganisms present in the surrounding soil and water. Once colonized, these bacteria and fungi degrade hydrocarbons bound to the textile structure, including harmful pollutants such as PAHs. This continuous biological process enables long-term pollutant removal without reducing the aquatextile’s retention capacity. 

The aquatextile was installed directly on the infiltration surfaces and covered with a layer of permeable topsoil. This design ensures that as polluted stormwater infiltrates, it comes into contact with the OSMORIA Geoclean aquatextile, enabling the fixation of hydrocarbons, their subsequent biodegradation, and the delivery of depolluted water into the subsoil. The system is entirely maintenance-free and autonomous, requiring no mechanical components or power supply, and it operates effectively regardless of variable soil quality. 

OSMORIA Geoclean addresses both chronic and accidental pollution scenarios (routine vehicle leakage, minor spills, and even illegal oil dumping). The technical textile’s oleophilic properties ensure pollutants are not remobilized, even under variable hydraulic loads. Furthermore, the solution integrates seamlessly into the landscape, offering both environmental and aesthetic value. 

Critically, this approach required no maintenance. The natural biological activity sustained by the aquatextile ensures long-term performance. This not only reduces the project’s total cost of ownership but also aligns with modern sustainability benchmarks by minimizing operational inputs and resource use. 

The use of OSMORIA Geoclean has provided an effective, reliable, and environmentally responsible solution for treating runoff in logistics infrastructure. By amplifying the natural biodegradation processes and removing hydrocarbons at the point of infiltration, the system provides protection to groundwater resources, supports regulatory compliance, and demonstrates the practical application of aquatextiles in sustainable engineering.