The ACU-TIP tipping bucket is a sediment flushing system designed to remove debris deposited at the bottom of tanks, such as stormwater retention tanks or CSOs and sanitary equalization tanks. The system works by releasing a torrent of fresh water stored in the tipping bucket. The resulting flushing wave progresses along the entirety of the drainage channel, pushing the debris deposited in front of it. The re-suspended debris are then transported by the flushing water to the treatment plant for disposal.

The ACU-TIP offers several advantages over other types of sediment removal systems. Firstly, because the system uses fresh water as the source of the flushing wave, no additional debris is introduced into the tank once the flushing operation is complete. Secondly, in the rare event that additional rinses are required, the tipping bucket filling system can be easily reactivated and the rinsing sequence repeated. Thirdly, as the ACU-TIP tipping bucket is suspended above the tank and never comes into contact with debris, the need for maintenance is reduced, ensuring trouble-free, economical operation. Finally, the ACU-TIP can be installed in new tanks, or easily retrofitted to existing storage tanks.

The unique design of the ACU-TIP tipping bucket allows it to rest in a horizontal position when empty. When the fresh water supply is activated, the ACU-TIP tank will fill up to a predetermined level. In this case, due to the specific design of the ACU-TIP, the center of gravity shifts, causing the sediment flushing device to pivot backwards (or forwards if necessary), sending the stored water over the rear wall, resulting in a torrent of fresh water flowing down the entire length of the flushing channel, scouring away any debris deposited on the tank bottom.

Once empty, the ACU-TIP returns to its normal horizontal position, ready to repeat the sequence should the need arise. Under normal conditions, a single flush is required to achieve the desired results. Exceptionally, under high load conditions, several flushes may be necessary.

Depending on the size of the tank, the size and therefore the capacity of the ACU-TIP will vary, affecting the filling time. On average, the ACU-TIP should take around 15 minutes to fill.