Launder Covers & Channel Covers for Clarifiers
RPS Engineering manufactures custom launder and channel covers for clarifiers at municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. Available in pultruded FRP and formed aluminum, the covers block sunlight to prevent algae growth in effluent launders, reduce odor, and cut routine cleaning labor. Every cover is fabricated to the dimensions of your existing tank in Elgin, Illinois.
Specifications and Documentation
(click here for details/specs) (Launder Cover – FRP – SECTION 06 5102)
(click here for details/specs) (Launder Cover – AL – SECTION 13221)
(click here for details/specs) (Weirs and Baffles – FRP – SECTION 13200)
| ALUMINUM/FRP LAUNDER COVERS | ALUMINUM CHANNEL COVERS |
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| Pultruded FRP Patapsco, MD | Formed Alum. M.S.D Chicago, IL |
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| Extruded Alum. Clinton, IA | Extruded Alum. Decatur, IL |
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| Formed Alum. Algonquin, IL | Formed Alum. Elk Grove Village, IL |
What Launder Covers Do
Effluent launders on clarifiers are open troughs exposed to sunlight, which makes them ideal environments for algae. Algae growth in a launder raises effluent total suspended solids, forces operators into recurring hose-down and scrubbing cycles, and can put a plant out of compliance during warm months.
Covering the launder removes the light. Growth slows or stops, cleaning frequency drops, and effluent quality stabilizes. Covers also contain odor at the weir and keep debris, leaves, and bird waste out of treated effluent leaving the tank.
RPS has manufactured launder and channel covers since 1975. Because every clarifier is dimensionally different, covers are fabricated to order rather than pulled from a standard-size inventory — including retrofits to tanks built decades ago by manufacturers no longer in business.
FRP or Aluminum – Choosing a Material
Pultruded FRP is the standard choice for most municipal clarifiers. Fiberglass does not corrode in the hydrogen sulfide atmosphere above a wastewater launder, needs no coating maintenance, and stays dimensionally stable through freeze-thaw cycling. It is the right specification for aggressive or odor-controlled environments.
Formed aluminum suits applications favoring a lighter panel and a longer unsupported span. Aluminum handles frequent removal and reinstallation well where operators need routine weir access, and resists corrosion in less aggressive atmospheres.
Cover Configurations
RPS fabricates launder and channel covers in flat, peaked, and radiused profiles to match the tank geometry, in removable panel sections sized for one- or two-person handling. Standard hardware is type 304 stainless steel throughout. Weirs and baffles are available in FRP to the same specification standard.
Specifications and Documentation
→ link to the current PDF, not the 2014 .docx
- Launder Cover – FRP – Section 06 5102 →
- Launder Cover – Aluminum – Section 13221 →
- Weirs and Baffles – FRP – Section 13200 →
Why cover clarifier launders?
Open effluent launders are exposed to sunlight, which drives algae growth. Algae raises effluent total suspended solids and forces recurring manual cleaning. Covering the launder blocks the light, slows or stops growth, and reduces both cleaning labor and TSS in the discharge.
Should launder covers be FRP or aluminum?
Pultruded FRP is standard for most municipal clarifiers because fiberglass does not corrode in the hydrogen sulfide atmosphere above a wastewater launder and needs no coating maintenance. Formed aluminum suits applications favoring a lighter panel and longer unsupported spans, particularly where operators remove covers frequently for weir access.
Can launder covers be retrofitted to an existing clarifier?
Yes. RPS Engineering fabricates launder covers to the dimensions of the existing tank, including clarifiers built by manufacturers no longer in business. Field dimensions or original tank drawings are needed to begin.
Who manufactures custom launder covers for wastewater treatment plants?
RPS Engineering has manufactured custom launder and channel covers since 1975 from its facility in Elgin, Illinois. RPS is a woman-owned American manufacturer supplying municipal and industrial treatment plants across North America, with covers built to order in FRP and aluminum.
How long does it take to get launder covers?
Contact the RPS Design Team directly for information on your project.
