Launder Covers & Channel Covers for Clarifiers
On this page:
- Why cover your launders — algae, TSS, odor, and cleaning labor
- FRP vs. aluminum compared — choosing the right material
- Cover configurations — flat, peaked, and radiused profiles
- Weirs & baffles — FRP, to the same spec standard
- Specification sections — CSI-format documents for your project
- Installed projects
Why Cover Your Launders?
Effluent launders are open troughs exposed to sunlight — ideal environments for algae. Algae growth raises effluent total suspended solids, forces operators into recurring hose-down and scrubbing cycles, and can put a plant out of compliance with its NPDES permit limits 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 leaves, debris, and bird waste out of treated effluent leaving the tank. Hinged and removable panels give operators full weir access for inspection, then close to put the launder back in the dark.
FRP or Aluminum: Choosing a Material
| Pultruded FRP | Aluminum (Formed / Extruded) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Most municipal clarifiers — the standard choice for aggressive, odor-controlled environments | Applications favoring a lighter panel and longer unsupported spans | |
| Corrosion | Does not corrode in the hydrogen sulfide atmosphere above a wastewater launder; no coating maintenance | Resists corrosion in less aggressive atmospheres | |
| Handling | Dimensionally stable through freeze-thaw cycling | Handles frequent removal and reinstallation well where operators need routine weir access | |
| Panel sections | Sized for one- or two-person handling | Sized for one- or two-person handling | |
| Hardware | Type 304 stainless steel standard | Type 304 stainless steel standard | |
| Origin & compliance | Contact RPS for material origin and compliance details on your project | Fabricated in Elgin, IL — BABA compliant for SRF and federally funded projects | |
| Spec section | CSI Section 06 5102 | CSI Section 13221 |
Launder 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. Individual sections follow the curvature of the tank — with fixed panels where bridge supports or other obstructions interrupt the trough, so the cover surface stays continuous around the entire clarifier without interfering with the sweep arm. Hinged sections open away from or toward the operator, per your contract drawings.
Weirs & Baffles
RPS supplies FRP weirs and scum baffles to the same specification standard as its launder covers — a natural pairing when covers and weir hardware are replaced in the same project. Specified under CSI Section 13200.
Specification Sections
RPS provides complete CSI-format spec sections ready to insert into project documents, and works directly with the engineer of record on RFIs and submittals.
- Launder Cover – FRP – Section 06 5102
- Launder Cover – Aluminum – Section 13221
- Weirs & Baffles – FRP – Section 13200
Get a Quote
Budget pricing is available from tank dimensions. A firm quote requires drawings and a completed Work Info Sheet — RPS field-measures before production. Tell us your tank diameter, launder width, and site conditions and we’ll recommend the right material and configuration.
Request a Quote · 847-931-1950 · gina-wwtp@rpsengineering.com
Retrofitting an existing clarifier? Send field dimensions or original tank drawings — RPS fabricates to the existing tank, including clarifiers whose original manufacturers are no longer in business.
gina-wwtp@rpsengineering.com · 847-931-1950
Women-owned (WBENC #WBE2601717) · Aluminum covers BABA compliant · ISO 9001 · Manufacturing since 1975
Installed Projects
Related Pages
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.
