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Street Sweepers: Their Varieties and Uses

Street sweepers are vital parts of most local municipalities for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, street sweepers provide an essential public service in that they clean public streets, thus clearing debris and reducing storm water pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency, even, has declared street sweepers a “Best Management Process” in regards to reducing pollution and protecting a community’s water supply. But while many of us have seen them in action, very few of us know that much about the varieties of street sweepers and how they work.

By: Jessica Ann Rosales
Category: Automotive:Trucks
Posted: Nov 01, 2011
Updated: Nov 01, 2011
Views: 41


Street sweepers are vital parts of most local municipalities for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, street sweepers provide an essential public service in that they clean public streets, thus clearing debris and reducing storm water pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency, even, has declared street sweepers a “Best Management Process” in regards to reducing pollution and protecting a community’s water supply. But while many of us have seen them in action, very few of us know that much about the varieties of street sweepers and how they work.

Regenerative air sweepers use controlled blasts of air to remove debris from surfaces. These machines generate a strong gust of air that is shot through the bottom of the machine and consequently dislodges debris and particles from cracks within and on top of the surface. The debris-laden air is then pushed through the regenerative air sweeper’s hopper where larger debris falls to the bottom of the hopper and dust enters a separator. After the dust is separated, only clean air is returned in a controlled blast and the process begins anew.

Broom or mechanical sweepers, on the other hand, are what one typically imagines when considering street sweepers. These machines use traditional brushes, moving with great power, to dislodge surface debris. Once the debris is unlodged, it is sucked into the broom or mechanical sweepers hopper where it comes to rest.

In addition to protecting water quality, street sweepers also remove unsightly paper, leaves, and other visible debris. The removal of such items is a boon to a city and its businesses and a comforting sight to residents and commercial patrons alike.

However, street sweepers are significantly practical in terms of cutting down on harmful debris from entering storm water and a local municipalities water supply. Both regenerative air sweepers and broom or mechanical sweepers are extremely successful at noticeably cutting down on water pollutants from entering water treatment plants.

These street sweepers, then, play a vital role within our communities and do so in manners more complicated than one would think. Not only do they eliminate unsightly debris from our streets and roads, but also they significantly improve the health and well being of our communities.

Because of their intricate mechanics, most modern street sweepers are rather expensive. However, the lifetimes of these machines/vehicles are fairly high, allowing cities and other municipalities the opportunity to properly budget for their repair and replacement. In any event, these vehicles provide a basic service most communities need and desire—and for that alone they are quite valuable.

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