Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing contaminants from contaminated water. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a separation tank in which a first portion of the contaminants float to the top of the water, the tank including a water inlet and a water outlet, a coalescing device, an air injection system in which water from the tank is pressurized, passed through an air eductor so as to receive air bubbles, and returned to the tank as a gas-containing stream, a circulating mop that contacts the floating contaminants and removes them from the water, the circulating mop comprising a continuous loop of contaminant-absorbing material, a mop-cleaning member that removes contaminants from the circulating mop, and a filter system through which water leaving the separation tank via the water outlet is passed.

Abstract: A filter media washing system for washing contaminants from filter media of a plurality of filtration vessels. Each filtration vessel has a filtration screen subdividing the filtration vessel into a filter media containing chamber and a filter media-free chamber. Each filter media containing chamber of each filtration vessel has a first fluid passage connected thereto and is located distally from the filtration screen. A second fluid passage is also positioned in each filter media containing chamber, but it is located proximate to the filtration screen. The first and second fluid passages are fluidly coupled, one to the other with a decontamination unit located fluidly therebetween for separating filter media from contamination carried therewith. The decontamination unit includes a contamination separating pump, a contamination separating chamber, a contamination separating screen and a return manifold. The return manifold has a first and second return conduit.