EnviroSoxx Pollutant Filter Socks: Stormwater Pollutant Removal for Job Sites

Stormwater leaving a construction site or industrial facility carries more than dirt. Along with sediment it picks up hydrocarbons, heavy metals, nutrients, and bacteria — the pollutants that regulators watch most closely in urban watersheds, sensitive receiving waters, and TMDL (§303d) listed water bodies. EnviroSoxx pollutant filter socks are a passive, compost-filled filtration system that captures those pollutants on site, before runoff ever reaches a storm drain or stream.

EnviroSoxx is one of the most versatile and cost-effective tools for stormwater pollutant removal: drop it in place, anchor it, and it works without power, pumps, or maintenance-heavy equipment. This guide covers how the socks work, the difference between the two blends, where to deploy them, and how to choose a size.

What Is a Pollutant Filter Sock?

A pollutant filter sock is a tubular mesh sock packed with engineered compost-based filter media. Runoff flows into and through the media, which physically traps sediment while the compost chemistry binds and breaks down dissolved pollutants. The clean water passes through; the contaminants stay behind.

That chemistry is what sets EnviroSoxx apart from a standard sediment silt sock. A silt sock filters out soil and sediment; EnviroSoxx is formulated to also target the dissolved pollutants — metals, hydrocarbons, nutrients, and bacteria — that sediment-only controls let through.

Industrial Blend vs. Advanced Blend

EnviroSoxx comes in two media blends. Match the blend to the pollutants you need to control:

Where EnviroSoxx Is Used

Because the sock conforms to the ground and needs no excavation, it adapts to almost any site layout:

• Storm drain and inlet protection — ring an inlet to filter runoff before it enters the system
• Perimeter control — run it along the downslope edge of a site to treat sheet flow leaving the property
• Check dams — place across swales and ditches to slow flow and filter concentrated runoff
• General runoff filtration — anywhere polluted stormwater needs treatment before discharge

Choosing a Size and Configuration

EnviroSoxx is available in two diameters and in both continuous and pre-cut segmented formats:

• 8-inch diameter — lighter flows, perimeter runs, and tighter spaces
• 12-inch diameter — higher flows, steeper grades, and check-dam duty where more height and capacity help
• Continuous rolls vs. segments — continuous lengths for long perimeter runs; pre-cut segments (8' or 10') for inlets and spaced placements
• Linear footage — sold from 80 up to 160 linear feet, so you can match the run to your site

Installation Basics

1. Place along the contour. Lay the sock perpendicular to flow — along a perimeter, around an inlet, or across a channel.
2. Seat it to the ground. Ensure full ground contact so water filters through the sock rather than running underneath it.
3. Stake it down. Anchor with stakes through the sock at regular intervals to hold it in place during flow.
4. Overlap and inspect. Overlap joints between segments, and check after storms for sediment buildup or displacement.

Choose Your Blend and Size Below

Pick the Industrial or Advanced blend and the diameter and length that fit your site from the options below. Not sure what your project needs? The Silt Sock Finder can help, or compare with sediment-only silt socks if dissolved pollutants aren't a concern.