Hydraulic sludge recovery system

A continuous backwash upflow media filter comprising:

• a) a container having a conical bottom;
• b) a wastewater influent tube having an opening within the container;
• c) an effluent weir within the container and an effluent tube with an opening in the effluent weir;
• d) a reject weir within the container and a reject tube with an opening in the reject weir, wherein the reject weir is positioned below the effluent weir;
• e) an inverted deflection cone within the container positioned below the opening of the wastewater influent tube forming an annular space between the inverted deflection cone and the conical bottom of the container;
• f) an airlift pipe having a lower opening below the inverted deflection cone and below the annular space, wherein the airlift pipe has an upper opening positioned below the effluent weir and above the reject weir;
• and
• g) a sludge lift tube having a lower opening inside the inverted deflection cone above the annular space, wherein the sludge lift tube has an upper opening adapted to discharge sludge out of the container.