At Frog Environmental, we believe in proactive measures to reduce silt pollution on construction sites. One of the most effective strategies is to limit the production of silty water at its source.
One of our technical specialists has put together an article outlining the importance of lining ditches on site to help prevent soil erosion and keep surface water clean as it flows through the site.
The role of ditches and swales
Frog Environmental provides effective solutions to prevent silt runoff from ditches. Despite being used for the treatment of silt, a significant source of silt can come from the ditches, swales, and ponds that intercept and direct water away from the working area.
These are typically unlined ditches cut directly into the subsurface soils. Water traveling down these ditches will naturally pick up silt as it passes through, so lining them is a simple and effective way to significantly reduce silt pollution.
To prevent this avoidable siltation, we recommend lining the ditch structure with a product such as Silt Net . A neatly structured ditch is easier to line and maintain. It’s also beneficial to use a liner with a degree of permeability, allowing water beneath the liner to pass into the channel of the ditch easily.
Choosing the right liner
Depending on the application and flow rate, different liners may be more suitable. For a more durable application with a larger flow rate, a robust synthetic liner may be the best choice. If a biodegradable product is preferred, a coir or jute liner can be used such as our Silt Net.
The best liners typically have a net-like structure that promotes friction, helping reduce the energy in the water, lessening the potential to create silt pollution and protecting the ditch structure.
Benefits of lining ditches and swales
A purposefully built and lined ditch is also an ideal location to treat silt in surface water. We can do this in a couple of ways:
Slowing the flow
To prevent damage to a ditch due to increased flow rates, we install attenuation features in the ditches, such as Silt Wattles. These impede flow, backing up, and slowing the flow of water. Slowing the water down makes it easier to manage it through the site, and reduces damage to your ditch and attenuation features.
This also enables these features to start treating your water on-site within the ditches and swales themselves.
Water treatment in a ditch or swale
Although the primary use of lining material like a Silt Net is to protect a ditch, channel, or swale structure from the effects of the water flowing over it, the net can also be treated with Gel Flocculant, as with our Floc Mats®. This works well in swale features where additional treatment is required and there is a limited depth of water flowing over the liner.
Gel Flocculant encourages silt to form clumps, making it heavier so that it drops out of the water. It is then easy to trap it in the fibres of the Silt Net.
These measures can be used in combination with our pumped or passive, low carbon Rain Ready water treatment solutions.
For more information get in touch with our team.
Frog Environmental are silt control and water quality specialists working with contractors, regulators and consultants within construction, utilities, marine and coastal and public sector industries across the UK and Europe. Frog Environmental are silt control and water quality specialists working with contractors, regulators and consultants within construction, utilities, marine and coastal and public sector industries across the UK and Europe.
We offer specialised technical solutions to prevent ditch erosion, using products we have developed. We introduce innovation to the market with a range of cutting-edge products, supported by our technical team’s expertise. Our goal is to set new standards for environmental protection, client efficiency, and value.
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Solutions we offer:
- Silt Net – a biodegradable lining material for protecting ditches, channels or swales
- Silt Mat™ – captures sediment and prevents resuspension
- Silt Wattle – reduces flow on sloping ground and in channels & ditches
- Floc Mat® – traps sediment and cleans muddy water using a non-hazardous flocculant
- Treated Geo-Jute – for polishing water and lining channels
- Rock Check – reduces and distributes water flow in channels
- Gel Flocculant – a low maintenance and non-toxic flocculant used to support silt and water separation to clean muddy water
- Pipe Reactor – mobile water treatment unit
- Bubble Curtains / Bubble Barriers – highly effective at aerating the entire water column and reducing movement of silt in water.