Reduce Sediment Runoff With These 4 Erosion Control Construction Practices

​Sediment runoff pollutes waterways and can lead to health hazards and costly fines. Erosion control construction practices are the most effective way to prevent soil erosion and the problems of sediment runoff. 

1. Phasing Your Construction Plans
One practice to reduce sediment runoff is to clear land needed for construction projects in phases. Only the ground that needs to undergo rapid development is removed and developed. This prevents large areas from being left bare and susceptible to wind and water erosion. At first, it might seem that this process can be costly. However, it's more economical because the soil doesn't have to be replaced after construction and removed from storm drains. 

2. Temporary Sediment Control With Silt Fences
Silt fences are another popular construction practice. Silt fences are used to retain soil on developed land during construction. They are a temporary barrier during the construction project. Silt fences must be buried at the base of a slope to catch sediment before it enters waterways. Silt fences require periodic monitoring to ensure that sediment deposits get removed frequently. 

3. Consider a Gravel Entrance
Laying a gravel road at the construction site entrance is done to prevent soil from being carried from the site onto the streets and into storm drains. Gravel roads must be laid wide and deep enough to accommodate large construction vehicles. Road dust can be a common problem on gravel roads, so depending on the length of the construction project, a dust control product may be necessary as well.

4. Dust Control Polymers for Effective Erosion Control
An accepted long-term solution for soil erosion is the use of dust control polymers. When applied, dust control polymers form a durable layer of protection over the surface of untreated areas and restrict sediment runoff. For example, Envirotac dust control polymers reduce fugitive dust emission effectively and are ideal for road construction, airfields, helipads in remote sites, and other industries. 

Prevent Erosion on Your Next Project 
There are many erosion control construction practices that limit sediment runoff on your next construction project. Therefore, it's vital to conduct research and ask questions when looking for your project's best erosion control practices. 
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Environmental Products & Applications, Inc. can help save you time, money and provide peace of mind on your construction site. Contact us to learn how Envirotac can help you reduce the costly problems caused by ineffective erosion control.