Silt Survey

In some situations it may be necessary for silt to be removed from a lake, pond, canal or marina through some form of dredging. Prior to the dredging operation it is advisable to assess the characteristics of the silt to determine potential options for managing the arisings (e.g. re-use, recovery or disposal).

Silt Sampling and Analysis

Our consultants would attend site to collect representative samples of silt from the bed of the pond or lake. In the first instance we normally recommend that the silt be tested at a UKAS/MCERTS accredited laboratory for potential contamination. Dependent upon the outcome of this initial analysis further assessment may be recommended to identify the available management options.

Reuse - Recovery to Land

According to The Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, dredgings from any inland waterway may be exempt from waste management licensing if certain criteria can be met. These include that the silt be free from significant contamination and of benefit to agriculture or provide ecological improvement, thus allowing disposal to land as opposed to the expense of landfilling. In this case additional analysis would be required of the silt to demonstrate its benefit to the receiving soil. It would also be necessary to carry out an assessment of the soil at the receiving site. Should the various criteria be met then the Environment Agency may grant an exemption.

Waste - Disposal to Landfill

If the silt were found to be contaminated then it would be deemed a waste and as such it would be necessary to classify the material for disposal purposes. Dependent upon the initial testing results and the classification of the materials it may be necessary to undertake additional testing i.e. leachate analysis as required by the Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC). The results of this additional testing would determine whether the material was within the acceptable limits for a designated category of landfill site.

Consultancy Advice

We would provide a concise report, detailing the findings of the survey and management options available. At Terragen our consultants would be able to manage all aspects of the survey and assessment as well as any required discussions or negotiations with the regulatory authorities.