Construction projects face a lot of challenges. One of these concerns is how to control erosion. Erosion is a geological process by which the surface of the earth gets worn down and transported by natural forces, like wind or water.
Since several tons of topsoil are lost each year during the construction processes, construction involves a lot of movements, digs, and tears into the ground, which weakens the surface, causing erosion.
Soil erosion can have a negative impact on the construction site and the areas around it. For instance, it can ruin the quality of the soil or cause water pollution.
Water pollution can damage the health of both the people and the animals living around the construction sites. That’s why contractors need to employ methods of preventing erosion on their construction sites.
So, if you want to prevent erosion and maintain an eco-friendly environment around your construction site, read this as you’re going to learn some simple yet effective strategies you can implement to prevent erosion.
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How Can You Prevent Erosion On Your Construction Site?
To overcome the challenges of erosion and help preserve the environment, you need to arm yourself with the right information. First, you need to understand the nature of your construction site then implement erosion control strategies that best suit your project’s site.
With that said, here are some of the best erosion control measures:
1-Use Of Silt Socks
One of the ways to control erosion on construction sites is the use of silt socks. Silt socks are tabular-shaped soil erosion control devices filled with composted wood chips or bark.
The role of these materials is to allow for maximum filtration to take place. The filtration process reduces the amount of soil and sediments lost through erosion.
Also, silt socks can help reduce the speed of running water on the surface, which also reduces erosion. So, if you want to maintain a conducive environment within and around your construction site, you can consider silt socks for erosion and sediment control.
2-Use Of Turbidity Barriers
The use of turbidity barriers is another effective way to prevent erosion on construction sites. It can also help keep contaminants away from water sources.
The turbidity barriers are usually made from floating geotextile membranes anchored to the bottom of the water with weights. This helps control soil and sediments carried by water from running away.
3-Use Of French Drains
A French drain is a system of underground piping that channels running water to a designated exit point. The French drain system consists of perforated tiles that allow water to seep into the soil. This ensures that erosion is brought under control while eliminating excess water on the construction sites.
4-Use Of Soil Nails
The soil nails technique is one of the latest erosion control methods in the construction sector, especially in areas where landslides are a problem. In this erosion control method, nails are placed into pre-drilled holes and then grouted to keep them firm on the ground. This helps reinforce the ground, reducing the rate of erosion.
5-Use Of MSE Walls
MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) is one of the latest erosion control techniques on construction sites. An MSE wall is a composite structure with alternating layers of soil and compacted backfill reinforcement elements. This helps prevent erosion of soil and sediments during the construction process.
There are several advantages of using MSE walls to control erosion. Some of these advantages include the ease of installation and adaptability to a variety of construction sites.
6-Use Of Articulated Concrete Blocks
In this erosion control technique, individual concrete blocks are put together to form an erosion-resistant wall.
Depending on the nature of the construction site, these blocks can be constructed in a wide variety of thicknesses and shapes. The blocks are connected using a series of cables, which allows them to control erosion, especially on drainage channels.
7-Use Of Geotextiles
If you want to control erosion and improve the quality of your soil simultaneously, then you need to consider the geotextiles technique.
The geotextile technique is where erosion control measures are put in place before installing pipelines, embankments, and earth retaining structures. This helps constructors to obtain a more effective and lasting solution to soil erosion.
Takeaway
As you’ve seen above, there are several ways of preventing erosion on your construction site. Controlling erosion helps prevent unnecessary loss of soil. It also prevents contamination of water, allowing you to help preserve the environment.
So, if you want to prevent erosion on your construction site and maintain a clean environment, implement one or all of the above-discussed strategies. All these strategies are simple and cost-effective methods of controlling erosion.
