Silt Removal & Desilting
Silt Removal and Dredging
When the breakdown of dead organic matter and field run-off begins to settle at the base of a lake, river or pond, this silt can soon have serious repercussions on the water and organisms living within it. The build up of silt eventually reduces the depth of your watercourse, not only killing off fish and diverse creatures that depend on it but also increasing the risk of flooding in severe weather conditions. Silt in lakes and ponds also impacts their use as a leisure facility, as the organic matter begins to decompose, releasing nasty odours and attracting unwanted insects.
Silt removal, or “desilting”, represents a specialised and potentially costly activity. Fortunately, here at Boyden Environmental we make it affordable to carry out this challenging task whether you’re a domestic or commercial customer. Thanks to our cutting edge equipment, we can offer you effective lake dredging, silt removal and desilting services at competitive prices.
What is lake dredging and desilting?
Lake dredging and desilting is the process of removing unwanted debris from the bottom of a body of water. As organic matter breaks down rapidly when left in water, leaves, grass and dirt that have settled at the bottom of a lake quickly become a sludge which needs specialist tools to remove.
While the most effective solution is draining all of the lake’s water and removing the silt with traditional machinery, this is an expensive, disruptive option that the majority of our clients would prefer to avoid. Thankfully, with advances in digger boats and custom attachments like those used at Boyden Environmental, there are several alternative options that make silt removal from lakes more cost effective.
How to remove silt from lakes and ponds
The process for desilting a lake and dredging ponds or dams will depend largely on the scope of the project and will be decided as part of an initial consultation. When lake desilting, dam or pond dredging, or any other desilting task, we use our state of the art boat and one of two attachments. Employing either a digger or pump to remove silt from pond and lake beds, we can cost effectively remove debris from your waterway and restore it to its former cleanliness and health.
Silt removal methods
With the superior technology used by Boyden Environmental, removing silt from a lake is relatively straightforward. The real difficulty comes from deciding what to do with the material once you’ve finished dredging. Taking the silt off site is usually the most expensive option, but there are many ways you can use silt to benefit other areas of your property.
As silt is made of decaying organic matter, it’s ideal for using as compost in garden beds, utilising as top soil or simply storing until needed.
Dewatering bags
are an option that works well when pumping to remove silt. Placed on a flat surface to prevent movement, the silt is pumped directly into the permeable de-watering bags and left to drain. The bags can then be opened and the silt used for landscaping.
De-silting to create a bank
is accomplished by installing a permeable membrane around the edge of the existing bank and depositing silt behind it. As the water seeps through the membrane and the silt remains, a bank is formed that can be filled with plants to create an attractive border.
Silt stockpiling
is another great option when dredging a lake or pond. By creating a temporary bund, silt can be deposited and left to drain, allowing it to be removed from the bund when dried.
Dredging versus Desilting
If you find yourself asking what’s the difference between desilting and dredging, you’re not alone. In simple terms, desilting uses the flow of water to remove sediment (by agitation and sucking through pipes), while dredging uses a scooping action to achieve the same result. Although it’s worthwhile understanding the differences between terms, you’ll find that most companies use the terms interchangeably.
Get a quote How can we help?
As well as offering reliable, transparent and flexible silt removal services, our competitive pricing makes Boyden Environmental an ideal choice for domestic and commercial clients. For an efficient and affordable solution to all your lake and pond cleaning needs, get in touch with our team today:
