Roadside Guide to Clean Water: Sediment Barriers
Roadside Guide to Clean Water: Sediment Barriers
Sediment Barriers at a Glance
Sediment barriers, sometimes called sediment filters, are temporary structures typically used around the edge of construction sites or other locations with bare soil. They are meant to separate any potential sediment pollution from stormwater that might flow off the site. They allow the stormwater to flow through while trapping sediment behind or inside them.
How Sediment Barriers Work
"Sediment" is a word used to describe soil that has been detached from the land by a process called erosion. The force of a raindrop falling from the sky is powerful enough to dislodge soil particles when they are bare or uncovered. This is common on construction sites and other disturbed areas. Rain that does not soak into the ground will flow downhill, carrying that loose soil with it. Unless stopped, this now dirty water will eventually reach our lakes, rivers, and streams. Many different materials are used as sediment barriers, such as fabric, compost, straw bales, or rocks. Each of these materials can act like a filter, allowing water to pass through pore spaces but capturing the soil. This filtering cleans the water leaving a construction site, therefore reducing pollution to our waterways. Typically, sediment barriers and filters are temporary; they are removed once grass or other plants start to grow and cover the bare soil.
Community Benefits of Sediment Barriers
- Pollution: Reduces pollution
You can expect to find sediment barriers in urban, suburban, and rural settings.
How to Recognize Sediment Barriers
A compost filter sock is a mesh tube filled with a special compost material. It is a highly effective sediment barrier that has been proven to remove many pollutants. Photo by Craig Palmer, Erie Water Works
