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We have all heard of curtains but not everyone knows what silt curtains are, which is what we wanted to address in this article. Unlike curtains you would use on home windows, silt curtains are used specifically in industrial situations. For instance, an industrial sewer system is comprised of three aeration ponds. These ponds are used for treatment. Then, there is a large storage cell, which is where the treated water goes. Once water is treated, it is then used through sprinkler systems for agricultural use.
The process of treating water for this purpose is complex. Considering that approximately three million gallons of effluent water is treated every day, you can imagine all the aspects involved. Sometimes, municipal sewage treatment plants are met with challenges such as the accumulation of heavy metals. This sludge must be removed from the water, which requires it to settle to the bottom prior to the water being sprayed. To deal with this and other problems, silt curtains were developed. The current system of clay being used was found insufficient. With this, a special type of PVC material was developed by Layfield Plastics in 1986. The design included the welding of lining materials that would have a seam strong enough to handle the heavy sludge. With various improvements over the years, today silt curtains have made a tremendous difference in how industrial sewage treatment plants operate. A common type of silt curtains are known as, “Floating Silt Curtains”. These “curtains” are impermeable barriers used to control sediment. The depth of the curtain’s skirt is material that is positioned vertically below the upper hem. For the length of the curtain, you have the horizontal distance between the ends. Of course, you can always have silt curtains custom made if needed. The design of floating silt curtains is to control the settling of solids, also referred to as “silt”, thus the name. The silt is suspended in water, which creates a controlled area of contaminant. This suspension is known as “turbidity”, which is caused when natural conditions are disrupted, which usually occurs from dredging or construction. To control the sludge or silt, silt curtains are used. Obviously, silt curtains are unique and designed for unique problems associated with sediment issues in industrial, commercial, and municipal situations. Although the concept of silt curtains is the same, these do come in a variety of floatation, load-bearing factors, ballast, connectors, lengths, and even fabric options. |
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