Sediment control

Sediment control uses practices to capture or manage soil particles carried by runoff before they leave a work area or reach receiving water.

Definition

Sediment-control services may include specifying barriers, traps, or other practices; coordinating them with site drainage and erosion prevention; and preparing inspection or maintenance requirements. The firm’s work can range from plan details to construction-phase review, depending on the agreement and permit responsibilities. Installation, inspection, repair, and recordkeeping may be assigned to different project parties, so those duties should be explicit. Sediment control focuses on particles moving with runoff, while erosion control seeks to limit soil detachment and movement from exposed ground. It is not a guarantee that no sediment will escape a site, and its effectiveness depends on installation, upkeep, flow conditions, and site layout. Owners can make responsibility for these ongoing tasks visible in contracts and project administration. Construction stormwater requirements may involve the EPA.

How owners use it

• Set out who installs, inspects, maintains, and documents sediment practices during construction.
• Coordinate sediment measures with erosion prevention and the site drainage plan.
• Example: 6 planned inspections × 2 staff hours per inspection = 12 staff hours of inspection effort.
• Track inspection and maintenance work separately from design deliverables when reviewing project budgets.

Related terms

• Erosion controlErosion control consists of measures used to limit soil movement from exposed ground, often during construction.
• Construction stormwater permitA construction stormwater permit is an authorization that may be required for certain construction activities that disturb land or discharge
• Stormwater managementStormwater management is the planning and control of runoff from rainfall or snowmelt.
• Construction stakingConstruction staking places survey marks or references in the field to guide the location or elevation of planned work.

Related guides and articles

• What should happen at an engineering project kickoff?A kickoff is the owner’s chance to catch mismatched expectations while they are still inexpensive to resolve.
• What belongs in a project risk register?A risk register gives the project team one place to track uncertainties that could affect scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, or the client’s intended outcome.