Why Is Erosion and Sediment Control Important?
As you work on the jobsite, you’re changing the landscape. Not only are you creating the footprint of a building, a pipeline, or a parking lot, your machinery is removing vegetation and changing the elevation of the ground.
Exposed soil is a given, and as a contractor, it’s your responsibility to protect the landscape and leave behind a property that shows no evidence of construction other than what your contracted job was for. That’s why the soil stabilization process is an important part of every construction project.
Keeping soil in place also helps maintain the integrity of your construction project. Unstable soils can lead to costly repairs and delays or even a complete halt of operations. Erosion control and sediment control help you keep your project on track by ensuring that the soil is stable and protected from any unwanted materials.
This blog will take a close look at some of the reasons why erosion control is so important to your commercial project and strategies you can use to protect your jobsite and the surrounding area.
What Is Soil Stabilization?
Soil stabilization is a collection of strategies to contain the soil on your jobsite and protect it from rainwater. Erosion control is an important part of any commercial development plan and in some locations is required by the EPA. While individual methods are used to accomplish the same task, the best approach is generally to use them in unison to minimize bare soil and sediment loss.
Under natural conditions, soil stays in one place, but when it’s exposed to open air during a construction project, rain runoff can displace this soil. This poses a number of problems. The first and most important is that eroded areas have lost the ability to hold weight, which can affect the integrity of new and existing construction. Eroded soil from the jobsite can enter local streams and other natural waterways, clogging and polluting them and creating an ecological disaster. Existing soil is also a base for future landscaping and development, and if it erodes away, clean soil is difficult to find and expensive to buy.
How Soil Bearing Capacity Impacts Construction Projects
For any construction project, soil bearing capacity is a critical factor to consider. Bearing capacity is the maximum load per unit of soil that can be supported without failure or settlement. If the soil bearing capacity is too low, it may cause structural instability and damage to buildings and other structures. To ensure optimum strength, stability, and longevity of your construction project, it’s important to properly stabilize the soil before laying the foundation.
The process for stabilizing soil typically involves using a combination of compaction, soil amendments, and erosion control measures. Compaction is when the soil is compacted to increase its density, which increases the bearing capacity. Soil amendments are materials, such as lime or fly ash, added to the soil to improve its characteristics. Erosion control measures like an erosion control blanket can also be used to protect against ground-level erosion and sedimentation. These measures help reduce the risk of damage caused by water runoff and sediment
The goal of soil stabilization is to ensure adequate bearing capacity and reduce the potential for settling, subsidence, and other damage. By taking the necessary steps to stabilize soil before laying a foundation, you can ensure that your construction project remains safe and structurally sound for years to come. Investing in proper soil stabilization is an important part of the construction process and helps provide longevity to your projects.
Common Construction Projects That Require Soil Stabilization
Here are some common projects where erosion control is a critical part of the construction process:
Subdivision Developments
Subdivisions are usually cleared and graded in the first phase while houses are built individually as lots are sold and developed. Soil stabilization is critical to cleared homesites and graded road layouts until construction can begin in these inactive areas.
Oil and Gas Pipelines
Remote access areas and construction of new lines means the soil in these cleared areas needs to be stabilized to avoid damage to the pipeline and the surrounding area.
Commercial Construction
Soil stabilization is important to maintain the integrity of building footprints and potential landscaped areas.
When you have a commercial landscaping or erosion control project, you want to be confident in the company you hire to do the work. With Varsity Inc., you can be certain that we provide professionalism, efficiency, and a dedication to quality.
What Are the Best Erosion Control Methods for Construction Sites?
Working with an outside contractor like Varsity is an essential asset for any contractor seeking soil stabilization and complete erosion control. We understand regulations, we can follow your predetermined plan, or we can use our experience and techniques to mitigate damage at an existing jobsite.
Some of the most effective methods we use include:
Erosion control blankets are a popular and effective way to prevent soil erosion on construction projects. These blankets are made of biodegradable materials such as straw, coconut fiber, or jute and are laid over the soil surface to hold it in place. The fibers interlock and create a strong barrier that traps sediment, prevents surface runoff, and helps vegetation take root. This is an ideal solution for areas prone to heavy rains where water can quickly erode away topsoil.
Grass seed is the perfect cover for areas that will lie unused for months or years at a time. Tip: Use native species that root fast to minimize the impact on the landscape.
Our hydroseeders can cover large areas in minutes with a combination of seed and fertilizer. Hydroseeding also allows you to stabilize slopes and hard-to-reach areas.
Grass seed is the perfect cover for areas that will lie unused for months or years at a time. Tip: Use native species that root fast to minimize the impact on the landscape.
A filter sock is a mesh tube filled with natural mulch and compost that allows water to pass through while filtering out soil and sediment. Erosion control matting is durable and customizable and an effective means to protect slopes and structures during wet conditions.
Varsity’s value comes from our decades of experience. We’re the authority local contractors turn to when they need an erosion control expert to protect their jobsite. We have evolved alongside changing EPA regulations for erosion control, and we fully understand how to keep your organization compliant to avoid substantial fees and penalties. Most importantly, we help you develop the most cost-effective erosion control solution.
If your job requires erosion control and soil stabilization, reach out to us today and speak with our experts.
Varsity Inc. has been providing a full range of landscape related services to the Northeast commercial and industrial markets since 1974.
