Silt Sampling
Aquatic silt is soil, organic material (leaves, weed, reeds etc), waste from aquatic life and sediment that is transported by water and deposited into lakes, ponds, canals etc. It can be made up of rock, mineral particles, and decaying organic matter.
 
How does silt get into water?
Erosion: When flowing water scrapes against stream beds and chips away particles of rock 
Run-off: From surrounding land, such as fields or forests 
Decaying organic matter: Such as leaves, dead aquatic plants, and weeds 
 
What are the effects of silt?
Water quality: Excessive silt can make water turbid due to suspended material &/or algae blooms, this can be harmful to aquatic life 
Oxygen levels: Silt can interfere with water flow, increase bio chemical oxygen demand which can reduce oxygen levels and lead to anaerobic bacteria growth 
Ecosystem: Silt can increase nutrient loading and loss of total water volume 
 
How can silt be managed?
Erosion control: Plant cover crops or construct buffer zones to reduce the amount of sediment that flows into the water 
Silt removal: Periodically remove silt from the bottom of lakes and ponds 
Use of products like Siltex: These can help break down organic silt and raise the pH of water 
 
We can help you to understand the nature of the silt body in your lake/pond which can help greatly with the management of a suitable aquatic environment.
 
The sampling includes testing the pH and calculating the organic content of the siltbody. This information will indicate how successful a Siltex treatment might be.