Lakes are beautiful water sources that provide clear water for recreational purposes, consumption and aquatic ecosystems. Despite this, they can become murky and polluted from weeds, waste and sediment. Fortunately, you can clean your lake with various equipment and herbicides to keep its water pristine. Learn more with our quick guide below.

Benefits of Lake Cleaning

Cleaning water sources provides numerous advantages for landowners and businesses, such as:

• Preserving marine life: Periodic lake cleaning removes trash and debris or sediment, creating a healthier ecosystem for marine life and allowing them to flourish.
• Regulating water: Clean lakes help ease flood and drought impacts on a region. They store water, giving people access during shortages, and they increase water flow by removing sediment along the bottom. Water can flow freely, lessening the risk of floods.
• Preserving water quality: Lakes replenish groundwater sources. Clean lakes preserve the area’s water quality, biodiversity and habitat. Unclean lakes cause toxins to seep into the soil and pollute groundwater.
• Restoring environments: Removing sediment can reverse soil erosion and restore shorelines to their natural state.
• Enabling safe passage: Clean water sources provide safe, unobstructed passage for cargo vessels transporting raw materials, oil or other commodities.
• Creating space for construction: Sediment removal clears a path for waterway projects.
• Filling in land spaces: After professionals remove sediment, they use it to fill holes in the land.

How to Clean a Lake

Cleaning a lake involves removing weeds, debris and other pollution using equipment and herbicides. Learn how to keep a lake clean with weed management and pollution control.

Weed Management

It’s natural for lakes and ponds to have algae and weeds. These aquatic plants can benefit the ecosystem because fish can feed on them. Still, you must control weed and algae populations. An overgrowth can cause cloudy water and oxygen deprivation.

You can control aquatic plant population with the following:

• Pond dyes and shading: Pond dyes and other shading methods prevent sunlight from reaching your pond. Shading decreases the population of algae.
• Algae herbicides: Commercially available algae herbicides naturally break down the organism. You can follow the manufacturer’s instructions to treat your lake — only treat half at a time.
• Ultraviolet (UV) clarifiers: UV clarifiers release UV light, killing weeds. The UV light doesn’t harm fish and other wildlife. Note that UV clarifiers are inefficient for large lakes.
• Manual removal: Some algae resemble plants, so you can remove them by cutting, raking, vacuuming or pulling.
• Submerged weed control: The primary part of a submerged weed is below the water, even if the upper portion is above. Therefore, submerged weeds have soft stems. You can remove them by skimming, raking, cutting or pulling.
• Floating weed control: Floating weeds mainly occur in stagnant shallow lake water. Remove floating weeds by cutting them or using herbicides. Vacuuming and raking can remove smaller ones. You can prevent floating weeds from growing by increasing aeration and promoting water movement.
• Emergent weed control: Emergent weeds can grow in shallow water. You remove them by cutting, pulling or using herbicides.

Pollution Control

The Environmental Protection Agency found that almost 70,000 bodies of water nationwide don’t meet water quality standards. Polluted waters aren’t safe for humans or aquatic life. Lake pollutants come from pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, soil erosion, dams, runoff and storm sewers. You can combat lake pollution by:

• Preserving the natural vegetation around lakes.
• Maintaining septic systems and conducting regular inspections.
• Diverting stormwater runoff to the ground.
• Keeping yard waste out of storm drains, and off lakes and streets.
• Picking up and disposing of pet waste in the trash.
• Dredging the lake to remove sediment, trash, dead vegetation, sludge, sewage and other debris.

Learn More About Lake Dredging

Lake Cleaning Equipment

Without maintenance, pollution accumulates in lakes, causing them to be unsafe. You can adequately maintain your lake with the right equipment, keeping it fresh, clean and beautiful.

Dredges are the best lake cleaning equipment. They remove excess sediment from the bottom, sides and banks of lakes while preserving the water’s quality. Sedimentation causes many issues over time, including water depth reduction and contamination. After removing the sediment, workers transport it to another location to reuse it.

The Dino6 Dredge is excellent for lakes. It has many features and benefits, such as:

• Power: With 65 horsepower and a high-torque suction boom, the Dino6 enables you to clear large clumps of sediment faster than ever.
• Portability: You can transport it with a pickup truck and trailer.
• Flexibility: It can go where other dredges can’t, such as small lakes and tight spaces.
• Efficiency: The Dino6 is the most efficient dredging equipment. Its tank holds 30 gallons of fuel and only uses 3 gallons per hour.
• Easy to use: It’s as easy to use as possible. The operator lowers the boom to the bottom of the lake, the cutting bar’s teeth loosen the sediment, a vacuum sucks it up and you transport it to a disposal site.

Other types of lake cleaning equipment include:

• Aerators: Aerators circulate water to increase and stabilize the oxygen levels in your lake. Wind and heavy rain are natural aerators, but if they’re inconsistent, you can use mechanical aerators.
• Excavators: You can attach a bucket, grab or rake to an excavator. With an attachment, the excavator can skim the surface of your lake to remove sediment and debris.
• Weed harvesters: Weed harvesters help prevent aquatic vegetation from spreading. They’re similar to dredges, but they only remove weeds. The machine works like a lawn mower for water. It floats in the lake and cuts weeds and other aquatic plants. Once cut, the weeds move to a conveyor on the mower’s deck for storage.
• Aquatic skimmers: Aquatic skimmers remove surface and semi-submerged waste from your pond. It can remove algae, debris like plastic and litter, and liquid waste like oil and sewage.
• Lake rakes: Lake rakes harvest weeds on a small scale, such as residential ponds and lake cleaning. You throw the device into the lake and pull it back to shore. As it comes back, the rake’s teeth cut muck and weeds.
• De-icers: De-icers push warm water to the lake’s surface to prevent ice accumulation. Creating ice-free areas protects water structures and prevents ice damage.

Learn more about our powerful and compact Dino6 Dredge, or contact us today to see how our machines and lake cleaning services can help you.

Browse our Lake Maintenance Equipment

The post How to Keep a Lake Clean appeared first on GeoForm International.

With a pond, deeper can often be better. Whether you want to give your pond an update, remove built-up muck or fight back against erosion, you’ll want to use the right tools and follow the correct steps to stay safe and get the job done right.

STEPS TO DEEPEN A POND WITH A DREDGE

If you plan on renting a dredge, the process of dredging is relatively simple. To learn when and how to dredge your pond, click here!

STEPS TO DEEPEN A POND BY DRAINING & DEEPENING

If you need to deepen a pond of any size, follow these steps to get the best outcome and make the most efficient use of your time:

1. Remove living organisms: Collect your plants, fish and other organisms living in the pond for safety while renovating.
2. Drain the water (optional): If you plan on deepening the pond without the help of a small dredge, you may need to completely drain the pond. Put aside at least one-third of the water to help balance your ecosystem.
3. Let it dry (optional): Let the bed dry for easier digging. Depending on the pond size and the climate, this can take a few hours or last overnight.
4. Start in the center: Start digging at the center and work your way outward. Remove a small amount of soil at a time and take several passes.
5. Replace the water (if drained): Refill your pond using the water saved from the draining process and use fresh water for the rest.
6. Restore your pond: Return your plants, fish and other living creatures to your pond and enjoy your hard work!

Learn About the Dino6 Dredge

EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED

You will want to rent an excavator from your local heavy equipment supplier that’s capable of moving the amount of earth you have in mind.

If you plan on draining the pond, you want to get a submersible pump. Dredging may be appropriate for your pond, especially if you have a pond that’s large enough to float a small barge dredge on. Then, no draining of the pond is needed.

GET THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

If you would like expert advice to make sure you have the right equipment to deepen a pond, we can help. At GeoForm International, we manufacture submersible pumps and dredge systems that are extremely well-suited to handling your pond-related demands. To learn more about our products or to speak with our team, fill out our contact form or give us a call at 913-782-1166.

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The post How To Deepen A Pond appeared first on GeoForm International.

When it comes to pumping terminology, one crucial term to know is GPM — a measurement that will help you determine if you’re choosing the right pump. So what is GPM, and how do you calculate it?  

What Is GPM?

GPM stands for gallons per minute and is a measurement of how many gallons a pump can move per minute. It is also referred to as flow rate. GPM is variable based on another measurement known as the Head, which refers to the height the water must reach to get pumped through the system. 

There are several different Head measurements, including:

• Total Head: The discharge point for the fluid.
• Total Suction Head: The height between the fluid source and the pump.
• Total Discharge Head: The height from the pump to the highest point that the fluid will get pumped.

Pumps are typically measured by their GPM at a certain Head measurement. For example, a pump specification may read 150 GPM at 50 Feet of Head, which means the pump will work at 150 gallons per minute when pumping water at a height of 50 feet. 

How to Calculate GPM

The GPM formula is 60 divided by the number of seconds it takes to fill a one gallon container. So if you took 10 seconds to fill a gallon container, your GPM measurement would be 6 GPM (60/10 seconds = 6 GPM). To most accurately calculate GPM, you use the pressure tank method and formula. For this calculation, you need to know the specifications of your pressure tank, including how many gallons it holds, the gallon drawdown and the PSI. The manufacturer specifies the gallon drawdown. Once you have that information, as well as a stopwatch to keep time, follow these steps:

• Empty the pressure tank
• Start your stopwatch when you hear the pressure switch turn on
• Stop the stopwatch when the switch turns off 
• Divide the time on your stopwatch by the drawdown amount

For example, if it took four minutes for the pressure switch to turn off, and your gallon drawdown was 20 gallons, this would mean a GPM rate of five. 

If you don’t have a pressure tank, you can also use a bucket or any other container, time how long it takes to fill up and then divide that by the volume the container holds. 

WHAT IS GALLONS PER MINUTE USED FOR?

GPM identifies the unique capabilities of a pump so you can select the right one for your specific needs. If you need a pump for a larger public area such as a golf course, marina or lake, you will need a pump with a much higher GPM than one used for your home’s well. Plus, choosing the correct pump is essential for reducing your costs and increasing your pump’s lifespan.

GeoForm International – A Leader In Pumping Technology

At GeoForm International, we are a leading manufacturer of high-quality submersible pumps, dredges, digester packages and aerators, all of which are made in the U.S. With our pump expertise, we know just how essential GPM is in the pumping and dredging industry from how much equipment costs to how long jobs will take. 

If you have any questions, contact us today to speak with one of our experts. 

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The post Pumping Terminology: What Is GPM and How Is it Calculated? appeared first on GeoForm International.

GeoForm International Inc. can help you maintain your lake or pond to keep it healthy and useable — for both humans and nature. Maintenance requires the right pond and lake equipment, whether you’re removing aquatic vegetation, aerating the pond or skimming the lake’s surface.

Types of Pond and Lake Maintenance Equipment

Jump To: Dredges | Aerators | Excavators | Weed Harvesters | Aquatic Skimmers | Lake Rakes | De-Icers

Pond maintenance is crucial if you want to enhance the water’s aesthetic while also preserving its various ecological components. Lakes, ponds and other bodies of water are integral parts of many ecosystems. They inhabit a range of aquatic plants and animals and provide a source of food and water for land-dwelling species. 

So, when your farm pond, recreational lake or wildlife area becomes stagnant or contaminated, there are a few ways you can maintain it. A wide range of tools is typically used to maintain ponds and lakes, including the 7 mentioned below.

1. Dredges

Dredges are machines that remove built-up sediment from the bottom, sides or banks of your lake or pond. Sedimentation is the process in which soil particles erode and deposit a layer on the bottom of a body of water. It can cause many issues in your pond or lake over time, such as water depth reduction. 

Sedimentation can also prevent boats and other machines from passing over the water. The buildup can even result in water contamination that poses a threat to wildlife and aquatic plants, forming environmental hazards. When you need a solution to remove a massive accumulation of sediment while preserving the health of your water source, dredging is a common solution.

Dredging removes sediment, then transports it to another location for other purposes. The machine creates a vacuum that sucks up the debris and sediment, then pumps it out. Numerous dredges are manufactured for small areas like ponds and lakes that can be partially or fully emerged in the water. Different types include plain, cutter and auger suction or jet-lift dredges.

Each requires a different power source and has different ways of getting the muck from the bottom of the pond or lake. Muck can reduce oxygen levels of the water, causing a foul odor. With lower oxygen levels, your pond or lake has a lower chance of supporting wildlife

Dredges for ponds and lakes are usually portable machines that can get into tight spaces, whereas large dredges for ocean dredging can’t operate efficiently on ponds or lakes.

Dredges provide many benefits, such as:

• Forging a healthier ecosystem
• Keeping invasive vegetation from growing
• Making ponds and lakes deeper
• Removing stagnant muck

Because ponds and lakes are inactive bodies of water, dredges are ideal solutions to remove the sediment buildup and create a healthier body of water. If you’re looking to learn more about when to dredge a pond, click here.

View the Dino6 Dredge

2. Aerators

Aeration systems increase and stabilize oxygen levels in your pond or lake. Aerators move the water and break the liquid’s surface to help it come in contact with the air. Some natural sources of aeration include heavy rain and wind, but if the natural elements are not consistent, you can rely on mechanical ventilation to get the job done.

Different aeration systems include:

• Diffused or deluxe
• Garden pond
• High-oxygen surface
• Shallow pond
• Solar-powered
• Windmill

The purpose of an aerator is to eliminate thermocline. Thermocline is when the water’s surface is colder and more oxygen-deprived compared to the deeper and warmer water levels that are oxygen-rich. The split between the surface and deeper water is called stratification. Aeration helps to circulate the water to eradicate the divided temperature changes.

Without proper ventilation, the aerobic bacteria on the lake or pond’s floor won’t receive oxygen. If the bacteria isn’t receiving oxygen, it won’t be able to break down the organic material that falls from the oxygen-rich layers above. As a result, rotting organic material forms — also known as muck.

Muck will cause excessive algae growth, which can be the reason for unhealthy fish, floating plants and swarms of insects like mosquitos.

The aeration process infuses oxygen into your lake or pond, benefiting the fish and other wildlife that live in the water. Aerating your lake or pond also:

• Boosts water quality
• Improves ecosystem health
• Reduces muck
• Eradicates stagnant smell
• Keeps invasive vegetation from growing

3. Excavators

Although excavators are often seen on construction sites, they can support a multitude of applications, including pond and lake maintenance.

Excavators are pieces of heavy machinery made for excavating or digging trenches, foundations and holes. Depending on the size of your lake or pond, you may need a standard excavator, which is the perfect size for heavy and tough jobs. Other models you can choose are midi and mini.

Brands that offer heavy equipment excavators range from Caterpillar, John Deere and Volvo to Case, Komatsu and JCB.

For water maintenance, you can equip an excavator with attachments like buckets, grabs and rakes to take out the physical labor of cleaning. You can use an excavator for sediment removal on ponds and lakes to scrape the surface. This process is typically referred to as mechanical dredging.

The machine’s bucket or rake can remove large masses of vegetation, muck, wood and other debris. Investing or renting a long reach excavator will allow you to reach further into the lake or pond to make a clean sweep across the water. It’s an efficient and straightforward way to clear the water’s surface.

You can also use an excavator to construct a pond, lake or another marine construction. Steps to making a pond using an excavator are as follows:

1. Design the pond and use marker flags to determine its exact shape.
2. Buy or rent the right heavy equipment size and model with the appropriate attachments.
3. Select a dumpsite for the dirt.
4. Dig the pond in layers — start at the edge and move toward the middle.

No matter your use of an excavator, a tracked machine works well on steep grades because it has a low center of gravity. Its wider footprint gives you more contact with the ground as you work your way around the edge of the water.

Tracked equipment can also maneuver well on softer ground like mud and low levels of water for safe operations. Using a tracked unit gives you more mobility and the freedom to swing in multiple directions around the pond within a single radius.

4. Weed Harvesters

Photo Credit

Water management equipment like weed harvesters can help combat the spread of weeds and aquatic vegetation in your lake or pond.

They are similar to dredges but used specifically for aquatic weed removal. Also known as a water mower, the machine is mounted on a pontoon that’s designed for inland water management. The harvester is hydraulically driven to travel through clogged ponds and lakes.

The sizeable floating machine has reciprocating blades underwater located on the harvesting head. The blades cut and harvest different vegetation like reeds, weeds and aquatic plant life that’s causing detriments to your lake or pond. Removing plants from a body of water is called aquatic harvesting.

First, the weeds are cut vertically, then horizontally, to separate the mass. A harvester removes aquatic weeds about two to three meters below the water’s surface. It also removes algae and other forms of debris that’s built up in the system.

Once the weeds and reeds are cut, they move to the conveyor system on the machine’s deck. The conveyor fills over time and stores the biomass, packing it tightly. The vegetation then transfers to your lake or pond’s shoreline or a truck for other uses. If being reused, the plants are pressed to remove any moisture.

Several uses of aquatic weeds include:

• Compost
• Feeding livestock
• Land reclamation
• Organic fertilizer
• Pulp and paper

Removing excessive plant life is beneficial if it’s overtaking your area and negatively affecting the ecology of the water source. Using a weed harvester can improve water quality, too.

View Our Pond and Lake Maintenance Equipment

5. Aquatic Skimmers

Trash and debris can suffocate aquatic plant life, as well as harm animals like fish, newts, frogs, turtles and freshwater muscles. Non-aquatic animals can also suffer from large amounts of trash on the water like birds and small mammals. Rubbish can cause entanglement, and if ingested, it can cause starvation and internal injuries.

If you’re looking to remove trash and debris from the surface of your lake or pond’s surface, using an aquatic skimmer is your go-to. The machine can also collect semi-submerged pollutants. It can pick up plastic, cigarettes, cans, algae, bottles, litter and wood, plus liquid waste like oil, sewage, spilled drinks and other fluids.

An aquatic skimmer is a heavy-duty workboat that uses turbines to pull in a stream of water. A filter collects the waste and debris by vacuuming it out of the water. Once gathered, the equipment moves the contaminants and other toxic pollutants into a storage conveyor and filters the clean water back out. The trash is transported to an off-loading point and discharged for other uses or recycling.

Skimmers are especially helpful in areas that see high traffic from the public, like zoos, parks and family attractions.

Pond cleaning tools like skimmers make ponds and lakes more aesthetic while reducing health risks and increasing ecological conservation.

6. Lake Rakes

Lake rakes are ideal when you need to harvest weeds on a small scale — making them more effective on ponds compared to larger lakes.  This option can cost less than $100 so for residential pond or lake cleaning, this is often the route people go to remove weeds.

Using a lake rake is a direct process in which you throw the device into the water and pull it back to shore. The rake’s teeth will cut through weeds and collect muck to help keep the growth of unwanted vegetation to a minimum.

Some factors you may want to consider are pole length, material, buoyancy and teeth.

Depending on the size of your pond, you may need a long-reach rake with a broad head to gain maximum reach. The equipment often comes with long ropes, so you can thrust the rake into the water and easily retrieve it.

You will want a rake made of high-quality materials that have also been treated with specialized finishes to resist corrosion and rust. Commonly used materials consist of aluminum, plastic and steel. It’s important to find one that’s easy to push, pull and throw into the water.

You will also want to consider its buoyancy. Do you need one that sinks to reach the bottom of your pond or one that floats to catch surface weeds and debris? Longer teeth can uproot deeper plants but may stir more sediment. Flat and wide teeth are ideal for covering large surfaces where you need to collect weeds.

Bottom rolling rakes are also available. They use a large revolving drum with teeth to push across the bottom of your pond or lake to dig up and remove unwanted weeds. Rolling rakes are better for sedimentation, while rakes are good for surface maintenance.

7. De-Icers

A de-icer is a piece of equipment that pushes warm water to the surface of your lake or pond to avoid ice buildup.

Generating an ice-free area helps protect your dock, boat or other structures in the water. It also aids in averting ice damage, such as ice expansion and jacking. Ice jacking is when water overtakes the area around a structure, and once it freezes, it causes the assembly to fracture as the ice expands.

A de-icer also supports fish and other aquatic species by allowing oxygen to enter the water through the open areas.

While the de-icing equipment is commonly used during winter, it can also support your lake or pond throughout other seasons. It offers benefits like eliminating odors, excessive plant growth and stagnant water.

Managing a pond or lake is easy when you have the right equipment and knowledge. Whether your water source is overrun with weeds or has a layer of muck, the right water management device can clear the area and create a healthier ecosystem.

Trust GeoForm International for Your Pond and Lake Maintenance Needs

GeoForm International manufactures high-quality, durable and dependable products that fit your demands. Our dredges and aerators rely on the power of our submersible pumps — making them the core of our business. Our pumps are economical and environmentally friendly solutions.

GeoForm International’s experts can help you solve your sediment-filled, unhealthy and oxygen-deprived lake or pond with our superior dredging equipment. We can also provide knowledge and project management to make the process fast and efficient.

View our top-tier pond and lake maintenance products or reach out to our team to receive unparalleled service.

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The post Guide to Lake and Pond Maintenance Equipment appeared first on GeoForm International.

Do Your Research

The first step to choosing a dredging contractor is to do your research on the contractors in the area. In your research, you’ll want to start by searching for excavating or dredging contractors in your area. Once you find the local contractors, you’ll want to look at any online reviews of the company. While Google’s a great place to start, you should also check the companies’ social media pages for other customers’ reviews and comments.

Remember, an occasional negative review is standard for any business and doesn’t always reflect on the kind of service a company can offer, so you should always try to look at the complete picture. To take your research to the next level, and you can even contact the company and ask if they have past client references to get a clear picture of how they operate. Often, a company will have a list of clients as references for you to get in contact with.

Research Their Equipment

After checking out their reviews and looking into their references, you should also do some research on their equipment. Begin by looking at their website if they have one to see what they offer, then make an appointment to talk with them in person. It’s a best practice to ask questions about equipment before you employ a contractor, and reputable dredging contractors will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

During your research of their equipment, you’ll want to see if the gear they have available will be able to complete the job efficiently.

For example, a marina is a tight area to dredge, so a huge excavator won’t do the job, nor will a large ocean dredge. In this case, you would want the contractor to have a smaller dredge. If you learn they have a Dino6 Dredge or other similar product that can access hard-to-reach areas, you can be confident they have the tools to get the job done.

You’ll also want to see if their equipment is environmentally friendly to make sure you are being responsible by hiring them. Along with this, you can check to see if they own or rent their equipment. Companies that rent equipment may charge higher costs as they try to cover their rental fees.

How Much Does a Dredging Contractor Cost?

Costs will vary based on the size of the project, timeline, equipment used and disposal of the material. Before you agree to a contractor, get a detailed estimate, so you know what the projected costs are. You should ask to see an itemized breakdown of everything you will be spending money on.

Typically, a few main factors go into the cost of hiring a dredging contractor. First, the company will need to establish how much material there is to dredge. Next, they’ll have to determine where they can store everything they haul out of the water and what the disposal process will need to look like. Finally, a contractor will take into account the type of material they need to dredge, factoring the degree of difficulty of removal into the cost.

Keep in mind that dredging contractors often have hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in equipment to perform their jobs, so hiring them isn’t cheap.

Ask If Their Employees Are Trained

Often, small contractors are one- or two-person operations, and the employees are skilled using dredging equipment. As you select a dredging company, you should ask if they have provided the proper training for their employees. Dredging is a technical process, and because of that, anyone operating the equipment should know how to use it safely. Due to the many contractors who have the appropriate expertise in using the equipment, you shouldn’t settle for a contractor that hasn’t taken the time to train their employees.

Sometimes, manufacturers will teach companies that purchase their equipment to use it properly. For example, GeoForm International offers training with each machine we sell. If the contractor uses a Dino6 or a Dino8, they’re likely well-trained by the manufacturer.

Be Sure They’re Insured

After confirming that they have the appropriate training, you’ll want to verify they’re insured. For one, you don’t want to be unexpectedly liable if their equipment gets damaged while they’re working on your job. Even if you aren’t worried about being held responsible, insurance can ensure the project stays on schedule, even when unexpected accidents occur.

Dredging equipment can be expensive. If it becomes damaged and it’s uninsured, it can be a massive drain on a company’s finances. For a company that is running on the margins, the damage could even send them under, leaving your project incomplete. You’ll have to start the search process all over again, and most likely spend more money on the project than you had budgeted.

Due to the necessity of having insurance, there are many heavy equipment insurance companies and plans on the market. If you want assurance that your project will get completed on time, the dredging contractor you select must have insurance for their equipment.

Need Recommendations for Your Dredging Project?

At GeoForm International, we have many dredging contractors as our clients, and we have taken it upon ourselves to provide them with training on many of our high-quality dredging and pumping systems. As you select a dredging contractor, we may be able to help if we have a customer that fits your project needs.

Contact us today to speak with one of our experts in dredging to see if we can match you with a contractor in your area who will be a great fit.

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The post Tips For Choosing a Dredging Contractor appeared first on GeoForm International.

What to Do With Sediment After Dredging

Knowing this, it’s only logical that many of our customers ask what to do with sediment after dredging. Fortunately, after being in business for more than 20 years and supplying high-quality dredging and pumping systems to customers around the world, this is a question we’re well-equipped to answer.

It’s important to understand that while some dredged material is contaminated and deposited in confined disposal facilities (CDFs), a significant amount of it can be reused. Now, exactly how you reuse it depends on your objective, as well as whether the dredged material is a waste product, a recovered product or byproduct, or a primary product.

Waste Product from Dredging

If the dredged material is a waste product, there are several ways it can be used. For example, sand can be used for beach nourishment — in other words, to enhance existing beaches where the shoreline is threatened by erosion or even to create new beaches. It can also be used in combination with geotextile tubes to build out flood defenses on beaches.

Finer materials such as clay and fine dirt also have many applications. Fine clay material can be used for land creation and construction fill, especially for new land areas within harbors and ports. Fine dirt is also often mixed with additives such as manure, biosolids or compost to create or enhance topsoil.

Recovered Product or Byproduct

If your objective is to recover a product — in other words, to harvest or gather materials — there’s a wide range of potential uses depending on the product. The same goes for products that are a byproduct of your primary objective with the dredging operation.

For example, dredging is commonly used to harvest peat moss, which is used throughout the world as fuel or to enhance soil. Dredging is also used to recover biosolids — organic materials made from sewage — to create fertilizer.

Here’s another interesting example: One of our customers is a golf course that used the Dino6 to dredge all of its ponds. While doing so, they recovered approximately five 55-gallon drums worth of golf balls, most of which were still in perfectly usable condition!

Primary Product

If you’re mining or dredging for a primary product, there are several potential uses for the dredged materials. Sand, for example, is gathered for a range of production purposes, including the making of glass or as a component in mortar. Dredged material can also include other fine granules — including precious metals like gold.

Contact Us for More Information

Clearly, there are many different uses for dredged materials depending on the materials themselves and your objective. If you have any further questions about dredged material uses or any of our products, contact our team of experts today!

The post Uses For Dredged Sediment appeared first on GeoForm International.

Do you need to dredge a body of water or waterway? If so, you might be wondering whether you should choose mechanical or hydraulic dredging for best results. The answer is: It depends. Read on to learn more about mechanical vs. hydraulic dredging so you can determine which option is best for your project.

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Mechanical vs. Hydraulic Dredging: Things to Consider

When it comes to deciding between mechanical and hydraulic dredging, there are various considerations to take into account:

• Equipment: Mechanical dredging involves the use of an excavator or another type of heavy equipment — usually situated on a barge or on the water’s edge — to dig out the bed of the body of water and remove the sediment. The sediment is then hauled away for disposal or reuse. In contrast, hydraulic dredging uses suction to remove the sediment, which is then transported through a pipe and deposited elsewhere to be disposed of or recycled. A certain amount of skill and experience are required to achieve the optimal suction setting for different bodies of water and types of sediment.
• Intended dredging area: Location can play an important role. For example, hydraulic dredging is a good solution for areas where environmental concerns are important. Generally, mechanical dredging is well-suited for locations that require a high degree of precision since in most cases mechanical dredging allows for more mobility. This is why GeoForm International invented the Dino6 and Dino8– which is a hydraulic dredge that has increased mobility and precision compared to larger hydraulic dredges.
• Type of dredge material: While dredging in itself can remove a variety of bottom materials, the two methods are best suited to different kinds of materials. Because mechanical dredging equipment is robust and doesn’t filter the dredge material, it’s most often used to remove rock and gravel. Hydraulic dredging equipment, on the other hand, is best suited for removing fine silt, sand and dirt. 
• Material suspension: Material suspension refers to the fact that during dredging, certain amounts of dredge material — which can include contaminants — are stirred up and are suspended in the water. This is especially a concern with mechanical dredging. Hydraulic dredging, in contrast, uses a cutterhead shroud to contain the suspended material so it can be pumped away.

In short, when it comes to mechanical dredging, benefits include speed, mobility, and accuracy, as well as the ability to handle larger dredge materials. However, its drawbacks include the high percentage of resuspended sediment, plus the costs of acquiring, operating, and maintaining the required heavy equipment.

When it comes to hydraulic dredging, benefits include:

• The lower costs of purchasing, operating and maintaining the equipment
• A low percentage of suspended sediment
• The ability to remove fine materials such as silt and sand 
• A wide variety of waterways that can be dredged, including:
  • HOA water ways
  • lakes
  • ponds
  • lagoons
  • marinas

Its disadvantages include the fact that it’s not suited to removing larger or coarser dredge materials. Plus, it can take longer than mechanical dredging, depending on the site.

Contact GeoForm International for Hydraulic Dredge Solutions

If you’d like to know more about the benefits of hydraulic dredging, contact the team of experts here at GeoForm International. With more than 20 years of experience providing top of the line dredging solutions to customers across the globe, we welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and discuss your dredging needs. To learn more, please fill out our contact form or call 913-782-1166.

Contact Us Today

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WHAT IS POND DREDGING?

Pond dredging is the process of removing sediment with a portable dredge, which allows the operator to collect the sediment and transport it to another location. Dredging a pond can alleviate or prevent a variety of issues, which is why it’s such a crucial maintenance step for properties with a pond.

Reasons You Should Dredge your Pond

While some transitions can happen without you noticing, changes in waterways are quite noticeable. Often, many people look into a dredge for their pond after seeing a difference in their pond’s appearance.

So what should you be searching for when it comes to your pond? Signs that you should dredge your pond include:

• Decrease in depth and width: One of the most significant symptoms of waterholes in need of dredging is shrinkage. Many become shallower as sediment, trash and other debris build up on the bottom of them. Over time, many will also decrease in width, which is why they can become swamps without timely intervention.
  
• Increase in odor and algae: While aeration often remedies less-than-desirable smells as well as excess algae, dredging tends to be used in coordination with an aerator. If a previous owner neglected your pond, you would likely use a dredge for your pond and then install an aerator for long-term management.
  
• Reduction in aquatic wildlife: Another sign you should dredge your pond is a lack of marine wildlife and an excess amount of plant life. Eutrophication, or excess nutrients in the water due to runoff, causes an imbalance between plants and wildlife. That can lead to oxygen deprivation, which causes the death of aquatic wildlife.

View Our Pond Dredge

If you notice these signs, especially a depth change, dredging is an option to consider.

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Benefits of Dredging Your Pond

Choosing to dredge your pond offers several benefits, including:

• Improved visual appearance of waters
• Increased width and depth
• Raised oxygen levels for wildlife

Overall, dredging ensures your pond stays healthy and sustainable by helping to maintain its local ecosystem.

How to Dredge A Pond Yourself

Your process for dredging your pond depends on a few factors, such as its condition. If your pond’s almost a swamp, for example, you will drain it before beginning the dredging process. Fuller ponds, however, may be dredged without emptying first. Determining how much to dredge a pond is also essential in selecting the right equipment and planning the project effectively.

The process for pond dredging includes:

1. Creating a channel for draining your pond, if called for.
2. Using an appropriate-sized dredge boat to remove the built-up sediment layers.
3. Refilling the pond via the constructed channel or allowing it to refill through rainwater.

While some organizations opt to use hand dredges, dredge boats are more powerful and reliable, not to mention safer.

Learn More About Dredges for Ponds

At GeoForm International, we offer more than 20 years of experience in dredging. All our dredges, which include small pond dredges like the Dino 6, are built with high-quality materials in the U.S. to deliver a long-lasting piece of equipment for maintaining your waterways. Learn more about our pond dredging equipment and cutter suction dredges by contacting us today!

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So which is better: a dredge boat or hand dredging?

What Is a Dredge Barge?

A dredge barge is a sediment removal system. It features a barge with an installed dredge system for removing sediment, trash, dead vegetation and other debris from the bottom of ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. The Dino 6 is an example of a dredge boat.

What Is Hand Dredging?

A hand dredge, or a do-it-yourself (DIY) dredge, is also a sediment removal system. Unlike a dredge barge, however, it only includes the dredge system, which means users must equip a hand dredge to an existing raft, boat or barge.  These homemade pond dredges are cheap in cost, but have many drawbacks.

Pros and Cons of DIY Dredging

With any application, including DIY dredging, there are drawbacks and benefits:

• Pros: For many organizations and institutions, the cost of hand dredging is a significant benefit. All you have to purchase is the dredging pump system, which features an engine, pump, hose and It also lets you reuse existing boats and equip them with the system.
• Cons: While prices are lower than dredge boats, DIY dredges are prone to breaking and require maintenance on a frequent basis. Because of their design, they’re limited in their engine and suction power, too, which can lead to longer dredging times and ineffective performance. If you build a homemade pond dredge, you’re also restricted when it comes to its parts. Most pumps used for DIY dredging projects are designed to pump water and not hard, abrasive materials commonly found when dredging.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dredge Boats

Like hand dredging, dredge boats also have pros and cons:

• Advantages: Many of DIY dredging’s drawbacks are a dredge barge’s benefits. They feature high-quality materials, like stainless-steel. They’re also capable of delivering more power, which makes sediment removal hassle- and clog-free. Some, like the Dino 6, are portable and lightweight, too, which prevents damage to recovery sites. Most manufacturers stock replacement parts as well, which ensures long-term use of your barge. Another benefit of dredge boats is they’re designed from the ground up using materials designed to withstand the harsh conditions of dredging in varying environments.
• Disadvantages: A disadvantage many people note about dredge boats is their price. While more expensive than DIY dredges, they’re also more reliable and durable, which is why they’re possibly more cost-effective in the long-term. These dredges are safer than hand dredging, too, which supports the idea that these sediment removal systems are an investment for liability prevention and property maintenance.     

Learn More about Dredge Barges

At GeoForm International, we know dredges. For more than 20 years, our team has manufactured American-made dredge barge boats for organizations all over the world, from mining facilities to homeowners’ associations. Learn more about our dredges by contacting us today!

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The post Dredge Barge Boat vs. Hand Dredging appeared first on GeoForm International.