Beneficial Uses For Dredged Materials

The dredging industry is one of the busiest in the world, excavating literal tons of material every day. In many cases, this material is drawn from rivers, lakes, ports, harbors, and other waterways as part of projects to make these places more accessible to commercial and recreational boats. While some materials that are extracted are part of environmental remediation projects, and cannot be used afterward, much more can be utilized in a variety of ways.

Here are some of the most beneficial uses for dredged materials that US Aqua Services has found.

1. Construction Materials
2. Landfill Cover
3. Land Creation
4. Beach Nourishment Projects
5. Topsoil Fertilizer
6. Habitat Restoration

Construction Materials

Currently, there is a worldwide construction boom, as the population continues to expand, and more and more people move out of poverty and into homes. Many of the materials extracted by dredgers, sand, and gravel, in particular, are extremely useful in construction projects. They can be used in making glass, concrete, and much more. These materials can also be used in the landscaping of new buildings as well.

Landfill Cover

Dredged material can be utilized in the covering of landfills. The tons of gravel can suppress any waste products, and prevent the soils surrounding the landfill from eroding away. This ensures that trash doesn’t blow into neighboring communities, and potentially toxic products are not allowed to filter into nearby waterways.

Land Creation

As more and more of the world’s population lives near a coast or shore of some kind, there is increased threat of flooding and rising water levels. Dredged material, in its vast quantities, can be used to create new landforms. Indeed, entire islands have been artificially created out of dredged materials. More commonly, dredged materials like sand, have been used in major beach reclamation projects after devastating hurricanes and storms.

Beach Nourishment Projects

For dredging projects that occur near beaches or along shorelines, the materials can be put back onto these landscapes. These materials can be used as new recreational spaces for visitors and community members. Beach nourishment projects have proven to be an economic boon to coastal communities, who rely on the attraction of beaches to draw in tourists.

Topsoil Fertilizer

Maintaining the quality of topsoil is vital to ensure the long-term agricultural success of our farms. The fine, nutrient-rich materials gathered by dredgers can be used as a form of fertilizer for agricultural lands, helping to improve the quality of topsoil there.

Habitat Restoration

Dredged material is often used in habitat restoration projects. Materials extracted from nearby areas are seamlessly integrated into damaged landscapes to rebuild them. In particular, dredging companies and wildlife groups including Fish And Wildlife departments have found success in using dredged materials to create channels and eddies in waterways for fish to spawn in and birds to hunt near.

Call U.S. Aqua Services

Dredging can play a major role in making our landscapes more habitable and useful. If you’re looking to start a major dredging project, make sure to partner with us. US Aqua Service has years of experience, and the cutting-edge machinery you need to make your next project a success. Contact us today to schedule a site visit or to arrange to rent a dredge.

Related Articles

The Importance Of Dredging -  In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of dredging and some of its benefits.

Understanding Beach Reclamation and Sand Dredging - Beach reclamation can be generally understood as the process of restoring a beach from erosion. Sand is added to the beach to “reclaim” its shoreline.

What Is Gravel Used For? - What is all of this gravel being used for? Let's explore the usefulness of these pea-sized rocks.

About U.S. Aqua Services

U.S. Aqua Services was created to support the dredging process in advancing commerce and responding to its many challenges. To accomplish this, our dredging company assembled an exceptional group of experienced individuals and a diverse inventory of dredge equipment.

We offer dredging equipment rental services so you can have access to the latest and greatest in dredging technology without having to pay to maintain it, transport, and store it, along with dewatering services.

With an emphasis on mobility, dependability, durability, diversity, efficiency, and safety, our dredging rental company can ensure that our different types of dredging systems are easy to move through any terrain and can work in the most rugged and remote environments. Our multi-function hydraulic systems are built with jetting and mechanical options that can efficiently move loose sediment or stiff layers of clay.

US Aqua services also and maintains a ready fleet of amphibious equipment capable of completing dredging projects in some of the harshest and most remote environments. U.S Aqua is also the dealer for Louisiana of the amphibious vehicle Fat Truck. No matter the size or scope of the job or the remoteness of your work location, you can rely on Fat Truck’s industrial off-road utility vehicles to get the job done right.