Turbidity Monitoring
Dredging for the purpose of removing contaminated sediment for remediation is a common practice for projects under CERCLA or commonly called the “Superfund” program. Monitoring at the site gives managers a look at water quality conditions during the project. Alerts are set up to ensure that water quality remains viable for the surrounding environment throughout the duration of the project.
NexSens turbidity monitoring systems generally include a buoy platform which supports turbidity sondes/sensors and other selected monitoring instruments. The systems are powered by internal batteries charged by integrated solar panels. Data from these sensors are telemetered to the cloud for a real-time look at conditions from any device.
Case Studies
Snake River Dredge Turbidity Monitoring
The Snake River flows through parts of Washington and Idaho and is an important lane for transportation and shipping goods in the Pacific Northwest. But, over time, its value is impacted by sediment buildup that slows transportation down. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, charged with providing safe and reliable means of transportation throughout the United States’ many important channels and waterways, typically steps in to dredge the river when sediment levels get too high. Key to successful dredging projects is monitoring turbidity levels to make sure that fish and other aquatic life aren’t adversely affected by operations.
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Northern Caspian Sea Dredging
Kazakhstan is a country not often associated with having a shoreline, let alone a marine environment. However, in the western corner of Kazakhstan lies a section of coastline along the Caspian Sea. Through a network of rivers and channels, the Caspian Sea is actually connected to the trade routes of the world’s oceans. To support the expanding oil fields of Western Kazakhstan, a deep-water port is being constructed in the Northern Caspian Sea. The project has many challenges, including bringing ocean-going vessels into the shallow waters of the Northern Caspian. Averaging 2 meters water depth throughout much of the region, a large-scale dredging project has begun to dig a shipping channel over 60 kilometers long.
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Turbidity Dredge Monitoring
A large Midwest consulting firm was contracted to remove contaminated sediments from an embayment of Lake Michigan. The firm was required to monitor turbidity at two depths and five locations surrounding the dredge in order to ensure contaminated sediment levels did not exceed a specified range in the water. If sediment levels fell outside of the range, the dredge operator would have to be notified to slow down or alter the dredging operation. As an embayment of Lake Michigan, with significant wave action and harsh weather conditions, the dredge site offered significant challenges for deploying and maintaining the monitoring sensors.
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