A Central Dredging Association (CEDA) working group on turbidity limits (WGETL) is investigating how imposed environmental turbidity limits for dredging can be optimised, assessed and evaluated.
Turbidity is an optical quality of water and describes how clear or transparent the water is. Turbidity limits are often encountered by the dredging industry around the world and often significant resources are used to comply with turbidity limits. Therefore, it is important that the imposed turbidity limits are optimised to protect the local environment.
Site-specific Turbidity Limits
Environmental turbidity limits for dredging operations should always be site-specific, and based on ecosystem functioning, in order to protect sensitive environmental receptors. By setting realistic limits, monitoring can be made more cost-effective and ecologically, and socially, relevant.
Guidelines for Evaluating Environmental Turbidity Limits for Dredging
The new working group consists of 13 members representing both contractors, consultants, researchers and contract holders. Their task will be to prepare a CEDA information paper on guidelines for assessing and evaluating environmental turbidity limits for dredging.
The aim of the paper is to facilitate knowledge exchange on how to assess environmental turbidity limits generally, and which parameters should be included in the evaluation at a local level. The paper will also seek to provide support for legislators and environmental authorities in setting the right thresholds, and to encourage contractors and consultants to challenge existing limits which are not site-specific or scientifically based.
The paper is scheduled for June 2019.
Picture by Phil's 1stPix.
