VIEWPOINT
TIME FOR CONSTRUCTION TO TAKE THE SILT POLLUTION
Paul Thompson, technical specification manager, Wrekin Products
IT’S WIDELY UNDERSTOOD that the UK construction industry is responsible for more than one-third of the nation’s total carbon emissions, but there is worryingly limited recognition that the sector needs to do more to prevent immediate environmental damage as well. In a nutshell, silt pollution is the contamination of watercourses by a granular sediment composed of rock and mineral particles. This form of pollution is primarily caused by construction site runoff, as well as natural erosion and agricultural activities.
Drainage risk Silt from construction sites poses a significant risk to drainage systems, often leading to blockages, flooding and environmental implications which can result in sanctions should watercourses be affected. Even minor silt discharge is capable of significant environmental impact, such as reducing oxygen levels in waterways, infiltrating fish spawning grounds and harming aquatic vegetation.
“Silt from construction sites poses a significant risk to drainage systems, often leading to blockages, flooding and environmental implications.”
In recent years, as
environmental awareness has continued to rise, pollution fines have more regularly appeared in damning news headlines. Though many of these headlines have focused on the wrongdoings of water companies, construction sites and housebuilders have not escaped the unwanted limelight.
After several silt pollution incidents between 2022 and
2024, a well-documented case in North Wales late last year led to £150,000 in fines for damage to a tributary of the River Alyn in Wrexham.
Reputational risk For construction companies, environmental penalties don’t just carry financial implications and potential project delays. There is also a reputational risk, which will make public sector authorities and communities question whether they trust a guilty party in the future. Tumultuous recent years have caused local authority confidence in the construction sector to yo- yo, but the current UK-wide development ambition means construction companies must do all they can to ensure they are operating responsibly and can deliver reliably.
The message from regulators is clear; prevention is always better than cure. Section A10 of the Design and Construction Guidance (The Code) requires developers to control pollution during construction and prior to adoption. In addition, national SuDS guidance
includes the requirement for drainage networks to maintain water quality and flow, which is not possible where silt pollution is present. There is an expectation that construction companies provide details on planning and control of silt pollution, to prevent foul play and prosecution under the Water Resources Act 1991 or Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. However, issues persist within the sector. Proactive pollution prevention solutions do exist, such as silt fences and settlement tanks, but our industry feedback made it clear that something even more simple, yet still effective, was required for temporary use. This led to the development of the Armadillo SiltShield, which is a retrofittable option comprising only three components - a robust steel silt bucket, a simple-to-install locator plate and a geotextile filter bag. Together, these components provide a reliable system for filtering debris and contaminants before they enter drainage systems, offering a solution which can be used multiple times before being fully recycled at the end of its life cycle.
Sometimes, a bit of innovation is required to simplify complex challenges. In the case of silt pollution, we are one of few to have created a highly effective solution. Now, it’s up to the construction sector to decide whether environmental damage, regulatory non- compliance, financial penalties and reputation are worth continuing to risk or not. Silt pollution still exists, but can be confined to the past. BMJ
30
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net July 2026
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